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Tag: Maritime Museum

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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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Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Early Settlement Room Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum

Preserving Port Macquarie’s maritime history, the Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum occupies two old Pilot Cottages dating from the 1890s. Originally used to house the pilot and the boatmen who assisted him but now repurposed into a museum.

Getting There

Located in Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast at 6 William Street, it has beautiful views over the surrounding coast. This would have been vital to the pilot, so that he could see ships arriving before guiding them into the harbour. Parking is available on-street and is free.

The Museum

Spread across the two cottages are nine themed rooms, along with an outdoor display and an additional room with a shell display.

The first exhibits you see are an anchor collection a sea mine and two of the Hello Koala sculptures. Appropriately one of the koalas is decorated as Lachlan Macquarie, for whom the town is named.

The interior exhibits follow the history of Port Macquarie from the arrival of the first colonial settlers and convicts 1821 through to The Second World War.

One room details the loss of the Wollongbar to a Japanese submarine off Port Macquarie and the efforts of local fishermen to save the crew. Thirty-two crew members died, however 6 were saved.

Voyages along the eastern Australian coast proved dangerous with many ships wrecked. Using photos and wall displays all known losses are listed along with some artifacts.

An interesting museum to visit and it’s great to see this sort of history preserved where it provides a link to the past.

Koala statue
Lachlan Macquarie
Koala statue
Koala Noir
Sea mine
Sea Mine
Anchor display Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Anchor display
Early Settlement Room Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Early Settlement Room
Model ship display Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Model ship display
Pennants from Royal Australian Navy ships
Pennants from Royal Australian Navy ships
Lighthouse lens from Tacking Point Lighthouse Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum
Lighthouse lens from Tacking Point Lighthouse
Diving Helmet
Diving Helmet

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

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Maritime Museum of Tasmania

Antarctic Exploration Vessel Nella Dan Maritime Museum of Tasmania

Maritime Museum of Tasmania

If you have an interest in maritime history, then the Maritime Museum of Tasmania is a great place to spend an hour. Located next to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and opposite Constitution dock it is easy to get to.

During our visit, the second floor was undergoing renovations, which meant we missed some displays. The remaining area was still interesting as it covered Tasmania’s maritime history.

One of the more interesting displays was a model of the Tasman Bridge disaster. This occurred on 5 January 1975 when a bulk ore carrier collided with bridge pylons, causing a section of the bridge to collapse. Seven crew and five drivers from four cars were killed when they drove off the bridge and fell 45m to the water below. The model shows the SS Lake Illawarra lying on the river bottom with bridge debris covering her.

Tasmania’s contribution to Antarctic exploration has been significant, due to its proximity. A model of the exploration ship Nella Dan commemorates these achievements.

Other displays included interesting figureheads and boats, along with more models ships and photos.

  • Knots Display
  • Main Display Room Ground Floor
    Main Display Room Ground Floor
  • Figure Heads Maritime Museum of Tasmania
    Figure Heads (Zephyr left and Mary Wadley right)
  • Diving Suit
    Diving Suit
  • Tasman Bridge Disaster
    Tasman Bridge Disaster
  • Tasman Bridge Disaster
    Tasman Bridge Disaster
  • Antarctic Exploration Vessel Nella Dan Maritime Museum of Tasmania
    Antarctic Exploration Vessel Nella Dan