Sydney Maritime Museum

The Sydney Heritage Fleet is a maritime museum in Darling Harbour that displays a collection of historic vessels and maritime artifacts. Spread across two locations at Wharf 7 and James Craig Road in Rozelle Bay, the site features a heritage shipyard, model workshops, displayed boats, and a library.

The institution was founded in 1965 to preserve the steam yacht Lady Hopetoun and changed its name from Sydney Maritime Museum to Sydney Heritage Fleet in 1998. This renaming marked a shift toward a broader focus on preserving Australia's maritime heritage.

The museum teaches visitors about traditional maritime practices through demonstrations and hands-on activities involving vessel restoration and sailing techniques. These workshops let guests directly experience the work required to maintain and operate historic ships.

The museum is spread across two locations, so visitors should plan which areas they want to explore. The area is well served by public transport and offers plenty of space for walking and learning.

The collection includes ten historic vessels, among them the barque James Craig, which received the World Ship Trust Maritime Heritage Award for its complete restoration. This award recognizes the extraordinary attention to detail in bringing the ship back to its original condition.