Freedom of Entry HMAS Maitland
On Saturday 2 April, around 25 officers and sailors from HMAS Maitland will be in The Levee, Central Maitland from 10.00am to exercise their Freedom of Entry to the City.
This will commence at The Levee, Central Maitland (Cnr Bourke and High Streets) followed by a march through the city along High Street.
HMAS Maitland is decommissioning at the end of April 2022, a march and ceremony to celebrate the long association of HMAS Maitland with the City of Maitland.
The concept for Freedom of Entry to the City goes back to medieval times when there were disputes between land owning nobles and armed bodies were therefore rarely admitted into cities. However, in special cases, they were given freedom of entry and it signified true friendship and often the expectation that the armed body would assist in the defence of the city.
As part of the event, members from HMAS Maitland will assemble in formation in The Levee Shared Zone (near Bulwer Street) at 10.00am. A street march, under police escort, will then take place along High Street where they will be challenged by The Local Commanding Officer of Police at the junction of High Street, Hunter Street and Victoria Street before marching through to the Maitland Regional Art Gallery where a Civic Reception will take place.
A full closure will be in place in The Levee, Cnr of High and Bulwer Street, High Street to Dransfield Lane, Cnr of High Street and Bourke Street, Preschool Lane and Drill Hall Lane between the hours of 8.00am and 11.00am.
There will be rolling road closures in place from Ken Tubman Drive through to Devonshire Street inclusive of side streets between the hours of 10.00am and 11.00am.
HMAS Maitland is one of thirteen Armidale Class Patrol Boats based in Darwin, Northern Territory and along with two Cape Class Patrol Boats are the Navy’s principal contribution to the nation’s fisheries protection, immigration, customs, and drug law enforcement operations. The ship has a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots and a maximum speed of about 25 knots.
HMAS Maitland was commissioned on the 29 September 2006 and was the first Royal Australian Navy vessel to bear the name Maitland. HMAS Maitland was named after the World War II Naval Establishment, which was located in Newcastle. Since commissioning HMAS Maitland has steamed approximately 430,000 nautical miles, the equivalent of a return trip to the moon.
Click here for more information about HMAS Maitland.
Take a look at photos from the Freedom of Entry March below!
