During the VIIth British Empire and Commonwealth Games (held at venues in and around Perth), the No. 10 transit shed at North Quay was converted into a temporary Port Authority Visitors' Centre. It was used by tourists from the "Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt"; "Groote Beer" and "Wanganella", which were berthed at North Quay for the duration of the Games, as floating "hotels". Also at North Quay during this period were fourteen naval vessels from three British Commonwealth Navies. On the 26th Nov the "Canberra"; "Australia"; "Neptunia" and "Arcadia" passenger ships made brief one day calls at the Port.

19 January 1962

The "Orantes" sailed from Fremantle for the last time on her 74th (and final) round trip from England to Australia. Launched in 1929, she carried some 400,000 people (including troops) before being sent to the ship breakers in 1962.

22 February 1962

Premier David Brand opened the new sea-freight terminal at North Fremantle. Designed principally for the handling of shipments of 3 ton "Seatainers", the terminal had 2 acres of shed space and the operation involved a shuttle-service of specially constructed semi-trailers (Five 3 ton Seatainers to each trailer) to and from the ship's side and the terminal where a crane unloaded all five Seatainers in a single operation.

20 August 1962

The British aircraft carrier "Arc Royal" (53,340 girt; 810 feet) entered the Inner Harbour, beating the record held since before W.W.II by the "HMS Hood" (42,100 girt; 861 feet) as the biggest ship to enter the harbour. In order to reduce draft, the planes of the "Arc Royal" were flown off, still leaving only 28 inches clearance under her keel at her North Wharf berth and Fremantle Harbour Trust. Pilot Capt. R.E. Purvis MBE became the first Australian marine pilot to be taken to his job by helicopter.

British Empire and Commonwealth Games Shipping

PERIOD OF GAMES 22/11/62 to 1/12/62

FROM SHIPPING REGISTERS:

DATE	NAME	FROM	BERTH	SAILED
Nov 20	CHARON	SINGAPORE	E SHED	Nov 25
Nov 20	HMAS ANZAC	SEA	NO. 10	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMAS VENDETTA	SEA	NO. 5	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMAS VAMPIRE	SEA	NO. 5	Dec 2
Nov 21	NAVY GP VESSEL	SEA	NO. 8	?
Nov 21	HMAS QUICKMATCH	SEA	NO. 5	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMS TIGER	SEA	NO. 7	Dec 2
Nov 21	FORT CHARLOTTE	SEA	NO. 4	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMS BLACKPOOL	SEA	NO. 6	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMNZ TARANAKI	SEA	NO. 7	Dec 2
Nov 21	JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELT	MELBOURNE	NO. 10	Dec 2
Nov 21	HMS ANCHORITE	SEA	NO. 6	Dec 2
Nov 22	HAURAKI	ADEN	A SHED	Nov 22
Nov 22	WANGANELLA	MELBOURNE	NO. 8	Dec 1
Nov 22	HMS TACITURN	SEA	NO. 10	Dec 2
Nov 22	SYDNEY	ADEN	F SHED	Nov 22
Nov 22	KABARLI	N.W.	H SHED	Dec 1
Nov 22	MINKARA	E/STATES	NO. 1	Nov 26
Nov 22	GROOTE BEER	SYDNEY	NO. 8	Dec 3
Nov 23	HMS CAVALIER	SEA	NO. 6	Dec 2
Nov 24	HMS TAPIR	SEA	NO. 4	Dec 1
Nov 24	BELTANA	E/STATES	NO. 2	Nov 30
Nov 24	WAVE RULER (HMS)	SEA	G SHED	Nov 28
Nov 25	BOMBALA	GERALDTON	C SHED	Nov 28
Nov 25	HMS WAVE SOVEREIGN	SEA	G SHED	Dec 2
Nov 25	CHANOPARA	ADELAIDE	NO. 3	Nov 30
Nov 25	MUNSTERLAND	ADEN	A SHED	Nov 26
Nov 26	NEPTUNIA	ADELAIDE	B SHED	Nov 26
Nov 26	AUSTRALIA	DJAKARTA	G SHED	Nov 26
Nov 26	ARCADIA	SINGAPORE	F SHED	Nov 26
Nov 26	AURELIA	ADELAIDE	E SHED	Nov 26
Nov 26	CENTURY	E/STATES	E SHED	Nov 29
Nov 26	CHAKDINA	CEYLON	NO. 1	Nov 28
Nov 26	ARDROWAN	HONG KONG	D SHED	Dec 1
Nov 26	CANBERRA	MELBOURNE	F/G SHED	Nov 27
Nov 27	STRAAT CLARENCE	ADELAIDE	A SHED	Nov 30
Nov 27	DEVON	ALBANY	B SHED	Dec 1
Nov 28	CANOPIC	ADEN	F SHED	Nov 30
Nov 28	ARGO	SEA	NO. 1	Dec 2
Nov 29	KANGAROO	E/STATES	D SHED	Dec 8
Nov 29	ANNA BAKKE	SINGAPORE	C SHED	Dec 10
Nov 29	HORIZON	CAREENING BAY	NO. 1	Dec 3
Nov 30	BARDIC	ALBANY	NO. 1	Dec 4
Nov 30	REIDERSTEIN	ADELAIDE	NO. 2	Dec 3
Nov 30	THORKILL LUND	TANGA	E SHED	Dec 2
Dec 1	CASTEL FELICE	ADEN	G SHED	Dec 1
Dec 1	LLOYD BAKKE	SINGAPORE	A SHED	Dec 5
Dec 2	COOLGARDIE	MELBOURNE	NO. 3	Dec 6
Dec 2	AAGTEKERK	ADEN	B SHED	Dec 3
Dec 2	WAIRANGI	TRINCOMALEE	D SHED	Dec 3