This series was transferred to the Australian War Memorial in 1983, and initially serialised as part of AWM 124, Naval historical collection.  It is an artificial series designed to link records of a similar nature deriving from that series - hence the substantial gaps in the series (and contents) date ranges.  AWM 180 comprises mainly reports and transcripts of proceedings of various naval enquiries, apparently retained within Navy Office for reference.  Several items are stamped 'Confidential'.  

The enquiries represented in the series include:
 
A. JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INQUIRY INTO THE GENERAL  
   FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COMMONWEALTH NAVAL DOCKYARD, COCKATOO
   ISLAND, 1915
 
The Joint Committee comprised M Charlton (Chairman), John Thomson, J M Fowler, Thomas J K Bakhap, and D Atkinson.  The Dockyard had been transferred to the Commonwealth from the State of New South Wales on 31 January 1913.  Apparent deficiencies in plant and equipment, the Dockyard's administrative arrangements, and the condition of its industrial affairs, were of particular concern to the inquiry. Evidence was taken 8 June to 26 October 1915, and the report ordered to be printed on 28 October 1915.
 
B. COMMONWEALTH COURT OF MARINE INQUIRY INTO THE COLLISION BETWEEN MV
   "DUNTROON" AND HMAS "GOORANGAI", QUEENSCLIFF, NOV 1940
 
This inquiry was convened before a Police Magistrate (C McLean) assisted by two assessors (Capts S A Pidgeon and T R Ireland).  The vessels collided in the approaches to the South Channel of Port Phillip Bay about 8.45pm, 20 November 1940.  HMAS "Goorangai" had been engaged in minesweeping duties and was sunk with the loss of 24 lives. Evidence was taken 4 to 13 December, and the inquiry's findings read on 17 December 1940.
 
C. INVESTIGATION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION OF TRAINING AT
   FLINDERS NAVAL DEPOT, 1959-1960
 
The directive for the investigation was issued on 6 June 1960.  The investigating team comprising Commodore F Leveson George, Lieut Commander S Cabban and Instructor Lieutenant L Naylor, submitted its report to the Naval Board on 12 October 1960.
 
D. BOARD OF INQUIRY INTO THE "WHALER INCIDENT", HMAS SYDNEY, OCT
   1963  

The inquiry, composed of three senior naval officers, was held on board HMAS "Sydney" at Hayman Island. Its purpose was to investigate the circumstances leading to the death and disappearance of midshipmen from HMAS "Sydney" during whaler sailing and training expeditions in the Whitsunday Passage area, 14 to 18 October 1963.  Five lives were lost. Evidence was heard 25 to 29 October, and a copy of the Board's findings given to the Minister of the Navy on 9 November 1963.
 
E. BOARD OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE COLLISION BETWEEN HMAS "MELBOURNE"
   AND USS "FRANK E EVANS", JUN 1969.
 
The Board was convened on 7 June 1969, in pursuance of Regulation 3 of Navy (Board of Inquiry) Regulations.  Its composition included Rear Admirals J H King USN, and H D Stevenson RAN, and four others.  The purpose of the investigation was to inquire into all the circumstances surrounding the collision of the two vessels in the South China Sea on 3 June 1969, during a SEATO exercise.  Over 70 US seamen lost their lives, and HMAS "Melbourne" sustained extensive damage. The Board closed on 14 July 1969.  Related items in this series originally formed the enclosures to a departmental minute dated 28 September 1976.
Quantity in agency custody
0.65 metres, held by CA 616, Australian War Memorial