The Museum of Sydney Harbour – home of Sydney Heritage Fleet
The Museum of Sydney Harbour is designed to be the new permanent home of Sydney Heritage Fleet.
Artistic rendering of the Museum of Sydney Harbour at Berrys Bay.
The Museum of Sydney Harbour is designed to be the new permanent home of Sydney Heritage Fleet. It is also designed to be a community hub, with waterfront access throughout and facilities and activities for the community and visitors.
The local MP, Felicity Wilson, said in a press release in September 2020,
“Previous ideas for Berrys Bay included a small community marina, open parks and boat mooring…”
“We’ve heard some great ideas already around connecting existing parkland and open space, such as a continuous connect from Carradah Park through Berrys Bay to Balls Head, including the beach and old quarantine facilities”.
“It is important to respect the heritage and character of the area while also considering the possibility to attract place activation opportunities like cultural or food and beverage opportunities”.
Local MP Felicity Wilson
The SHF Berrys Bay concept already includes many community ideas mentioned by Ms Wilson:
Community marina
Boat moorings
Foreshore walkway from Carradah Park to Quarantine Launch Depot
Cultural place activation
Food & beverage opportunities
In addition:
Canoe/kayak/dinghy storage and launching
Community activity areas
Woodleys Shipyard experience
Detailed site plan of Museum of Sydney Harbour proposal
Museum site facilities in a little more detail
• Community marina berths up to a maximum of 15m
Temporary visiting berths for visitors
Amenities ashore for boat owners
• Foreshore walkway open 24hrs a day. Security on site 24/7
• Cultural place activation
SHF historic vessels
Museum of Sydney Harbour
Links to other Balls Head cultural sites
• Food & beverage
Waterfront café with open air and undercover seating and views across Berrys Bay
Open daily for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea
Takeaway options
On-site Catering, by arrangement
• Canoe/kayak/dinghy storage and launching
Undercover, secure storage racks for small craft
Launching ramp suitable for canoes, kayaks and small dinghies
Amenities, including change rooms and showers, for canoeists
Amenities enable early morning/afternoon paddling before or after work
• Community activity areas
A variety of activities with a maritime theme, particularly for families,
Space for local community events & private functions
• Woodleys Shipyard Experience
Visit the SHF’s workshop and see a variety of maritime skills and trades demonstrated by SHF volunteers
• And in the old administration building
• Maritime Records & Research Centre incorporating Library, Reading room, Gallery of historic records and art; plus Model Shipbuilding Workshop and Meeting room – available for local groups
Inside the Museum of Sydney Harbour
On entry, the visitor is greeted with an active space and a central circulation area which enables orientation and group gathering. Parts of the collection are on show. The reception provides an active focus on all the available experiences in both the portal and on Sydney Harbour. Tour times are indicated on digital signboards and live footage of running tours is shown on multiple screens. This live footage is integrated with imagery from the presentations within the building’s own visitor experience. Visitors are able to go into the exhibitions within, or book tours or visits to the partner attractions throughout the Harbour.
Part of the mezzanine edge will feature graphics and lectern showcases containing artefacts and imagery, allowing those interested to explore the stories featured in the ‘show’ further. Other related stories are also featured, for example, family connections and other aspects of stories that happened far from the harbour.
The lower level features a 30-metre combination graphic and digital map of the Harbour. The visitor arrives at the Harbour Heads, with the water represented by digital art. The map is both part of the ‘show’ from the first floor, and also provides locations for story events and demonstrates changing weather patterns. The map can illustrate changes in the geology of the Harbour over deep time, for example what it looked like during the last Ice Age, and it also provides opportunities for humour and excitement.
If you have any questions please email: info@museumofsydneyharbour.org