Bass & Flinders Maritime Museum

13/02/2025

From February 7th to the 10th, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival returned to Hobart, where people discovered a selection of wooden boats linked to the city's rich maritime heritage.

Whether it was the beautiful tall ships coming through the River Derwent or the stunning selection of vessels afloat and ashore, it was an unforgettable experience.

The festival offered workshops, a kid’s village, live music, displays, exhibitions and so much more, and of course the amazing food and beverage options. From Tasmanian whisky and cider too Italian pasta and seafood grill. There was truly a sensational selection on offer.

The Bass & Flinders Maritime Museum team was proud to participate in this festival and showcase "Mirage," a 25-foot whale boat. We made some amazing connections and are so grateful to have had a display. We cannot wait for the next festival in two years!

05/02/2025

04/02/2025

Heading to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival this weekend via boat, please read below.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM Biosecurity Tasmania
please read the following carefully:

⛵ Hobart’s historic and beautiful waterfront will play host to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival from 7-10 February 2025 ⛵

If you’re bringing your boat to the Festival from outside Tasmania, or just visiting from interstate to check out the action, Tasmania has some very important biosecurity requirements you will need to observe.

Simply follow the Biosecurity Basics when preparing for your travel, and when arriving in Tasmania:

- Check your vessel, storage, bags and possessions to make sure you’re not carrying any restricted or prohibited items, including fruit and vegetables, plant material, soil, seeds, honey and some seafood and animal products.
- Come in clean by ensuring your vessel and all equipment have been checked, cleaned and dried before coming to Tasmania.
- If you are bringing your dog or any other animals to Tasmania there are strict entry requirements, which you can find on the Biosecurity Tasmania website.

Let’s all enjoy this iconic event and help keep Tassie free of pests, weeds and diseases at the same time!

👉 Check the Biosecurity Tasmania website for more information and tips: https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecuritybasics

02/02/2025

Come and view the "Mirage" at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival

📅 7th - 10th Febraury 2025.

https://awbf2025.org.au/boats/mirage/

01/02/2025

Inspiring the next generation of Explorers

Housings one of Tasmania’s most varied collections of maritime artefacts, the museum showcases the replica Sloop Norfolk, James Kelly's whaleboat the Elizabeth, and the Admiral, the Kenneth Dickenson, the Tamar Class Melanie, the sabot Zephyr 2, rowing fours, canoes, and a tribute to solo round the world quest by Ken Gourley.

The Bass and Flinders Maritime Museum also feature an extensive collection of maps and charts, photographs, paintings, logbooks, movies, diaries, and journals.

29/01/2025

We are heading to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

You will find us among the Maritime Marketplace on the Elizabeth St Pier. Also, we will have the "Mirage," a 25-foot whale boat on display at PW1 Forecourt.

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is the biggest celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest free event in Tasmania.

Founded in 1994, the four-day festival is held biennially in Hobart. The historic port of Hobart comes alive with a lively atmosphere that provides a carefully chosen assortment of experiences. From traditional fishing boats to historic tall ships and vintage yachts, the festival showcases an impressive array of wooden vessels.

Along with on-water displays, boat cruises and tours, workshops, exhibitions, live music at the festival tavern, delectable Tasmanian food and drink, and a kids maritime precinct with lots of activities. A festival much-loved by people of all ages, Tasmanians, mainlanders and overseas friends.

29/01/2025

Just one of the many maps and nautical charts we have on display at the Bass and Flinders Maritime Museum. 🗺

23/12/2024

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! 🎄 ⚓️

We will be closed on Wednesday 25th of December 2024.

The Watch House and the Visitor Information Centre are also closed on Wednesday, December 25th, and Thursday, December 26th, 2024.

10/12/2024

Look who dropped by the museum the other day!

📖 Author Guy Salvidge paid us a visit with his latest novel, Diemens. This book follows the colony’s first decades told through the lens of a family destined to shape Tasmania's history.

Even better, we now have signed copies available in our gift shop! Don’t miss the chance to own this remarkable piece of storytelling.

Thank you, Guy, for stopping by and sharing your incredible work with us!

05/12/2024

Looking forward to sharing some Christmas Joy tomorrow 🎄⛵️

11/11/2024

Well done Craig! We are proud to have you as part of our team!

07/11/2024

Tom Thumb was an 8-9 ft row boat, brought out from England on the Reliance by George Bass.

Among their many exploits, Matthew Flinders and George Bass rowed the Tom Thumb up Georges River in NSW accompanied by William Martin.

03/11/2024

We are open today - 10:00am - 4:00pm ⛵️

03/11/2024

Yes, we are open tomorrow for the Recreation Day Public Holiday.

Come explore Tasmania’s rich maritime history at the Bass and Flinders Maritime Museum - 10am - 4pm.

25/10/2024

Step aboard the replica Norfolk and go below deck into the Focsle to imagine what a challenge it was to cook a meal in the midst of a raging storm.

25/10/2024

Photography Challenge Week 4 – Mauritius

In this final week of our challenge, we reflect on a lesser-known chapter in Matthew Flinders’ life: his captivity on the Isle de France (now Mauritius). Despite being a renowned navigator, Flinders was held as a prisoner for six and a half years during the war between Britain and France. He had believed the scientific nature of his work would protect him, even during wartime, but France accused him of being a spy.

During his imprisonment, Flinders recorded his voyages, gathering valuable information for future publication. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated during captivity, and although he returned to Britain in 1810, he did not live to see the success of his acclaimed book and atlas, "A Voyage to Terra Australis."

📷 Chris Carr
📷 Kerrie Exley – Mountain Views
📷 Amanda Griffith, Trim the cat - Sculpture at Windmill Point, George Town
📷 Amanda Griffith - Trim - Mathew Flinders cat. Taken from Bass and Flinders Museum
📷 Amanda Griffiths - Low Head - Mountain/Island view
📷 Neal- During his captivity on the Isle De France (Mauritius) Matthew penned his homage to his cat Trim. He declared that Trim was "the best and most illustrious of his Race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures" and lamented the cat's demise at the hands of the Catophagi (cat-eaters) of the island.

22/10/2024

The Bass and Flinder's Maritime Museum is the home to a number of significant wooden sailing vessels including the replica sloop Norfolk, James Kelly's whaleboat Elizabeth, the Admiral, the Kenneth Dickenson, the Tamar Class Melanie and the sabot Zephyr2. Our collection reflects the importance of the Tamar River and the Bass Strait in Tasmania's maritime history.
Come and visit us at 8 Elizabeth Street, George Town.
We are open daily from 10am-4pm.

19/10/2024

📷 Photography Challenge - Week 4: MAURITIUS 🏝️

💭 Think.... Trim - Matthew Flinders Cat, mountains/island views, love letters, flute, music.

Submit your photos by Wednesday 23rd of October. Email your photos to: [email protected]