Cerberus has been included in the Trust's inaugeral Australia-wide 'Heritage at Risk' programme.

The HMVS Cerberus is not only of great significance to Australian heritage, but also internationally,as it was one of the World’s first “Monitor” style warships.

The Cerberus was built 1867-69 for the purpose of defending Melbourne’s gold, but went on to serve
for 50 years. She was the flagship of the Victorian Colonial Navy before federation and the first
capital ship of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911.

Having acted as a breakwater at Black Rock, Victoria since 1926 the majority of the deck in now
under water and despite removal of its heavy guns, the hull is under imminent threat of collapse.
It was placed on the National Heritage List in December 2005 but has not yet received any funding to
ensure its survival.

As well as being the only intact Monitor style ship to survive anywhere in the world, the Cerberus was
itself a turning point in British battleship design. Its ‘floating fortress’ concept included many firsts –
full steam power, a central superstructure with protective armoured breastwork, dual revolving gun
turrets, low freeboard and a heavily armoured superstructure.

‘International naval historians recognise Cerberus as a crucial link between the period of timber lineof-
battle ships and the more modern battleships’, said Mr Purslow.

‘We are very fortunate that this extraordinary vessel survives just a few hundred metres offshore. We
are seeking the State and Federal governments to jointly fund the stabilisation of this rare heritage
asset, before it is too late’.