⚓ Navy125 Curator Talk
How did the Royal Australian Navy begin and what happened to its early ships?
Join curators Stirling Smith & Dr James Hunter on Thurs 23 April | 2–3:30pm
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/special-curator-talk-navy125-the-history-of-the-royal-australian-navy-tickets-1985625756088?
Author Talk: House of the Blue Glass
Historian Alan Atkinson reveals the hidden story of Penelope Lucas the 1st professionally qualified woman to emigrate independently from Europe to Australia.
Tue 21 April 2–3.30pm
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/author-talk-house-of-the-blue-glass-tickets-1983596927808?
Big weekend at the Maritime Museum 🌊
Plus the final weeks of Ocean Photographer of the Year.
🖨 Drop‑in risograph printing with Rizzeria Press
📚 Free author talks on Saturday
🧠 Sensory‑Friendly Morning on Sunday
🎉 Exhibitions, vessels and hands‑on fun all weekend
www.sea.museum/en/whats-on
Ready for the weekend like....
Ken Williams at Cronulla Point,1964
Object numberANMS1078[014]
Copyright© Jack Eden
ANMM Collection Gift from Dawn and Jack Eden
Did you know the French played a major role in exploring Australia?
From the late 1700s, French expeditions set out to chart Nouvelle‑Hollande.
📅 Thurs 26 March 2–3:30pm
🎟 $10 | FREE for Members
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/speakers-talk-french-explorers-of-australia-tickets-1977858947354?
Last chance to secure MMAPSS funding!
With support of up to $15,000 for projects and $3,000 for professional development, make a tangible impact upon preserving and promoting Australia’s rich maritime history.
Apply before: 3pm Tues 24 March
www.sea.museum/en/about/grants-and-awards/mmapss
🎉🌉 Happy 93rd Birthday, Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Back in 1960, the P&O liner STRATHEDEN sailed out beneath the Bridge.
Today we’re celebrating 93 years of ships, stories and unforgettable Harbour moments under Sydney’s most famous arch.
📸 John Richardson Object numberANMS1125[227]
🎧 Sunday Listen: The Wild History of Aussie Swimwear
www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/anthony-burke-by-design/extraordinary-everyday-swimming-costumes/106372874
Jeff Carter, Interior Paula's Bikini Bar, 1957
00027922
🌟 Vivid Sydney 2026
We’re proud to present our biggest Vivid program yet, celebrating the extraordinary creativity of Torres Strait artist Brian Robinson. 22 May – 13 June Mythical Mashup: The Graphic Worlds of Brian Robinson
🔗 www.sea.museum/en/whats-on/events/vivid-sydney
On this day – 10 February 1941
After returning from service in the Mediterranean, the cruiser HMAS Sydney (D48) is photographed moored off Sydney Cove, with crew members at their stations preparing for the arrival of dignitaries.
Samuel J Hood Studio ON 00020342
#OnThisDay #NAVY125 #SeaMuseum
Celebrate ocean science, stories and solutions at the Ocean Lovers Festival this March 🌊
We’re proud to partner with the festival with two speakers from the Museum joining the program.
📅 Sat 21 March 10am - 4pm
www.oceanloversfestival.com/ocean-lovers-talks?
Image; Daniel Kukec
📢MMAPSS applications are OPEN!
Grants of up to $15k for projects + $3k for professional development are available to support conservation, collections, exhibitions, and education.
Apply now: www.sea.museum/en/about/grants-and-awar...
Image: “Old Tom” at the Eden Killer Whale Museum
Behind the Scenes: Shaped by the Sea 🌊
Our conservation and preps team have completed the careful changeover of Contemporary Madarrpa (1998) by Djambawa Marawili.
This striking bark painting depicts fishing life at Baniyala.
www.sea.museum/en/whats-on/exhibitions/shaped-by-the-sea
EVENT | HMAS Melbourne & HMAS Voyager Disaster Talk
Join us for a powerful and moving talk.
Thurs 26 Feb, 2–3:30 pm
Tix: $10
Get your tickets: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/speakers-talk-the-hmas-melbourne-and-hmas-voyager-disaster-tickets-1977580375137?
SUNDAY READ 🏊♀️ In Underbool, a tiny outback town where summer temperatures regularly top 45°C, the local swimming pool is not a luxury. It is survival.
Read the full story in today’s Sunday Read: https://loom.ly/4yBcw8c
Don’t let this opportunity sail by! The CSIRO Marine National Facility (MNF) invites Australian researchers to apply for sea time on RV Investigator in 2028-29 via their Primary Application Call.
Don’t miss the boat. The application period closes on 19 May 2026.
Get onboard at www.csiro.au/mnf
Happy Lunar New Year and welcome to the Year of the Horse🐎
To celebrate, we searched the collection for horse connections across land and sea.
Explore the collection: https://collections.sea.museum/collections
Synchronised… whales? 🐋🐋
This image by Yuka Takahashi captures a rare moment of perfect timing as two humpback whales move together in sync. Photographed while snorkelling off Mo’orea (French Polynesia).
www.sea.museum/ocean-photographer
🐉🌕 Lunar Sea Festival
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a full day of cultural performances and family friendly activities. Enjoy dragon performances, music and dance, plus hands on activities for all ages.
📅 Sunday 22 February, 10am–4pm
🎟️ Free entry
https://loom.ly/NOg2rp8
Duyfken Update ⚓
The team have been busy completing important milestones with the apron being lowered into place at the bow, oiling the timber and applying antifouling paint to protect the hull.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as this fascinating project unfolds!
Meet Joy Paola, a third-year student at UNSW studying Marine Science.
She helped analyse over 2,900 “Dear Prime Minister” cards from the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibit, revealing what Australians want most for our oceans: www.sea.museum/en/ocean-futures/dear-pr...
The Winter Olympics celebrate sport on ice, these 1930s skate speak to the migrant experience
Packed by 13year old Rob Davids when he left Holland for Australia in 1952, the skate travelled across oceans as a reminder of home, grandparents and a life shaped by winter.
Ice skates 1930s 00046060
Congratulations to Captain Marty and Lisa Woods of Sydney Harbour Tall Ships on the inclusion of Søren Larsen and Southern Swan in the Australian Register of Historic Vessels.
👉 Explore the Australian Register of Historic Vessels here: https://arhv.sea.museum/collections
The Fishing Families of Western Australia website shares the histories of generations of fishing families who made their way from Europe, the Pacific, Asia and the Americas and helped build coastal communities.
👉 Discover the Basile family story
https://www.flatsea.org/families/basile-family
⚓✨ What’s On February: Talks, music & family fun
February is full of great reasons to visit the Maritime Museum. From lively sea shanties and special performances to author talks, thought-provoking conversations and hands-on programs for families.
www.sea.museum/en/whats-on
What's on this week?
It’s the final week of NSW school holidays and your last chance to unwind in our Beach chill-space. There’s plenty happening across the Museum with activities for all ages.
Make the most of the last week of the holidays.
👉 www.sea.museum/en/whats-on
🎧 Sunday Listen
What does it take to design a floating city?
Listen to Anthony Burke’s By Design on ABC Radio National, exploring the secrets of cruise ship design features Inger Sheil from the Museum.
https://loom.ly/V8Py4KA
Image: 'Jack' Tyrrell Richardson.
ANMS1125[001] - ANMS1125[308]
🌊 Last chance to visit the Beach!
Our all-ages play-and-chill-scape is open for its final week.
🎪 This Sunday 25 January catch Sync or Swim a 30-minute circus and physical theatre show by Beeswax & Bottlecaps.
🕰 12:30pm & 2pm
🎟 Ticketed entry
www.sea.museum/en/whats-on/events/the-beach
Have you taken a dip at these locations?
We’re excited to invite you to Special Event: Why Aussies Love Swimming a panel talk with authors Therese Spruhan and Chris Baker.
Sat 24 Jan, 2 – 4pm
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/special-event-why-aussies-love-swimming-tickets-1977480931699?
Front-row seats to the Ferrython and Tall Ships Race? Yes please!
Join our harbour with front-row views of one of the harbour’s most iconic maritime events.
Mon 26 Jan 10:30am–3pm
$149 - $120
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australia-day-cruise-on-sydney-harbour-2026-tickets-1975723087941?
#SeaMuseum