Society > Community Groups > Sydney Heritage Fleet
Sydney Heritage Fleet
Sydney Heritage Fleet (SHF) is the trading name of Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd.
The Fleet restores and operates historic vessels including the barque James Craig. In 2003 the International Congress of Maritime Museums gave the James Craig the Maritime Heritage Award.
The offices, model workshop, some displayed boats, and the library are on Wharf 7 in Darling Harbour. The James Craig is alongside the wharf. The fleet's shipyard is in Rozelle Bay.
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 historic vessels, one of the largest collections of its type in the world. What also sets this organisation apart from others is that the vessels are operational, or intended to be operational after restoration.
Organisation
The Sydney Heritage Fleet is supported by about 1200 members, 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 collection of marine engines under restoration, as well as over fifty model ships. A comprehensive research library and archive is also maintained.
Funding is through donations, membership subscriptions and income from vessel charters and tours.
History of SHF in Pyrmont
One of this organisation’s first bases was in Bank Street Pyrmont, at an old coal loading site behind the Shell Garage. Based here were the hulk of the steam lighter Nelson, Waratah, Lady Hopetoun and another steam tug Wattle. From here this small fleet moved into the old ash pens next door in Bank Street. These pens were actually small dry docks built to dock ash barges from the Pyrmont Power Station. They became redundant when it became possible to sell the ash. The second pen became a dry dock for the restoration of Waratah, and this work started the restoration activity that Sydney Heritage Fleet is renowned for. For many years the John Oxley was moored alongside the RAN’s logistics base at REVY (Royal Edward Victualling Yard). Over this time the nature of Pyrmont changed dramatically with wharfage and commercial shipping giving way to housing. Today the SHF offices are housed at the Australian National Maritime Museum site at Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, and at this site the barque James Craig is also based.
Related Items
Further Reading
