NAA History

NAA HISTORY — The Naval Association of Australia promotes mateship, community spirit, Australia and the Royal Australian Navy. It began life in 1920 as the Ex-Navalmen's Association and in 1960 changed its name to The Naval Association of Australia.

Sailors Having A Beer JUL2014 - How did it begin? — One evening in 1920, in the vicinity of Young and Jacksons Hotel on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne, an ex-navalman out for a stroll with his wife saw a former shipmate on point duty as a policeman. From this chance meeting they decided to get together again with as many old shipmates as possible.

This led to a "Smoko" in May, 1920, in the old Manchester Unity Hall in Swanston Street, attended by about 100 ex-Navalmen who agreed to form the "Ex-Navalmen's Association'", which was inaugurated in November, 1920.

In 1922, the Association amalgamated with the China Naval Contingent Association whose members had seen service during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

In 1925, the NSW Section was formed in Sydney and in 1947 approval was given to NSW to form Sub Sections in other areas throughout the State. In 1960 the Association's name was changed to "The Naval Association of Australia", to better reflect its aims and a membership that included both serving and ex-naval persons. 

From its beginning the Association was developed as a self help organisation with the main objective being to unite former and serving Naval Personnel for the purpose of mutual benefit with the motto "Each for All — All for Each".