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.

One of the Las Balsas rafts at sea, with the other two rafts in the background, 1973. Photograph by John Carnemolla. Image reproduced courtesy Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum

16 Jul 2020

Las Balsas: The world's longest raft journey
Workers place concrete reinforcement steel in the Tooma–Tumut Tunnel, part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, 1960. Photographer Don Edwards. ANMM Collection Gift from Barbara Alysen ANMS0215[016]

17 Oct 2019

Snowy stories
José Coelho is farewelled by his teaching colleagues in Ponta do Sol, Madeira, prior to his departure for Australia, 1956.

28 Sep 2019

Love and sacrifice: From Madeira Island to the Snowy Mountains
Watercolour of Port Adelaide, South Australia, by Samuel Thomas Gill, 1840s. Rex Nan Kivell Collection, National Library of Australia

27 Aug 2019

A worker in tulle: The English lacemakers of Calais
Annarosa Coluccio (third from left) with her parents (left) and mother-in-law (fourth from left) at her proxy marriage in Roccella Jonica, Calabria, Italy, 1956. Reproduced courtesy Isabella Coluccio

22 Aug 2019

Until we meet again: An Italian proxy bride's story
Johann and Katharina Emmelhainz on the Beulah passenger list, 1849. Courtesy NSW State Archives Reel 2145, [4/4820].

04 Apr 2019

Vinedressers and vintners
Johanna Goggins is one of the Irish famine orphans who is inscribed on the Welcome Wall.  Image: Kim Tao/ANMM.

17 Mar 2019

Remembering the Irish famine orphans
Threads of migration roof projection in 2019. Image: ANMM.

26 Jan 2019

Threads of migration
On 24 January 1999, the first 3,000 names were officially unveiled on the museum’s Welcome Wall. Today the Welcome Wall features nearly 30,000 names representing more than 100 countries.

24 Jan 2019

Celebrating 20 years of the Welcome Wall