Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

Maritime History week 2026 event Book your place for a special guided tour of the Lifeboat Shed on the pier, a historic structure rarely open to the public. The shed which housed the lifeboat is located on the Queenscliff 'New' or 'Steamer' Pier (built in 1884). This shed includes the internal section of the slipway used to launch and retrieve the lifeboat.

Maritime History week 2026 event Special guided tour of the Museum and archives. Step beyond the public galleries and into the Museum’s archive and collection spaces for a rare behind-the-scenes experience. Led by our guides, this special tour offers a deeper look at the stories, photographs, and objects rarely seen by visitors, with a particular focus on 100 years of the Lifeboat Queenscliffe and the people who served on her. Numbers limited to 15 participants

Maritime History week 2026 event Shedding the Blues proudly presents — Live Music by the Sea A high-energy night of live music and dancing in the Gill Allbutt Boat Shed, featuring a line-up of Shedding the Blues bands for a great night out. Bar open — drinks at bar prices

Maritime History week 2026 event Michael Cathcart in conversation with the remaining Queenscliffe lifeboat crew and the Queenscliffe Coast Guard members A rare opportunity to hear directly from those who risked their lives at sea, and those who carry that responsibility forward today. Bar Open - drinks at bar prices.

Maritime History week 2026 event Adjunct Professor Brad Duncan Dr Brad Duncan is currently the Senior Maritime Archaeologist of the Maritime Heritage Program for the NSW Heritage and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, University of New England. Discover the hidden expertise behind Queenscliff’s fishing families and the knowledge that kept lives and vessels safe. From the early days of settlement, fishing shaped everyday life along Southern Port Phillip. In Queenscliff, a diverse fishing community grew around Fishermen’s Flat, working the rich seasonal fisheries and developing an intimate understanding of the sea, weather, and coastline. Drawing on archival research, archaeology, and first-hand oral histories, this talk brings those stories to life. It reveals how local fishers’ deep knowledge not only sustained families and fed communities, but also played a crucial role in shipwreck rescues and maritime safety.

Maritime History week 2026 eventJoin us for a panel conversation hosted by Hannie Rayson, featuring women who work in, care for, and are deeply connected to the marine and maritime environment. Through personal stories and professional insight, the panel explores what it means to live, work, and steward the sea and coast, and why women’s perspectives are vital to its future.

Maritime History week 2026 event Ash Skinner — Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation A historical overview of the local first people's relationship with the Sea & Coast. Bar Open - drinks at bar prices.

Maritime History week 2026 event Victoria’s marine habitats – what we have, what we have lost, and how we are getting it back Presenters: Prof. Tim Dempster, Laney Callahan, Rick Verkooijen Deakin Marine Scientific Research and Innovation Centre Victorians love our coasts and bays, particularly in summer where we stream out across its shores. But what we see now beneath the waves has changed dramatically over the past 100 years. Many species, such as kelp, oysters and seagrasses that formed extensive underwater reefs and forests are in steep decline, and the ecosystem has shifted to simpler states with less biodiversity. But there is hope – we have discovered new ways to recover these lost habitats and teams are rapidly rolling out restoration programs. This talk will cover Victoria’s unique marine biodiversity, the habitats we have lost and give insights into the teams of managers, indigenous ranger groups and scientists who are restoring our marine estate.

Maritime History week 2026 event Heritage Victoria - Danielle Wilkinson and Liam Phillips are maritime archaeologists with Heritage Victoria, working to protect historic shipwrecks under Victorian and Commonwealth heritage legislation. Both are occupationally qualified SCUBA divers with postgraduate training in maritime archaeology and have worked on shipwreck sites in Australia and internationally. Situated just inside the treacherous Heads, Queenscliff is surrounded by one of Victoria’s richest concentrations of shipwrecks. These wrecks offer a remarkable window into the history of shipping, trade, and life along the coast, spanning more than a century. This talk explores the challenges of recording, conserving, and protecting underwater heritage, where fragile shipwrecks must be carefully managed while still allowing respectful access and public understanding. It also traces the journey of artefacts, legally and, at times, illegally recovered that have found a final home at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. Join us as we uncover the stories of nearby wrecks including William Salthouse, Sacramento, Holyhead, George Roper, and others, and learn how you can play a role in protecting these historic sites for future generations. Bar Open - drinks at bar prices.

Maritime History week 2026 event Phillipa Hall - Senior Conservation Architect - RBA Architects + Conservation Consultants Along Victoria’s rugged Bass Strait coastline, a chain of ports known as the ‘couta coast’ once powered a booming barracouta fishing industry. Faced with dangerous waters and the challenges of The Rip, Queenscliff fishermen and local boatbuilders developed the iconic couta boat, a vessel that transformed the industry and supplied millions of pounds of fish to Victorian tables. This talk explores how the industry rose, flourished, and ultimately collapsed in the mid-1970s, and how the legacy of the couta boat endures today as a symbol of maritime ingenuity and coastal culture. Bar Open - drinks at bar prices.

Maritime History week 2026 event The Cayzer family in conversain conversation with Michael Cathcart From watching Anders Hanson, the region’s first boatbuilder, at work, to shaping Queenscliff’s fishing fleet and ferries, The Story of Cayzer Boats is a multi-generational tale of craftsmanship, resilience, and life on the water. Spanning wartime work, post-war growth, industry change, and modern restoration practice, this conversation explores how one family helped define boatbuilding in Queenscliff, and why those skills still matter today. Bar Open - drinks at bar prices.

Maritime History week 2026 event - Join palaeontologist, Ben Francischelli, on a journey more than 30 million years in the making! Dive into Victoria's prehistoric ocean to uncover bone-crushing sharks the size of a Humpback whale, giant Killer sperm whales and other fascinating creatures. In this one-off talk, Ben will uncover the evolutionary history of Victoria over the last 30 million years, including along our very own Bellarine Coast. Ben will showcase hundreds or real fossils on the day that you can touch and share some of the newest fossil discoveries from the Bellarine Peninsula, Bayside Melbourne and the Surf Coast. Ben will showcase hundreds of real fossils on the day that you can touch, and share some of the newest fossil discoveries from the Bellarine Peninsula, Bayside Melbourne and the Surf Coast. These tickets won't take millions of years to sell out, so get in quickly to secure your spot! Perfect for: Marine-curious Adults, Families, Primary School students (grades 2-6) and Secondary School students.