Locations > Australian National Maritime Museum
Australian National Maritime Museum
The redevelopment of Pyrmont and Darling Harbour depended on the creation of new institutions (The Star and the Powerhouse Museum for example) to attract visitors, create economic activity and develop a new character. One of these is the National Maritime Museum (ANMM), promoted by the federal government (with its focus on Darling Harbour and the 1988 Bicentenary) and by the State government, equally concerned with Pyrmont. There was little smooth sailing. Philip Cox’s elegant wave-shaped design proved hard to build, so construction was disrupted and the museum opened only in 1991. Because it cost much more than the budgeted $30 million, the State Government had to fill a $40 million shortfall. As relations frayed, budgets were slashed. The Museum therefore welcomed a $US5 million grant towards a display exploring Australia’s maritime relations with the United States, but that permanent exhibition has occupied a whole gallery. Budget and staff cuts made the museum more dependent than it expected on volunteers.
Despite these tribulations, an exceptional museum was created, which (for example) was listed by the London Sunday Times in 2010 as one of the “World's 10 Coolest Museums”. ANMM’s seven main galleries focus on the discovery of Australia, Aboriginal Australians’ relations with the water, travel to Australia by sea, the ocean as a resource, water-based relaxation, the naval defence of the nation, and the relationship between the USA and Australia. Four other spaces house temporary exhibits. Three museum ships – the replica of HM Bark Endeavour, the destroyer HMAS Vampire, and the submarine HMAS Onslow – are open to the public, while smaller vessels berthed outside can be viewed but not boarded.
These old vessels are lovingly restored and repaired by many old and bold volunteers, another informal Pyrmont community group.
Other facilities include the Vaughan Evans Research Library, which holds a register of historic ships, and the Welcome Wall (facing the ferry stop) which lists immigrants who arrived by sea.
