Sydney Heritage Fleet

James Craig on Sydney Harbour

The Sydney Heritage Fleet restoration shipyard at Rozelle Bay, New South Wales. The vessels in the image include the steam tug Waratah, the harbour ferry Kanangra, and the pilot vessel John Oxley.

Sydney Heritage Fleet, also known as the Sydney Maritime Museum, is a private not-for-profit museum located in Darling Harbour (James Craig) and in Rozelle Bay (Heritage dockyard) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The Fleet restores and operates a large number of historic vessels including the barque James Craig.

History

The Lady Hopetoun at Circular Quay c.1910

The Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum was the forerunner of the Sydney Heritage Fleet. In 1965 a group of enthusiasts formed the museum to preserve Sydney's 1902 VIP steam yacht Lady Hopetoun. The organisation later became known as the Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd. In 1998 the museum adopted the trading name Sydney Heritage Fleet. The Fleet now comprises 10 historical vessels which is amongst the largest collection of its type in Australia.^[1]

The Organisation

The Sydney Heritage Fleet is supported by a membership of 1200, with 450 volunteer workers who restore, operate and maintain the fleet and preserve traditional maritime methods and skills. In addition to the 10 primary vessels being operated or restored, the Fleet also has 55 small heritage boats and a significant collection of marine engines under restoration, as well as a collection of over fifty model ships. A comprehensive research library and archive which includes photographs, ships' plans, diaries, logs and journals is also maintained. ^[2]

Funding is through donations, membership subscriptions and income from vessel charters and tours.^[3]

Vessels of the Sydney Heritage Fleet

James Craig at sea under sail in May 2012

John Oxley with Boomerang in 2005

As listed in the SHF's website,^[4] the fleet is currently composed of the following ships:

Operational vessels

• James Craig, an 1874 iron-hull 3-mast barque
• Waratah, a 1902 steam tug
• Lady Hopetoun, a 1902 VIP steam launch
• Boomerang, a 1903 schooner
• Protex, a 1908 inner-harbour motor launch
• Harman, a 1947 ex-RAN harbour workboat/passenger motor boat
• Berrima, a 1954 Botany Bay workboat/passenger motor boat
• Kookaburra II, a 1950s wooden speed boat

Under restoration

• John Oxley, a 1927 pilot vessel
• Kanangara, a 1912 Sydney Ferries Limited steel and wooden ferry

Support Vessels

• Bronzewing, 1968 and Currawong, 1969, are Bronzewing-class harbour tugs (on loan from the Royal Australian Navy). They are used to berth and un-berth James Craig or to relocate the steam ships when not under steam.

References

1. Sydney Heritage Fleet website http://www.shf.org.au
2. Sydney Heritage Fleet website http://www.shf.org.au
3. Sydney Heritage Fleet website http://www.shf.org.au
4. List of ships in SHF's website, retrieved 2009-03-09

Bibliography

• John Oxley Restoration Underway 2012, by Hette Mollema.

External links

• Sydney Heritage Fleet

Coordinates: 33°52′11.57″S 151°11′55.12″E / 33.8698806°S 151.1986444°E