Maritime Museum of Tasmania facts for kids
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| Established | 1974 (current building 2000) |
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| Location | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
The Maritime Museum Tasmania is a special place in Hobart, Tasmania, where you can learn all about the island's amazing history with the sea. It's run by volunteers who love sharing stories about ships, ship-building, and how people have explored the ocean around Tasmania for a very long time. You can find it at Carnegie House, right by the water in Sullivans Cove.
History of the Museum
The island of Tasmania has a long and interesting connection with the sea. This goes back even before British settlers arrived. The first people of Tasmania had strong ties to the sea and the islands around them.
When the British arrived by sea in 1803, Tasmania's history of sailing, trading by ship, and fishing continued. The museum works to collect and show items that tell this story.
People who loved the sea first suggested that the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery should have a section about Tasmania's sea history in the 1930s. But it wasn't until 1972 that six volunteers decided to create a special museum just for this. This is how the Maritime Museum of Tasmania began! It first opened in 1973 in St. George's Church, Battery Point, with an official opening in 1974.
Growing and Moving
In 1983, the museum moved to Secheron House, a much larger and more suitable building built in 1831. This move allowed the museum to grow and show more exhibits.
The Tasmanian Government decided to sell Secheron House in 1999. The museum saw this as a chance to move again and become an even bigger and better place for learning and visitors. The museum moved to its current home, the Carnegie Building. This new spot is perfect because it's right next to the docks of Sullivans Cove. It's also close to the city center and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
The newly updated Carnegie Building officially opened as the Maritime Museum of Tasmania on March 28, 2000. Queen Elizabeth II herself opened the building!
In 2025, the Maritime Museum Tasmania took over the old Semaphore Cottage. They turned it into a special center where visitors can learn more. This cottage is known as the oldest building still standing in Battery Point. It was built in 1818 as a guardhouse for the Mulgrave Battery, which was Hobart's first defense spot.
What You Can See
The museum has many interesting items. One special item is a sandstone statue from around 1836. It shows Van Diemen's Land governor George Arthur. People believe it was carved by Daniel Herbert. He was known for his carvings on the Ross Bridge. This statue was given to the museum in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Marítimo de Tasmania para niños
- Australian National Maritime Museum
- Shipwrecks of Tasmania
- List of museums in Tasmania
