Westralia was decommissioned in 2006, and the ship was sold into civilian service for use as a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, under the name Shiraz.

[1][2] Propulsion machinery consists of two SEMT Pielstick 14 PC2-2 V400 diesel engines, supplying the single, controllable-pitch propeller with 14,000 brake horsepower (10,000 kW).

[3] During the Falklands War in 1982, Appleleaf was one of the Leaf-class ships that were involved in supplying the Task Force sent south to retake the islands.

[3] Although the RAN had originally intended to acquire two Durance-class replenishment oilers, problems and cost overruns during construction of the first, HMAS Success, over the course of the mid-1980s meant that the option for a second was never taken up.

[5] As Appleleaf was coming to the end of her RFA charter, the decision was made to lease the vessel to the RAN on 27 September 1989, and after a brief refit, she commissioned as HMAS Westralia on 9 October.

[3] During this, the ship called into at least seven South-east Asian ports, participated in 55th anniversary celebrations for the Royal Malaysian Navy, and was part of several training exercises.

[3] On 26 January 1991, Westralia relieved Success as part of Combined Task Group 627.4, the Australian naval contribution to forces involved in the Gulf War.

[3] On 26 August, Westralia and HMAS Swan sailed for Luzon in the Philippines, to provide humanitarian aid following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

[10] The spraying fuel ignited when it came into contact with hot machinery, and the first-response extinguishers were unable to cope with the fire's intensity.

[9] During January 2002, Westralia and the frigate HMAS Canberra were deployed to the Southern Ocean to capture illegal fishing vessels reported in the area.

[2] In 2003, the Australian Defence Capability Review indicated the need to replace Westralia with a new, double hulled vessel, which was slated to be purchased in 2005 for entry into service during 2006.