About

As an island Nation, Australia relies on seafarers. The work of the Mission to Seafarers is a way of acknowledging their work and hardships, by provision of support.

All seafarers and port workers are the unsung and unknown front line key workers for the movement of essential cargo to keep all countries’ wealth and health stay afloat during this extraordinary time.

Our collection

Mission to Seafarers Victoria Collection (1856)

The collection focus is on the Mission to Seafarers Victoria organisational history and the communities surrounding it - seafarers, the Anglican chaplaincy and philanthropic groups, such as the Ladies Habour Lights Guild. The collection spans from 1856 to the present day.

It comprises:

- administrative documents (minutes books, annual reports)

- scrapbooks, newspapers clippings

- newsletters

- visitors log books (seamen started signing logbooks from 1940s, they sometimes used a pseudonym).

- photographs (1905- today): events, chaplains, seafarers (most of the time unknown)

- chapel registers: baptisms, marriages, funerals (access is restricted: Baptism: 100 years after the date of the birth / Death: 30 years after the date of death / Marriage: 60 years after the date of marriage)

- furniture (some pieces are heritage listed)

- objects

- paintings and artworks

- Reference library

Themes: Connecting Victorians by transport and communications, Building Victoria's industries and workforce, Building community life