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South Australia
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South Australian Maritime Museum: covers the maritime history of South Australia and the development of Port Adelaide. An excellent maritime museum operated by the History Trust of SA, its displays explore South Australia’s connections to the sea and water environments and the journeys made had to make to get there. The museum is housed in a number of old Bond Stores which have been faithfully restored. Entry fees apply.
Contact: (08) 8207 6255. Location: 126 Lipson St, Port Adelaide, SA.
Queensland
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Queensland Maritime Museum: traces Queensland's maritime history from the days of the early navigators to the present day. The Museum occupies a number of maritime-related buildings surrounding the South Brisbane Dry Dock which, during a century of service, was used by ships of all types including US submarines during World War II. The museum's displays include the smallest yachts ever to sail the oceans of the world, a lighthouse from the mouth of the Brisbane River, a Torres Strait pearling lugger, cannons from the time of the Battle of Trafalgar and the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Diamantina, built in Queensland and commissioned in 1945. Well worth a visit for anyone interested in ships and boats. Entry fees apply.
Contact: (07) 3215 0843. Location: on the banks of the Brisbane River, at the southern end of the South Bank Parklands and next to the Goodwill Bridge.
Tasmania
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Devonport Maritime Museum & Historical Society: features a superb collection of detailed models from the days of sail through the age of steam to the present seagoing passenger ferries. Open Tues to Sunday 10am - 4.30pm (Summer), 10am - 4pm (Winter).
Location: 6 Gloucester Ave, Devonport, Tas. Ph.: 6424 7100
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Maritime Museum Tasmania: displaying Tasmania’s rich maritime heritage. The Museum’s collection includes historic items, paintings and ships models. The displays cover the exploits of early explorers, the whaling industry, stories of trading barges and ferries in the everyday life of days now gone, and the central role of sailing ships and steam ships in the export of apples, minerals and timber. Entry fees apply. The Museum operates 2-hour Port Walk guided walking tours which take in The Maritime Museum, Colonial Gallery (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery), Hunter Island, Victoria Dock, Constitution Dock and the ketch, May Queen, Mawson Place, Waterman's Dock, Salamanca Place and Abel Tasman Memorial (charges apply, bookings essential).
Contact: (03) 6234 1427. Location: Carnegie House, 16 Argyle Street, Sullivans Cove, Hobart, Tas.
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Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration: this Tasmanian based privately run museum scores a spot with the big boys of Australia's maritime museums because of its location, and the stories it tells of the great navigators who came ashore here that reads like a Who's Who of Australia's maritime history. Abel Tasman, Bruni D'Entrecasteaux, James Cook, William Bligh, Nicolas Baudin, Tobias Furneaux and Matthew Flinders all landed at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, and no doubt took on water from Resolution Creek not far from the museum as Cook did during his second voyage in HMS Resolution in January 1777. The museum was constructed in 1954 with some 26,000 hand made bricks brought from the convict built kiln at Variety Bay, North Bruny to display the many historical maps, documents, paintings and other artifacts. The foundation stone was laid on 200th anniversary of Captain William Bligh's birth - 9th September 1954. Bligh and his botanist planted the first apple tree in Australia here when exploring aboard HMS Bounty in 1788.
Location: Adventure Bay Rd, Adventure Bay, Bruny Isld, Tas
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Western Australia
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WA Maritime Museum: traces the maritime history of the west coast of Australia, in particular its discovery and exploration by 17th century Dutch sailors. The musuem is primarily a showcase for the relics and treasures recovered from numerous shipwrecks along the Western Australian coastline. Pride of place is a reconstruction of a stone arch intended for a castle in Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia), part of the cargo of the Dutch cargo ship Batavia, and the a reconstruction of the actual keel of the ship that founded on reefs in the Abrolhos Islands in 1629. The museum's display also includes the de commissioned submarine, HMAS Ovens, and the racing yacht Australia II, which won the America's Cup for Australia from the United States in 1983. Entry fee applies.
Location: New Maritime Museum - Victoria Quay, Fremantle; Shipwreck Galleries - Cnr Marine Tce. and Cliff St., Fremantle. Contact: (08) 9431 8444.
New South Wales
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National Maritime Museum: The Commonwealth of Australia's extensive collection of indoor and outdoor displays featuring Australia's maritime history. The Museum fleet includes the Patrol Boat HMAS Advance (1968); Oberon class submarine HMAS Onslow (1968); Darling class destroyer HMAS Vampire (1956); the barque James Craig (1874) and a variety of historic small wooden boats. Permanent indoor displays focus on the Royal Australian Navy, Navigators who defined the Australian coastline, Sea Journeys, Watermarks and coastal commerce.
Location: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney. Phone (02) 9552 7777. Recorded information: 0055 62002. Open daily 9.30 - 5.00 pm
Victoria
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HMAS Castlemaine: the former World War II minesweeper, HMAS Castlemaine, was built in Williamstown in 1942 so it appropriate that she has returned there after being de-commissioned. Painstakingly refurbished, she is open for public inspection. On display is a 4 inch gun, the bridge complete with wheel, compasses, radar screen and more. HMAS Castlemaine was one of sixty Australian minesweepers (popularly named corvettes) built during World War 2 in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government's wartime shipbuilding program. All 56 Royal Australian Navy ships were named after Australian country cities and towns. HMAS Castlemaine is the last one still afloat.
Location: Commonwealth Reserve, Nelson Pl., Williamstown, Vic
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Melbourne Maritime Museum: The National Trust's historic tall ship – the Polly Woodside – is temporarily closed to the public. Polly’s home is being transformed as part of the development of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. The $1 billion precinct development, led by the Multiplex/Plenary Consortium, includes an investment in public spaces and a partnership with the National Trust for a revitalised maritime heritage precinct and visitor centre. In addition, Major Projects Victoria have generously committed to the refurbishment of the Duke & Orr dry dock – an undertaking essential for Polly Woodside to be appropriately preserved and maintained for the future.
![]() Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum: This is one of the finest regional maritime museums in Australia. By visiting the maritime village and interpretive centre, visitors will hear, see and experience the hardships of those who sailed the high seas and relive the incidents that led to the neighbouring shores being called the Shipwreck Coast. The museum's prize exhibit is the priceless Minton and Co. Loch Ard Peacock - Australia's most valuable colonial era shipwreck wreck artefact - that was washed ashore intact two days after the Loch Ard sunk with the loss of 52 lives in June 1878.
Location: Merri Street, Warrnambool, Vic.
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