
The Australian National Maritime Museum. We share stories of the sea. #seamuseum
Sydney, New South Wales
Joined June 2010
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Calling all Bat lovers! 🦇
Join us for a special weekend celebrating 70 years of HMAS Vampire (II), one of Australia's most significant naval vessels.
Sat 31 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10am – 4pm
To mark this milestone, visitors can enjoy half-price tickets to HMAS Vampire, along with a packed program of activities, tours, live music, family experiences and exclusive commemorative merchandise, culminating in a Sunday birthday celebration for the vessel's 70th anniversary 🎂
Get your tickets now. See you there! ⚓
sea.museum/en/whats-on/event…
Can you think of a better way to spend a day on Sydney Harbour? Neither can we!
On Sunday 11 October, the museum was proud to take part in the incredible Gaffers Day at the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club, aboard our beloved Kathleen Gillett.
One of Sydney's most anticipated maritime events, this year’s Gaffers Day saw a stunning variety of traditional sailing craft take to the water. The fleet included the Couta boat Wattle, built by Mitch Lacco in 1928; the Halvorsen Anitra V; and Samiel, a sloop designed by Chris Holman and built in 1967, which was voted best in show and has recently applied to the Australian Register of Historic Vessels.
A huge thank you to the Sydney Amateurs for having us and for making it such a memorable day on the water.
Join us for Sensory Friendly Days at the Museum! 🌻⚓
Designed for kids and adults on the autism spectrum and visitors with differing access needs, our Spring Sensory Friendly mornings offer a peaceful, low-sensory environment before our regular opening hours.
Explore Ocean Photographer of the Year, step aboard a vessel, and dive into hands-on creative activities guided by our friendly, trained team.
🗓️ Upcoming mornings (8:30 AM – 11:30 AM):
Sunday 25 October 2026
Sunday 22 November 2026
🎟️ Entry: $12 per person (Free for Under 4s, Members & Companion Card holders)
📲 Bookings essential: Secure your spot online today!
sea.museum/en/whats-on/event…
Wear a piece of Australian naval history! ⚓✨
To mark the 70th anniversary of HMAS Vampire (II), the last of the big gun destroyers, we’ve launched an exclusive commemorative t-shirt!
Explore our full collection of maritime-inspired tees and shop online today: store.anmm.gov.au/collection…
Thanks to volunteer Les for modelling 😍
Bit of an emotional morning on the harbour! ⚓️🩵
Today we said a fond farewell to the Royal Australian Navy’s iconic tall ship Young Endeavour as she wrapped up an incredible 38 years at sea.
A fleet of vessels including James Craig escorted her on one last journey through the Western Channel, past Bradley's Head and Fort Denison and over to Fleet Base East.
Fair winds and following seas, Young Endeavour. Thank you for nearly four decades of inspiring young Australians and enriching our maritime story. You’ll be missed on the water! ⛵✨
#YoungEndeavour #SydneyHarbour #MaritimeHistory
Take a walk with us through Sea Country to Safe Harbour: Logan QLD! 🌊✨
Join TaaHaa from Settlement Services International (SSI) for an exclusive tour of our new, free exhibition that just opened at the SSI Logan Hub!
Using water as a bridge, Sea Country to Safe Harbour connects First Nations stories of Country with migrant journeys of arrival, resilience and belonging in a new exhibition produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
💬 Interactive features inside:
Share your own memories of water and home
Add words for "water" in your language to the community wall
Mark meaningful places on our local and world maps
📍 SSI Logan Hub | 2 Carmody Street, Logan Central
🗓️ Open now through the end of January 2027
🔗 Learn more & view workshop programs: sea.museum/logan
Supported by the Australian Government & Settlement Services International
Journey with us to Canberra! 🚌✨
Calling all Museum Members (or want to be members)! We’re taking a day trip to visit the newly opened permanent galleries at the Australian War Memorial—housing more than 7,000 historic objects, aircraft and immersive displays.
Highlights include the Japanese Midget Submarine from 1942, an F/A-18A Hornet, the Lancaster Bomber, and the sacred Last Post Ceremony in the Commemorative Courtyard.
📅 Thursday 29 October (Full-day trip with return minibus transport from ANMM)
🎟️ Tickets: $120 – $140
📍 Leaves from Australian National Maritime Museum
eventbrite.com.au/e/members-…?
Growing up in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution, Shou Min Guo experienced a childhood shaped by uncertainty and hardship.
His career as a sailor brought him to Australia throughout the 1980s, where the kindness of strangers and opportunities for a better life inspired him to make Australia his home.
In 1989, Shou arrived in Sydney with very little money. He found work on a building site the very next day, balancing multiple jobs while studying English. He was later reunited with his wife and young daughter, and together they built a new life in Australia.
Today, the Guo family's migration journey is permanently honoured on Australia's National Monument to Migration.
Every Chinese-Australian family has a story. Is yours being remembered?
The Australian National Maritime Museum is inviting Chinese migrants and their families to be part of a dedicated Chinese Heritage Panel, recognising the journeys, sacrifices and contributions of Chinese Australians.
Have your name or the name of a loved one permanently inscribed in bronze, preserving your family's story for generations to come.
Be part of the Chinese Heritage Panel. Register today: sea.museum/en/support/nation…
Making history high above the harbour! 🏗️🎂 Happy Birthday, Sydney Opera House!
📸 Placing roof section, Sydney Opera House (1965) by David Moore.
This powerful black-and-white photograph captures a moment featuring the sheer scale and craftsmanship behind construction of Sydney’s most famous landmark.
📷 Object number00030736 ©Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore / ANMM Collection
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Making history high above the harbour! 🏗️🎂 Happy Birthday, Sydney Opera House!
📸 Placing roof section, Sydney Opera House (1965) by David Moore.
This powerful black-and-white photograph captures a moment featuring the sheer scale and craftsmanship behind construction of Sydney’s most famous landmark.
📷 Object number00030736 ©Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore / ANMM Collection
POV: You’re learning to become a shipwright
This week, we were delighted to host Matilda, Oliver, Jess and Andrew, along with their instructor Cody Horgan, from the Wooden Boat Centre in Tasmania through a Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme placement.
During their time with us, they worked alongside our talented Fleet Team and Sydney Heritage Fleet, expanding their knowledge of traditional maritime skills, vessel maintenance and conservation practices.
A big thank you to the students for bringing such enthusiasm, curiosity and energy to the week. It was a pleasure to share knowledge and stories with the next generation of maritime heritage practitioners.
Keep an eye on our page as we share some highlights from their week.
The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
MUSEUM SHOP | Looking for the perfect gift for a curious young ocean explorer? 💙🐠
From sensory touch-and-feel books to interactive activity sets, our Museum Shop is packed with ocean-themed reads that inspire wonder, learning and fun!
✨ Featured items starting from just $12.
📍 Find us inside the Museum or shop online to bring the deep blue home!
store.anmm.gov.au/collection…
THREE UNMISSABLE TALKS THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM! 🎙️⚓
🎙️ Saturday 17 Oct (2 PM): Author Talk: The Memory Tapes with Dr Shirleene Robinson AM
Explore 58,000+ hours of national memories, reflections, and oral history. [FREE]
✈️ Wednesday 21 Oct (2 PM): Author Talk: Australia’s Dambusters with Colin Burgess
Discover the incredible courage of the Australian airmen who flew WWII's most perilous missions. [FREE]
⚓ Thursday 22 Oct (2 PM): Speakers Talk: A History of Sydney in 10 (or so) Wrecks
Dive into 200 years of Sydney harbour history through 10 iconic shipwrecks. [$10 / Free for Members]
✍️ Book signings will take place following both Author Talks!
🎟️ Reserve your spots now: sea.museum/en/whats-on
Talk about a full-circle moment! ⚓️✨
When Peter Senior worked on HMAS Vampire back in 1983, he told his young son all about his time working on the gun turrets. Fast forward years later, Peter Junior started his own journey with Vampire and sent his dad a picture in front of the guns on his first day! 🥹
With Vampire turning 70 later this month, we’re looking back at the incredible people and memories that make "The Bat" so special. 🎂
We’d love to hear from you: What’s your favourite memory or story with HMAS Vampire? Share it below! 👇
#HMASVampire #TheBat #NavyHistory #MaritimeHistory #FullCircleMoment
Interested in Australian history, oral storytelling, and archival preservation?
Join author and historian Dr. Shirleene Robinson AM for an exclusive discussion on her new book, The Memory Tapes, showcasing highlights from the National Library of Australia’s extraordinary oral history and folklore collection.
The Memory Tapes weaves together lived experiences across domestic life, culture, politics, and social change, learning about Australia’s past directly through the voices of those who experienced it.
🗓 Saturday, 17 October | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
📍The Theatre, Australian National Maritime Museum
✍️ Copies will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.
👉 Register eventbrite.com.au/e/author-t…?
Happy Gaffers Day! ⛵✨
To celebrate, the Australian Register of Historic Vessels is showcasing 9 incredible classic boats on the Register.
If you could sail into Sydney Harbour on just ONE of these today, which would you pick? 🤔
1️⃣ Kathleen Gillett (Pioneering 1947–48 circumnavigator)
2️⃣ Smoky Cape (Classic Colin Archer-inspired design)
3️⃣ Maud (1931 fishing boat turned race winner)
4️⃣ Killala (Meticulously restored 1896 yawl)
5️⃣ Questing (1949 club racing champion)
6️⃣ Fury (16-ft skiff by Norman R. Wright & Sons)
7️⃣ Gymea (Rare 21-ft Restricted Class survivor)
8️⃣ Fidelis (Celebrated NZ ocean-racing legend)
9️⃣ Cherana (1959 Sydney to Hobart winner)
👇 Tell us your pick and why in the comments!
#GaffersDay #ClassicSailing #ARHV #SydneyHarbour #BoatLife #HistoricBoats
Did you know a 17th-century pirate helped pave the way for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution? 💡
Described as "A Pirate of Exquisite Mind," William Dampier was much more than an ocean adventurer—he was a pioneer of scientific observation, navigation, and natural history in Australia.
Come along to Speakers Talk: William Dampier - Explorer, Naturalist and Pirate to uncover the remarkable stories behind his three global voyages and best-selling books.
⏰Wednesday 14 October, 2 – 3:30 PM
🎟 Entry: $10 (Free entry for Museum Members)
Reserve your tickets now on Eventbrite!
Last chance to go in the draw to win a 7-night Viking Shores & Fjords voyage for two, valued at $16,590 courtesy of exhibition sponsor Viking.
Departing Amsterdam on 12 April 2028, this unforgettable cultural journey includes visits to UNESCO sites, the cobblestone streets of Stavanger and vibrant Oslo, home to the Edvard Munch Museum.
To enter, become a member, renew your membership or visit the exhibition, then submit your entry by midnight Sunday 11 October 2026.
Don’t miss the opportunity to win this remarkable prize from Viking.
sea.museum/galloway-hoard
T&C’s apply.
From the archives to the streets. 🎨
Peter Drew reflects on uncovering the original 1916 document of Monga Khan from the National Archives of Australia and why he’s bringing the iconic AUSSIE poster series back after first introducing it in 2016.
This isn't about division; it’s about coming from a place of unity and finding strength in our shared story.
Watch the full video to hear Peter's story. 🎬
sea.museum/en/whats-on/exhib…
#AUSSIE #PeterDrew #MongaKhan #AustralianArt #StreetArt #NationalArchives
FINAL DAYS | Treasures of the Viking Age – The Galloway Hoard ⚔️
Time is running out to experience one of the most significant Viking-age discoveries ever found! The Galloway Hoard is in its final days at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Uncovered in Scotland, this remarkable collection features silver bullion, intricate gold jewellery and rare preserved textiles from the 9th and 10th centuries. Whether you're a history enthusiast or bringing the whole family along, this is your last opportunity to witness these ancient treasures up close before the exhibition officially closes.
🎟️ Don't miss out—book your tickets online now to secure your final spot!
bit.ly/4y8GoxJ
#GallowayHoard #HistorySydney


























