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Category: Ships

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Australian National Maritime Museum

HMAS Vampire National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum

Covering Australia’s maritime history from pre-colonial times to the present, the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney has an excellent collection of ships and artefacts on display. The most obvious displays are the ships and boats of the heritage fleet docked on Darling Harbour, but those inside also deserve a lot of attention.

Indigenous Watercraft

As the oldest users of the Australian coast and waterways, a large section is devoted to indigenous watercraft and heritage. Displays of canoes from around Australia and the Torres Strait are on display.

Aboriginal Bark Canoe
Aboriginal Bark Canoe
Ilma from the Bardi Jawi people
Ilma from the Bardi Jawi people

Kay Cottee and Blackmores First Lady

In 1989, Kay Cottee became the first woman to circumnavigate the world alone, without stopping, without assistance, by way of both hemispheres and the five southernmost capes. It took her 189 days in Blackmores First Lady, in a time before Social Media and with poor communications.

Visitors are able to enter the boat and experience how small it is. Getting on board really makes you realise what an incredible achievement it was.

Blackmores First Lady in which Kay Cottee became the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world
Blackmores First Lady in which Kay Cottee became the first woman to perform a single-handed, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the world
Inside Kay Cottee's Blackmores First Lady Australian National Maritime Museum
Inside Kay Cottee’s Blackmores First Lady

Model Ships

One section of the Museum has beautifully made ship models relevant to Australia. As the museum is based in Sydney most of the Royal Australian Navy’s shops named HMAS Sydney are displayed. The largest and most impressive is the aircraft carrier, which has amazing detail.

Other models range from sailing ships to bulk iron ore carriers. All were important either for exploration or trade.

Model of The Royal Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney (III)
Model of The Royal Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney (III)
A model of BHP Pacific Iron
A model of BHP Pacific Iron
Sailing Ship Model Australian National Maritime Museum
Sailing Ship Model

Other Exhibits

Interesting displays located throughout the museum include the ships bell from USS Canberra (AG-2) which was named after HMAS Canberra, a heavy cruiser sunk during the Second World War. A 40mm cannon from a Royal Australian Navy ship lets you get a close up look at this important anti-aircraft weapon.

The Bell of USS Canberra CAG-2 Australian National Maritime Museum
The Bell of USS Canberra CAG-2
Spirit of Australia - The World's Fastest Boat 1978 Australian National Maritime Museum
Spirit of Australia – The World’s Fastest Boat 1978
Bofors 40mm cannon Australian National Maritime Museum
Bofors 40mm cannon
Up Close with a Figurehead
Deep Sea Diver Statue Australian National Maritime Museum
Deep Sea Diver Statue

HMAS Vampire

HMAS Vampire (II) D11 was a Daring class destroyer operated by the Royal Australian Navy.  Launched in 1959 and decommissioned in 1986. Entry to Vampire and the other ships is included in the ticket cost of the Maritime Museum (as of March 2024).

HMAS Vampire National Maritime Museum
HMAS Vampire
HMAS Vampire 4.5" Guns National Maritime Museum
HMAS Vampire 4.5″ Guns
Sick Bay of HMAS Vampire
Sick Bay of HMAS Vampire
Senior Ratings' Lounge HMAS Vampire
Senior Ratings’ Lounge HMAS Vampire

HMAS Onslow

HMAS Onslow was an Oberon class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy. Commissioned 1969 in and decommissioned in 1999. Walking through the submarine makes you realise how cramped the conditions are. This isn’t somewhere I would want to live months on end.

HMAS Onslow Warship Submarine
HMAS Onslow
Engine Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Engine Room HMAS Onslow
Engine Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Engine Room HMAS Onslow
Torpedo Room HMAS Onslow National Maritime Museum
Torpedo Room HMAS Onslow

Historical Fleet

The historical fleet contains ships that have importance to Australia’s maritime heritage. Possibly the most impressive to still be preserved is the Krait. This ex-Japanese fishing boat was used by Australia Special Forces during the Second World War to sneak into Singapore Harbour where they damaged 37,000 tonnes of Japanese ships.

HMAS Advance
HMAS Advance patrol boat
MV Krait
MV Krait
Lightship Carpentaria
Lightship Carpentaria
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Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Factory

Entrance to the Torpedo Factory

Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Factory

Opened in September 2023, the Torpedo Factory at Sub Base Platypus is an excellent addition to this heritage site. Managed by the Harbour Trust, the old factory was partially demolished and revitalised as an open public space.

Getting There

We used public transport, getting the train to Milsons Point Station and then walking for 10 minutes. If you prefer to drive, there is parking available on site.

History of the Site

Opened in 1942 during World War Two the factory produced torpedoes for Allied forces. Many of the employees were women, due to many men being in the armed forces. Commemorated at the site with murals, it’s a great reminder of their contribution during the war. Post war, the torpedo workshops continued to service the British Navy submarine fleet based at HMAS Penguin and the Royal Australian Navy’s destroyer fleet.

The entire base was closed in 1999 when the Royal Australian Navy moved its Collins-class submarines to Western Australia.

The Site Now

The old factory features several interesting display that explain the site’s history. These range from a Torpedo Mark VIII, information boards and murals with photos and signs from the factory. There is also a car park with electric charging stations.

Our previous blog, which covers the rest of Sub Base Platypus can be found here.

Entrance to the Torpedo Factory at Sub Base Platypus
Entrance to the Torpedo Factory at Sub Base Platypus
Torpedo Mark VIII Mod 4 on display Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Workshop
Torpedo Mark VIII Mod 4 on display
Rear underside view of the Mark VIII Torpedo
Rear underside view of the Mark VIII Torpedo
Old Signs Sub Base Platypus Torpedo Workshop
Old Signs
Old Signs
Old Signs

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Museum of Sydney

HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet

Museum of Sydney

Located on Bridge St, not far from Circular Quay, the Museum of Sydney focuses on the history of the city with an emphasis on the impact white settlement had and still has on Aboriginal People.

Bust of Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet and the First Governor of Australia The Museum of Sydney
Bust of Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet and the First Governor of Australia

Getting There

As with many attractions in Sydney, public transport is the easiest and cheapest way to travel. We caught the Light Rail from Central Station, getting off the Bridge Street stop. From here, it was an easy 5-minute walk to the museum.

Entry

Entry was free with staff only requesting a post code to see where visitors were from.

Exhibits

Edge of Trees

Located in the museum’s forecourt, these 29 pillars represent 29 clans from the Sydney area.

Edge of Trees The Museum of Sydney
Edge of Trees

The First Fleet

The first display we saw was a series of scale models of the first fleet. This impressive display had each ship represented along with a short description and history. Many of the names of these ships are commemorated in Royal Australian Navy ships and Sydney Harbour ferries.

Model ships of the First Fleet
Model ships of the First Fleet
HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet
HMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet

Government House

A model of the original Government House shows how the site appeared in the 1780s. This building was the centre of colonial administration for 57 years until replaced by the new Government House.

Located in the museum’s forecourt on Bridge Street, a glass-fronted display provides a view of subterranean remains of the first Government House. Inside the museum, near the gift shop, additional glass panels in the floor provide glimpses of archaeological remains, including foundations and drains.

Model of the First Government House The Museum of Sydney
Model of the First Government House
Model of the First Government House
Model of the First Government House

Special Exhibition: The Sydney Opera House

The top floor of the Museum houses rotating displays, often with an aboriginal theme. During our visit, the Sydney Opera House’ 50th anniversary was being celebrated. As a result, there was a large exhibition detailing its history.

This exhibit only runs until 12 November 2023, when it will be replaced by a new series of displays.

Lego Model of the Opera House
Lego Model of the Opera House
Woven Model of the Opera House
Woven Model of the Opera House
Posters of shows held at the Sydney Opera House The Museum of Sydney
Posters of shows held at the Sydney Opera House
Costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in Lucrezia Borgia
Costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in Lucrezia Borgia

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.