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26 September, 2005: "Sydney Heritage Fleet Celebrates 40 years in existence"
Sep 26, 2005
Exciting event planned to mark our 40th Birthday Have you’ve ever been curious about the collection of old ships you see down in Rozelle Bay as you drive west over the Anzac Bridge? Have you ever wanted to join a Museum whose aim in life is to preserve maritime artifacts for future generations and to restore and operate significant maritime heritage vessels? Well now’s your chance to see what’s going on while at the same time having a great day out at a celebration with a maritime theme!
This year the Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd, perhaps better known as the Sydney Heritage Fleet celebrates its 40th Birthday. To mark this momentous occasion they will be holding an Open Day for members of the public at the Heritage Shipyard, James Craig Road, Rozelle Bay on Sunday 27th November 2005. In telling this publication what was planned for the day, General Manager Jon Simpson said “there will be jazz bands, market stalls, sausage sizzles and the like and visitors will be encouraged to walk around the site to view some of the unique vessels in the Fleet and to see some of the activities undertaken by our volunteers.”
There will be tours of three of the Fleet’s 100 year old, beautifully restored vessels – the steam tug Waratah and the steam launch Lady Hopetoun and the Gentleman’s Schooner Boomerang! Visitors will be able to see other vessels under restoration such as the steam driven buoy tender John Oxley and the Sydney ferry, Kanangra. Visitors will be allowed into the workshop where they will see some of the old skills still being maintained by Fleet volunteers. Visitors will be able to buy maritime books! There will be car boot sales where you can browse and pick up a bargain or bring your own boot full and make a few dollars! If you have old wares that you would like to sell, please contact Sybil at Sydney Heritage Fleet on 92983868 to arrange a site booking. Maritime skills such as rigging and knot making, small boat and marine engine restoration will all be on display Parking will be available close by. As this will be a fun day, celebrating a unique event, members of the public are invited to come along and enjoy the day. Why not make a day of it and bring the family – especially as entry will be free!
The Fleet is looking for donations of books, vinyl records, cakes, maritime bric a brac, maritime artefacts etc. which can be sold on the day to raise funds for the Fleet. If you have such items which you would like to give to the Fleet for sale please contact Hugh Lander or Sybil Edwards on 92983888.
The festivities will kick off at around 10.00 AM. The official opening will take place at 2.30 PM
For more information please phone 92983888.
Posted by
Hugh Lander on 26 September, 2005
