 He went on to be Second Naval Member of the Naval Board in 1958, Flag Officer commanding HM Australian Fleet in 1959 and First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff in 1962.He retired in February 1965 and died in Canberra Hospital in December 1965.On 20 December, the ashes of Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington were scattered from HMAS "Vampire" off the coast of Sydney.