Collections

Due to the sheer size of our collection, only a fraction of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s objects can be on display at any one time.

Don't let our lack of physical space get in the way of making new discoveries. You can explore a rich and diverse collection of artefacts online ranging from rocket boats to gold buttons, and discover a wealth of remarkable stories.

Explore the Collection

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Colonial Wallpapers - Pacific Encounters

Based on the conventions and elements of early European sea charts, the painting 'Colonial Wallpapers - Pacific Encounters' incorporates a central compass rose, rumb lines and wind gods in a reconstruction of the Pacific.

From the collection

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Illustrated log of the whaling barque TERROR

Illustrated log of the Terror

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HMT Queen Mary assisted by a tug

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Hobart Town 1856

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Arch in the Sky

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Emeret Nar: ghost net canoe

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The Charlotte Medal

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1967: When Australia First Won The Admiral's Cup (Part 1 of 2)

12 Jul 2017

Fifty years ago, in August 1967, Australian yachting made history on the world stage, winning the Admiral’s Cup event sailed in UK waters, then recognized as the unofficial world championship for ocean racing.

Senior men’s championship winners on the podium: 1 Midget Farrelly, Australia (centre), 2 Mike Doyle, California (left), 3 Joey Cabell, Hawaii (right).

The Bulk of the Iceberg: What's NOT On Display at the Museum

04 Jul 2017

One of the issues we readily face in the museum world is how to increase the proportion of our collection that is accessible to the public. The unfortunate reality is that due to collection size and the display space available the percentage of the collection on display at any one time is limited to approximately 9%.