We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Seaworks Maritime Museum
Large ceremonial plate featuring inscription and image of a ship
"Presented to/ Melbourne Harbor Trust/ By the owners of/ M.V. "Anro Asia"/ On the occasion of her/ inaugural call/ 1978"
verso "Selangor Pewter/ Malaysia- Singapore"
"PMA 0379"
Large wooden barometer
Small wooden plaque with a crest including a star with a wreath overlayed on top.
"Presented to ACTA Pty Ltd / in appreciation of assistance given/ to the army school of transport" "ER/ Royal Australian Corps of Transport/ Par Oneri" verso - label "Made to approved specifications/by Lega PTY LTD/ 24-26 William Street/ Balaclava Victoria Australia"
Small wooden plaque with a plaster crest with crown motif
"MV ACT 6" Verse: "21" written in red pen
Small wooden plaque with a plaster crest with crown motif
"MV ACT 3"
Small wooden plaque with green felt on the underside. The plaque features the Port of Melbourne crest and the words "Port of Melbourne" in gold lettering
"Port of Melbourne"
Small wooden plaque with green felt on the underside. The plaque features the Port of Melbourne crest and the words "Port of Melbourne" in gold lettering.
"Port of Melbourne"
Small wooden plaque with green felt on the underside. The plaque features the Port of Melbourne crest and the words "Port of Melbourne" in gold lettering.
"Port of Melbourne"
Image of a model lighthouse on a work bench.
Small print of a sketch of a port
"Troedel & Cooper PTY LTD"
Small black and white photograph of the "Mariposa" at sea
"Mariposa 1902"
Black and white poster showing a man who fell through his bunk bed to the bed below.
"Reminiscences of the Sobraon/ What happened one day in Cabin no. 33/ Always see that your bunk boards fit properly"
Photograph of the S.V Fennia crew on board
"S.V Fennia (Helsingfors)/ North Atlantic Ocean Nov 1926"
Small grey booklet describing the RMS Orontes
RMS Orontes 20,000 tons
Small white pamphlet about the "Canadian Pacific"
"Canadian Pacific 1891-1956"
Charlotte, one of the ‘two ladies’ of the fleet, was built on the River Thames in 1784 as a three masted, two-decker, barque built ship, weighing 345 tons. Charlotte was chartered by the Admiralty from its owner Mr Matthews late in 1786. She was fixed out at Deptford, one of the royal dockyards established to build, repair and victual ships of the Royal Navy. Her master for the voyage to Botany Bay was Captain Thomas Gilbert. Charlotte carried 88 male convicts and 20 female, among them were Thomas Akers, James Squire, James Bloodworth, James Underwood, Samuel Lightfoot and the later-to-be-famous Mary Bryant. Described as a light or slow sailor Charlotte had her fair share of accidents through rough winds and collisions of others ships.
Model of the "Charlotte"
Friendship was a convict transport ship of 276 tons, which was built in Scarborough England, in 1784, for her owners Hoppers of Scarborough. Aboard on the voyage to Botany Bay, were the Master, Captain Francis Walton, Assistant Surgeon Thomas Arnell and Marines, Captain James Meredith, Lieutenant Ralph Clark, and Lieutenant William. As the smallest of the transports Friendship probably carried a crew of around 20. Her 76 male and 21 female convicts were loaded at Plymouth.
Model of "The Friendship"
Built in 1780 as the Berwick for the East India trade. She was badly burnt in a fire and was bought and rebuilt by the navy in 1786 and renamed 'Sirius'. After her arrival in Port Jackson, she remained as a supply ship and sailed to the Cape of Good Hope in October 1788 to obtain food supplies for the starving colony. After returning she was wrecked off Norfolk Island on the 14th of April 1790. Being 540 tons and skippered by Captain John Hunter.
Model of the "HMS Sirius"
first fleet
This ship carried only one male convict and 49 female convicts. She was of 350 tons and skippered by Master John Mason. Built at the Thames in 1786, She operated in England until 1797 when her registration transferred to Fort Royal. Martinique, after which little is known.
Model of "The Prince of Wales"
The supply was the smallest of the fleet being only 170 tons and 70 feet long. Carrying 50 people and skippered by Captain Henry Bull, she led the fleet most of the way primarily because of her speed. Little is known of this brig's early history, but it seems she was built in America in 1759 and was commissioned by the Admiralty in October 1786. The Supply returned to England where she was renamed the Thomas & Nancy. The ship seems to have carried coal on the Thames until around 1806.
Model of the HMS Supply
This ship of 375 tons had the distinction of carrying the Reverend Richard Johnson - the first chaplain to the colony - and his wife. After returning to England to work the London Jamaica run, she disappeared from records after 1804. She was built in 1780 at Whitby and was skippered by Master Sharp for the first fleet voyage.
Model of the Golden Grove
first fleet
The Fishburn, like the other storeships, disappeared from all records after returning to England from her epic voyage. She was skippered by Master Robert Brown and weighed 378 tons. Built at Whitby in 1780.
Model of "The Fishburn"
Very little is known about this ship and it disappeared from records after the return voyage to England. Skippered by Master Readthorn Hobson, this ship weighed 375 tons, was 75 ft long and had a beam of 22ft. She was built at Sunderland in England in 1785, only two years before the trip to Australia
Model of the "Borrowdale"
first fleet
This convict transport of 333 tons was skippered by Master William Sever. Built at the Thames in 1786, she carried 101 female convicts. After returning to England, she was put on the London - Jamaica run and was captured in 1811 in the West Indies.
Large model of "The Lady Penrhyn"
first fleet
Being a large 430 tons, the Scarborough carried 208 male convicts. She was built at Scarborough in 1782. The Scarborough sailed back to England and returned to Port Jackson in the Second fleet. Apart from the 'Sirius' and 'Supply' she was the only other ship from the first fleet to return. She was skippered by Master Kohn Marshall.
Large model of the ship "Scarborough"
first fleet
Weighing in at 452 tons, 114 ft long and 31ft at the beam, the Alexander was skippered by Master Duncan Sinclair. She carried 195 male convicts and was the largest ship in the fleet. Being built in Hull, England in 1783, little is known of her after her return journey and then disappeared from records in 1808.
Large model of the ship "Alexander"
Small white card held together by a blue ribbon. The inside of the card features a black and white photo of a ship
"HMAS MELBOURNE" "With best wishes/ for Christmas/ and the New Year/ from/ Shirley and Bill" in pencil on verso "41/99"
Small white booklet containing information about the Union Steam Ship Company. Booklet is white and features the flag of the company on the front cover
"Union Steam Ship Co of N.Z LTD/ A guide to the company's services and its shipping and airway agencies"
A4 sized certificate with a black border and red seal.
"Victoria/ River Pilot Service/ This is to certify that/ Alba Cunnigham/ is duly qualified and competent to take charge and navigate all/ craft plying upon the Upper Yarra River Melbourne/ Licence issued under the Marine Board/ This twelfth day of February 1912/ Port Officer" written with pencil on the back "7.06"
Large green and gold stamp
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
