Maritime Museum Tasmania

15/06/2026

As Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC concludes her service as Governor of Tasmania today, the Maritime Museum of Tasmania extends our sincere thanks for her support as our Patron.

These photos were taken during Her Excellency’s visit to the Museum in August 2023, a visit we remember with great appreciation.

We wish Her Excellency and Professor Chalmers all the very best, and look forward to welcoming Tasmania’s new Governor, Caroline Wells.

12/06/2026

Drop into our giftshop to discover the range of Malano Australia we're now stocking!

11/06/2026

What a treat to see a chilly Hobart port come alive during Dark M**o.

Adding to the atmosphere this year is the new Spirit of Tasmania, opening tonight as a unique floating exhibition space as part of Dark Park.

Hobart’s historic waterfront is a living, changing place that continues to bring people together, we love to see it!

Will you be heading down to the docks to take part in the festivities?

09/06/2026

Did you miss Rex Cox's talk on wartime photography last week? Don't worry, we recorded it, and you can watch it on YouTube here:

Please enjoy this Lunchtime Talk with Rex Cox, exploring Hobart’s w...

08/06/2026

Princess Melikoff may be remembered as Tasmania's own princess, but her real legacy has nothing to do with the title or the wedding. Through the Princess Melikoff Trust, her estate has channelled millions of dollars into marine mammal conservation, funding whale rescue operations and stranding response work around the Tasmanian coastline.

The trust continues to support the health of our marine environment in ways that outlast any royal connection. On World Oceans Day, her story reminds us that one person, with enough conviction, can leave something genuinely lasting for the oceans and the creatures that depend on them.

Her portrait is back on display at the Maritime Museum, worth a visit if you want to put a face to the name and learn more about the Hobart woman whose generosity is still being felt today.

04/06/2026

Our museum curator, Camille Reynes, recently represented the Maritime Museum at the Australian Maritime Museums Council's 'Bringing Maritime Heritage into the Future' program, held in South Australia from 27–30 May 2026.

As Maritime Museum Tasmania's representative on the AMMC Board, Camille contributed to national discussions about the future of Australia’s maritime heritage sector, including volunteer sustainability, audience development, collections care, advocacy and the changing expectations of museum visitors.

Three highlights from the program included:

• Visiting the City of Adelaide conservation project, a major volunteer-led effort to preserve one of the world’s most significant surviving sailing vessels.

• Seeing the Endeavour Rigging Project, where traditional maritime skills are being used to produce rigging for the reconstruction of Endeavour.

• Attending the recommissioning of PS Canally at Morgan, following more than fifteen years of restoration and around 4,500 volunteer hours.

The visit offered valuable examples of volunteer-led conservation, operational heritage vessels, heritage tourism, community engagement and maritime precinct development, with useful insights for our Museum.

It was also an important opportunity to strengthen connections with maritime museums and heritage professionals from across Australia.

02/06/2026

On Friday night we welcomed a full house for the launch of John Burgess's book about his father Captain RJ 'Dick' Burgess: 'Reflections on a Timeless Sea'.

Drawing on a lifetime spent on and around the water, the book shares stories, memories and reflections from a live lived on the sea. Guests enjoyed hearing John speak about the inspiration behind the book before staying on to chat, purchase copies and have them signed.

We are grateful to John for choosing the Maritime Museum as the venue for his launch, and to everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a success.

Copies of 'Reflections on a Timeless Sea' are available in our Museum bookshop.

📸 Tom Dawkins Photography

01/06/2026

The latest issue of Maritime Times Tasmania is now available!

In this winter issue, we look at some fascinating new acquisitions, including a migrant voyage travel case linked to the Orient Line steamer Orontes, a personal collection from master mariner Captain Digby Longhurst, and a CSIRO Argo robotic float now on display in the Museum’s new Hobart: Port City exhibition.

This issue also features the story of the small silver tinderbox that gave Tinderbox Bay its name, Raymond Arnold’s powerful etchings of the Cataraqui shipwreck, and a detailed account of the wartime sinking of Japanese submarine I-124 off Darwin.

Closer to home, we share updates from the St Helens History Room, Westward’s ANZAC Day commemorative sail, Mission to Seafarers Australia's work in Hobart, and TasPorts have given us the latest on the Macquarie Wharf Redevelopment, including a new home berth for RSV Nuyina.

Read online here: https://publuu.com/flip-book/820923/2487640

01/06/2026

We've still got a few seats left for Rex Cox's free Lunchtime Talk tomorrow at noon, snap them up before they're gone!

Join us for our June Lunchtime Talk as we welcome maritime photographer and long-time Museum volunteer, Rex Cox.

29/05/2026

We’re looking forward to welcoming a full house tonight for the sold-out book launch of John Burgess’s ‘Reflections on a Timeless Sea’ at the Maritime Museum.

Drawing on family diaries, memories and artwork, the book captures a remarkable chapter of Bass Strait maritime life through the experiences of master mariner Captain RJ “Dick” Burgess and artist Deda Burgess aboard the ketch Julie Burgess.

Thank you to everyone who booked tickets. It’s shaping up to be a very special evening celebrating Tasmania’s maritime history and the stories carried across generations.

Copies of ‘Reflections on a Timeless Sea’ will be available for sale in our Museum bookstore from tomorrow.