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Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum
"Take a voyage of discovery"
Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum.jpg
Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum
Established 1983
Location Regatta Avenue, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia
Type Local maritime history museum
Key holdings Las Balsas raft
Founder Roy Kilner
Owner Operated by Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum
Nearest parking Yes

The Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum is a cool place to learn about ships and the ocean! It's located in Ballina, New South Wales, a town in Australia. This museum tells the story of Ballina's history with the sea. It also shares stories of sailors who lived in the town.

Many people who helped start the museum were once in the Royal Australian Navy. Some volunteers today also served in the Navy. The museum has amazing displays and models. They show important events and history from the Australian Navy and other navies around the world.

You can find the museum on Regatta Avenue. It's right behind the Ballina Tourist Information Centre. The museum is famous for having one of the three original Las Balsas rafts. It also has Australia's biggest collection of model ships!

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has lots of interesting things to explore. Here are some of the main displays:

  • The famous Las Balsas raft.
  • Exhibits about the Port of Ballina and local history.
  • A special tribute to women who served in the Navy.
  • Fun, interactive displays, including one about the SS Wollongbar ship.
  • Videos you can watch to learn more.
  • A real, working triple expansion steam engine.
  • A Mark 9 21-inch Torpedo.
  • Many detailed model ships.

The Amazing Las Balsas Raft

Main article: Vital Alsar Pacific raft expeditions

In 1973, something incredible happened. Three rafts, called Las Balsas, were towed into Ballina. They had just finished a very long journey from Ecuador! One of these rafts is now kept safe at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum.

The adventurers on the rafts had planned to land in Mooloolaba in Queensland. But ocean currents pushed them off course. Their journey was almost twice as long as the famous Kon-Tiki expedition of 1947. This trip proved that people could have traveled across the Pacific Ocean a very long time ago.

Gallery

  • Ballina LasBalsas1

    The Las Balsas raft at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum

  • Model Ship, Ballina Maritime Museum

    A model of a Dutch Indiaman ship

See also