The Royal Australian Navy's plan to boost its resources in the 'top end' is complete with the formal arrival of the last three patrol boats in Darwin last month.

Now sporting buffalo horns, the symbol of Darwin's home-ported patrol boats, are HMAS Bunbury formerly from Stirling and HMA Ships Fremantle and Warrnambool formerly from Sydney.

Commander of the Patrol Boat FEG, CAPT Gerry Christian welcomed LCDR Michelle Miller (Bunbury), LCDR Adam Allica (Fremantle) and LCDR Mike Stow (Warrnambool) and their ships' companies to Darwin on November 20.

"We warmly welcome you and your families to the top end, your new home port," CAPT Christian said.

"You have always been a proud member of the patrol boat family.

"You now have the opportunity to wear the horns of the top end navy."

Navy strategists recognised that the waters north of Australia was where the action is and as a result decided to re-position four patrol boats from Stirling and Sydney once a $12 million expansion of the Darwin Naval Base was completed.

DNB now has ten patrol boats while HMAS Cairns has five.

Earlier Geraldton was formally welcomed to Darwin after sailing from Stirling.