Following a generous gift from the Federal Government, through the NSW Council of the Australian Bicentennial Authority, we were able to construct the purpose-built Sea Heritage Pontoon Dock. In October 1985, the James Craig was placed on it and the vessel, safely ensconced on the dock, was re-sited to Darling Harbour where work continued.
Restoration and then conservation were now able to begin in earnest. Original plans were to restore the vessel up to the status of a static museum display. It soon became evident however that her importance to maritime heritage, not only that of Australia but also to the rest of the world, made it imperative that she be fully conserved so that she could sail again.
A rather skeletal James Craig with many of her plates removed, on the Sea Heritage Dock in Darling Harbour.
With the lifting of the ship onto the dock substantial repair work on the hull structure was possible. The hull was effectively taken apart and rebuilt using as much of the original plating as possible.
Soon though Darling Harbour proved to be a less than desirable restoration site as organisations such as surrounding hotels and tour operators began to complain about noise. Restoration work became incredibly slow and inefficient and, by 1994, it was decided to move the Sea Heritage Dock, with the James Craig, back to the Waterways Wharf in Rozelle Bay.
Some of the highly skilled tradesman and volunteers who worked on the Restoration project at Rozelle Bay.
The James Craig under tow with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, following her relaunch by the Premier of New South Wales, Mr Bob Carr.
On Sunday 23rd February 1997 the James Craig once again floated on her own bottom after she was officially relaunched by the Premier of NSW, Mr. Bob Carr. In officiating at the ceremony Mr Carr said, "The James Craig is important simply because she exists. There are remarkably few living relics of that era; some wrecks and hulks, some replicas and a few restored, static, displays. Only two (sic) other 19th century ships have been restored to be operational under sail and both of these are in the United States."
In 1995, the Sydney Maritime Museum, determined that the project must not fail, established a separate James Craig Restoration Division to oversee the project's completion.
The new James Craig figurehead, carved by Martin Jeffery
Visit his own website
In order to comply with modern navigation and safety requirements, some modern equipment had to be installed to gain certification for sailing into and out of Sydney harbour with passengers. The James Craig is now fitted with engines (donated by MTU), gearboxes (donated by ZF Australia), controllers (donated by Mannesmann Rexroth), sullage tanks, modern fire-fighting equipment and 21st Century navigation and safety devices. However these have been integrated into the ship in such a way as to not significantly interfere with her 19th century ambience.
A feature of the ship is the captain's and officer's quarters, immediately below the poop deck, which have been fitted out with wood paneling, carvings, period furniture and the like, as they would have been in their heyday.
A bone in her teeth once again
She is now sailing regularly, and is the only 19th century barque in the world that can give members of the general public the experience of sailing on such a ship on the open ocean. Why not book a sail?
