Maritime Heritage Association of Western Australia

On the 24th of January it was 25 years ago that the Duyfken Replica was launched.
The MHA celebrated this historic fact at the Orient Bar in Fremantle. This is the speech from our Secretary:-

Welcome Kaya en welkom everyone
We acknowledge the original Custodians of the Wadjuk Noongar on which land we gather today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

We also pay respect to the custodians of the Penne father river where the original Duyfken landed in 1606.

I am the secretary of the Maritime Heritage association and we welcome all members here of the MHA. We have memberships forms and books at the MHA table and there will be also a raffle with the money going to the Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group Inc.

Jill Worsley made an amazing quilt with the Duyfken on it and will be yours if you win the raffle!

We also welcome members and crew of the former Duyfken Replica Foundation and the members of ABBA and OGA WA and all people who are interested in the Maritime history of our Little Dove and like to raise the glass with us. Thanks Tony, the owner of the Bar Orient, who kindly allowed us to use the Chesterfield Lounge

And there will be some finger food gifted by the MHA.

A special welcome to the George Kailis , Janine Young ,the wife of late Michael Young [ Jacob Jong] the founder of the Duyfken Replica and deputy mayor Jenny Achibald.

We think that maritime heritage is really important for a city like Fremantle and there is so much to celebrate these past months!

It was so pity that one of our most revered and distinguished members, Bill Leonard (William McDonald Leonard) could not be there. But we raised the glass to him.

What our chair Nick Burningham earlier wrote in the MHA journal came together on this anniversary.

There was widely the feeling that Fremantle must continue to be the centre of excellence In retrospect, we should have proclaimed that Fremantle must continue to be the Bill Leonard Centre of Excellence for Replica Ship Building.

It is 25 years since the Duyfken Replica was launched …
24/1/1999 // 24/1/2024
To celebrated this amazing achievement, we want to invite you to celebrated this with us.

On Wednesday the 24th of January 2024
Time; 17pm/19 pm
Venue; Bar Orient Chesterfield Lounge
39 High Street [Cnr Henry Street] Fremantle

Close to the train station and bike parking available.

Parking available nearby paid and on walking distance free parking at TAFE South Metro

Full-service bar and snacks for own expense [ but we throw in some finger food]

Graeme C***s will tell us the story of the building and there will be books and photos. And the book ‘Through Darkest Seas’ written by Graeme will be available

So put your historical Duyfken shirt on and come to celebrate!

We looking forward to see you all there!

MHA End of Year Wind Up:
Thank you to all who attended one of our biggest and best pre Christmas get-togethers. Special thanks to Robin and Pam Hicks for hosting the gathering in their great workshop - it gets better each year!

Everyone's welcome - Open to All.
This a great opportunity to inspect the wonders of Robin & Pam's maritime workshop, models, tools and more.
Also an opportunity to celebrate with other like minded maritime enthusiasts!

Rare coin find off Sardinia

Ancient coins found in Italy could be the spoils of a shipwreck Tens of thousands of ancient coins recovered from the seabed off Sardinia were only found when a diver saw something metallic out of the corner of their eye.

Fancy a day out to Denmark!

Entries Now Open for the Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition 2023
Submissions open from 24 July – 8 September 2023

Hello Maritime Artists

Entries for The Mission to Seafarers’ Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition are now open! We thank you for your support in the past and hope you will join in the celebrations by entering your work again this year as we celebrate our 21 years of promoting excellence in maritime and seafaring subjects in art.

You’re invited to respond to the theme ‘The Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’ for a share of $25,000 in prize money. We are thrilled to welcome the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) back for their third year as naming rights sponsor.

$15,000 2023 MSC Maritime Art Award
$5,000 Best in Traditional Maritime Art Award
$1,000 Port of Melbourne Emerging Artist Award
$2,000 People’s Choice Award
$2,000 Runner-Up Award

The annual event is a major fundraising initiative of the Mission to Seafarers-Victoria (MtSV). The generosity of our sponsors who provide the prize money and other in-kind contributions, and the artists who pay an entrance fee and a commission on all works that are sold, ensures the continued success and wide popularity of the Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition and in turn, supports our work looking after the welfare of seafarers.



Key Dates:
Entries Open: 24 July –8 September 2023
Exhibition Opening Night and Awards Ceremony: Thursday 19th October 2023
Exhibition Open: 20 – 26 October 2023
For more information and entry forms see:
https://missiontoseafarers.com.au/maritimeartprize2023
Enquiries: [email protected]