Located in the vibrant heart of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum offers a comprehensive journey through Australia’s rich nautical history. From towering naval ships to intimate displays of seafaring culture, this museum invites visitors to explore the nation’s deep connection with the sea – combining historical maritime artefacts with immersive, hands-on experiences.
Even if, like me, you’re not particularly a maritime buff, this place is absolutely fascinating! With a number of different vessels to explore there’s some very real opportunity to geek out on what it takes to live a life at sea! At the heart of the museum is its impressive fleet of historic vessels, and I was particularly impressed by how these exhibits blend with the numerous interactive elements, creating an environment that’s engaging on multiple levels.
HMAS Vampire
The highlight of the physical exhibits is arguably the HMAS Vampire. An Australian Navy destroyer that saw service between 1959 and 1986, it’s hard not to be awe-struck at this massive craft, docked in pride of place at the museum waterside.
HMAS stands for “His/Her Majesty’s Australian Ship” 😁
In keeping with all the other exhibits – Vampire is open to the public at certain hours, and you can either sign up for a guided tour or make your own way around to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this military vessel. Climbing aboard, you’re transported into the world of naval life during the Cold War era, walking through its narrow corridors and visiting the various aspects essential to the ship’s function.
From the bridge to the sonar room, you can see where decisions were made during important naval operations, and the interactive displays on board allow you to delve deeper into the ship’s history and its role in Australia’s sea-faring defence strategy.
HMAS Onslow
Lying next to the Vampire is the HMAS Onslow, a Cold War-era Oberon-class submarine that offers a completely different experience.
Stepping inside the cramped, steel corridors of the submarine gives you a sense of just how challenging life was for the sailors who served aboard. The tight spaces and complex machinery are a stark reminder of the engineering feats involved in building and maintaining these vessels.
With the aid of informative displays, you can gain a real insight into how submarines like the Onslow played their role in the secretive operations conducted as part of the Australian underwater defence strategy.
HMB Endeavour
Or more precisely, a full-scale replica of that famous ship of Captain James Cook, in contrast, takes you back to the late 18th century and provides an opportunity to understand what life was like aboard one of the most famous ships in Australian history.
HMB Endeavour (the original name of the ship known as HMS Endeavour) was used to distinguish it from contemporary predecessors – as well as its successors. HMB stands for “His/Her Majesty’s Barque/Bark”, describing a sailing ship, typically with three masts, rigged in a specific configuration.
The ship is visually impressive and a hands-on exhibit too, with the group that maintains and runs it also offering ocean-going experiences at an additional charge. Yes, this is a working replica! Exploring the deck, one truly appreciates the innovations that made long voyages possible during this pioneering era – as well as the hardships those on board had to endure!
Dufkyn
Meaning “Little Dove” in Dutch, the Dufkyn – another replica – takes you back to a sea-faring era before even the Endeavour. As a full-scale reproduction of the first European ship to reach Australia (in 1606) it was built using historical research and computer modelling and provides an authentic, hands-on understanding of how the crew lived and worked during their six-month voyage. Again, it can be chartered for (private) functions at an additional charge.
Other Exhibits
Beyond the iconic ships, the museum also boasts a diverse collection of maritime artefacts that offer insights into Australia’s seafaring past. The Shipping and Trade Gallery displays models of historical vessels, shipping paraphernalia, and rare maritime maps that chart the evolution of trade routes and exploration, while the Indigenous Watercraft exhibit offers a glimpse into the maritime traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples.
Whilst I didn’t have the time to see them all, these exhibits – which are complemented by some fascinating stories – help tell the tale of how the development of shipping shaped Australia’s economy and identity. Whether exploring the decks of historic ships or contemplating the future of marine conservation, this museum is a dynamic, living tribute to Australia’s maritime past and present, and somewhere you can easily spend an entire day!
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