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The Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The Foundation aims to ensure that the museum is a place for everyone to enjoy, share and learn about the stories that are significant to our past and that will influence our future.
We help the museum to achieve its priorities, especially around building and preserving the National Maritime Collection, telling stories about our migration history, furthering our understanding through maritime archaeology and highlighting the importance of Indigenous connections to our seas, rivers and waterways.
The Foundation is overseen by a board of directors, chaired by Mr Daniel Janes. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.
2025 End-of-Financial-Year Campaign
As the end of the financial year approaches, we invite you to support two special projects of importance to the Museum. This year, we are raising funds for:
- The conservation and exhibition of the historic vessel currently known as ‘Barangaroo Boat’
- The continued delivery of the ‘Museum in a Box’ outreach initiative to aged care communities
Barangaroo Boat*
*working title
Discovered during excavations for the new Metro Station at Barangaroo, the vessel - currently known as Barangaroo Boat - is the earliest known Australian-built vessel to have been comprehensively documented and excavated. Donated to the Museum by Sydney Metro in 2023 its 300 preserved timber pieces will undergo further expert conservation before being carefully reassembled. Once restored, the boat will be the centrepiece of a major new exhibition exploring colonial Sydney, early boatbuilding techniques, and the incredible journey of this vessel from discovery to preservation.
Museum in a Box
Our much-loved Museum in a Box program brings history to life for aged care residents and community groups. With a focus on Australian beach culture from the 1940s to 1960s, the program uses original objects and audio stories to spark conversation, encourage connection, and celebrate the lived experiences and shared memories of those who remember the era.
Every donation, big or small, helps bring these important stories to life. Your tax-deductible gift directly supports the delivery of these programs, helping us preserve Australia’s rich history and share it in meaningful and memorable ways with people of all ages. Together we can keep these stories alive - please give generously.
Different ways to donate
You can make a difference
The Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation
The foundation raises funds to support the acquisition of objects for the National Maritime Collection, to maintain the fleet of vessels and to enhance programs and activities. The stories of some of the objects acquired with support from the Foundation can be found here.
History of the foundation
The Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation was established in 2002, following a generous donation of plans, photographs and tools from the famed Halvorsen boatbuilding family.
