Created in 1955 the Royal Australian Navy Research Laboratory (RANRL), co-located with HMAS Rushcutter in the Sydney suburb of Edgecliff, consisted of four scientific groups practising a number of related disciplines, backed by an engineering group specialising in Ocean Engineering. The groups were: Operation Research; Mine Warfare; Ocean Sciences; Sonar and Surveillance; and Ocean Engineering. 
On 28 January 1975 a major reorganisation within the Department of Defence resulted in the Laboratory being transferred from Naval administration to the Services Laboratories and Trials Division of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). On 1 July 1976 staff of the Laboratory were transferred from employment under the Naval Defence Act to employment under the Public Service Act.
 
In February 1982 the Services Laboratories and Trials Division was dissolved and RANRL was transferred to the newly created Department of Defence Support in May 1982. In December 1983 the Department of Defence Support was abolished and RANRL was transferred back to the Department of Defence. On 1 August 1984 RANRL was incorporated into the newly expanded Weapons Systems Research Laboratory. The Weapons Systems Research Laboratory was to consist of 4 divisions of which RANRL was to be one. In November 1984 RANRL was relocated from the suburb of Edgecliff to the suburb of Pyrmont. On 1 November 1987 RANRL's name was changed to that of the Maritime Systems Division. The Maritime Systems Division was to continue RANRL's function of conducting research and development in the fields of underwater detection systems and ocean sciences.

From 1992 the agency has operated as the DSTO Sydney site of the Maritime Operations Division, a division of the Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory, one of two research and development laboratories operated by DSTO.


SOURCES

(1) Weapons Systems Research Laboratory Information Handbook, 
    May 1988
Historical agency address
(1) 1955-1984: New Beach Road, Edgecliff NSW 
(2) 1984-1992: Wharf 17, Jones Bay Road, Pyrmont NSW  (Royal Edward
               Victualling Yard)
    1992-    : 17 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont NSW

Superior agency unregistered

1975-May 1982: Chief Defence Scientist, Defence Science and
               Technology Organisation