Sydney Heritage Fleet facts for kids
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| Established | 1965 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wharf 7, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Heritage shipyard located at James Craig Road, Rozelle Bay. |
| Type | Historic ship collection |
| Owner | Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd. |
| Public transit access |
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The Sydney Heritage Fleet is a special group in Sydney, Australia. They work hard to save and fix old ships. They also let people visit and even sail on these amazing historic vessels! Their main office and some cool model boats are at Wharf 7 in Darling Harbour. Their shipyard, where they fix the ships, is in Rozelle Bay. One of their most famous ships is the James Craig, which even won a big award in 2003 for being an important piece of history.
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History of the Fleet
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The Sydney Heritage Fleet started in 1965. A group of people, led by Warwick Turner, wanted to save an old steam yacht called Lady Hopetoun. This yacht was built in 1902 and was used for important guests.
The group first called themselves The Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum. Later, they became the Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd. In 1998, they changed their public name to the Sydney Heritage Fleet. Today, they have 10 historic ships. This makes their collection one of the biggest in the world!
In February 2024, the James Craig ship celebrated its 150th birthday since it was first launched. Other historic ships from the Fleet, including the Lady Hopetoun, joined in the celebration.
How the Fleet Works
The Sydney Heritage Fleet has a lot of support. About 1,200 members and 450 volunteers help out. These volunteers are very important. They fix, run, and take care of the ships. They also help keep old maritime skills alive.
Besides the 10 main ships, the Fleet also has 55 smaller historic boats. They are also working to restore many old marine engines. The Fleet also has a collection of over 50 model ships. They keep a large library too. This library has photos, ship plans, and old journals.
The Fleet gets its money from donations and membership fees. They also earn money by letting people charter their ships for events or go on tours.
Ships You Can See and Sail On
The Sydney Heritage Fleet has several amazing ships that are ready to sail.
The James Craig
The James Craig is a very special ship. It has three masts and a strong iron body. It was built in 1874 in England. Its first name was Clan Macleod. This ship carried goods all over the world. It sailed around Cape Horn 23 times! That's a very difficult and dangerous journey. In 1900, it was bought and renamed James Craig. It then sailed between New Zealand and Australia until 1911.
The Waratah
The Waratah is a tugboat that runs on coal. It was launched in Sydney in 1902. Its original name was Burunda. This tugboat was used to pull dredges and barges. It worked along the coast of New South Wales.
The Lady Hopetoun
The Lady Hopetoun is a beautiful steam launch from 1902. It was named after the wife of Australia's Governor-General at the time. It was built in Sydney and launched in April.
The Boomerang
The Boomerang is a schooner from 1903. It was first called the Bona. A famous Sydney ship designer named Walter Reeks designed it.
Other Operational Vessels
- Protex is a motor launch from 1908. It used to work in the inner harbour.
- Harman is a motor boat from 1947. It was once a workboat and passenger boat for the Royal Australian Navy.
- Berrima is a motor boat from 1954. It worked as a workboat and passenger boat in Botany Bay.
- Bronzewing (1968) and Currawong (1969) are tugboats. They are on loan from the Royal Australian Navy. These tugs help to move the James Craig and other steamships when they are not using their own engines.
Ships Being Restored
The Fleet also has ships that are currently being fixed up. This process can take a long time and a lot of effort!
The John Oxley
The John Oxley is a steamship. It used to be a pilot boat and helped with buoys. It was built in Scotland in 1927. In April 2022, the John Oxley had a lot of its hull fixed. It was on a special floating dock for this work. After it was finished, the Kanangra ferry took its place on the dock.
The Kanangra
The Kanangra is a Sydney ferry from 1912. It has a steel body and a wooden top part. It is currently being restored at the Fleet's shipyard in Rozelle.
The Kookaburra II
The Kookaburra II is a wooden speedboat from the 1950s.
Images for kids
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James Craig on Sydney Harbour
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The Sydney Heritage Fleet restoration shipyard at Rozelle Bay, New South Wales. The vessels in the image include the steam tug Waratah, the harbour ferry Kanangra, and the pilot vessel John Oxley.
