Discover stories behind the latest exhibitions, fascinating explorations into maritime science and archaeology, and the surprising details of what happens inside (and outside) a modern working museum.

Left to right: Monga Khan AUSSIE and Gladys Sym Choon AUSSIE posters by Peter Drew, 2020. National Maritime Collection, reproduced courtesy the artist

12 Oct 2020

The art of making: New immigration acquisitions
Screenshot from the PS 'Herald' VR experience

14 Sep 2020

The PS 'Herald' VR Experience: Seven students, one virtual dive
A discarded motorbike transforms from trash to treasure by creating habitat for small fish and invertebrate growth in the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve off Manly

11 Sep 2020

Submerged secrets: Life thrives beneath Sydney's waterways
A small selection of the museum's Dunbar collection, purchased with the assistance of the Andrew Thyne Reid Charitable Trust

20 Aug 2020

The melancholy wreck of the 'Dunbar'
The second pilot steamer  Captain Cook (II) was designed by W D Cruikshank and built at Mort’s Dock & Engineering Company in 1892. Used as a naval training ship during World War II, it was scuttled off Sydney in October 1947. Photographed c 1920 by William James Hall. ANMM Collection ANMS1092[015] Gift from Mr and Mrs Glassford

07 Aug 2020

'Not all beer and skittles': Sydney Harbour pilotage
Image: Matt Hardy, Unsplash

04 Aug 2020

Fast Five: Quick questions with some of Australia's most important ocean defenders
The first known image of Jeanne Baret, from 1816. From Navigazioni di Cook del grande oceano e intorno al globo, Volume 2, 1816, Sonzogono e Comp, Milano. Reproduced courtesy State Library of NSW

27 Jul 2020

The extraordinary circumnavigation of Jeanne Baret
Fold-out engraving from Ferrante Imperato's Dell'Historia Naturale (Naples 1599), the earliest illustration of a natural history cabinet. Source: Wikimedia

23 Jul 2020

Cabinet of curiosities
Kieran Hosty at Boot Reef in December 2018. Image Julia Sumerling/Silentworld Foundation

15 Jul 2020

Ask an Archaeologist Day