TWO new public spaces at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney were opened on 4 November by Minister for communications, cyber safety and the arts, Paul Fletcher. The spaces will provide new insights to the workings of Sydney’s defining feature –its working harbour.
Kevin Sumption, director and CEO of the museum said, “We are a nation a surrounded by the sea. Water, rivers, beaches and harbours are integral to how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.
“As the Museum of the Sea our role is not only ensuring our maritime history is conserved but also to champion stories and education about how we live and work around our waterways.
“The new Sydney Harbour Gallery and Ben Lexcen Terrace showcase not only how we live and work on our harbour but also the key environmental aspects that we need to be vigilant about,” he said.
This new gallery showcases the latest in ocean science and marine technology for the first time. Sponsored by Port Authority of NSW and delivered in collaboration with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Reef Design Lab and The Little Ripper Group, it is a place to discover how our harbour works both above and below the water line.
The gallery now combines a view out to the harbour with a modern investigative observation and relaxation space, forming a physical connection between the Darling Harbour waterscape and museum.
Inside, visitors are immersed in historical and contemporary stories of Sydney Harbour. They can see ship models that highlight past and present commerce and trade, learn about hydrographic surveys, and see what 365 days of marine traffic looks like on the busy harbour.
Named in honour of Australian sailing icon and Australian Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, the Ben Lexcen Terrace is on the edge of the harbour is the museum’s newest space for events.
The Terrace has been developed with funding from the Australian government’s Public Sector Modernisation Fund.
In opening the spaces, Minister Fletcher said, “As Australia’s national museum of the sea, the National Maritime Museum is a drawcard for visitors from around Australia and overseas.
“The Morrison government is proud to have supported these important new spaces, which open the museum up in new ways to the spectacular harbour whose story it tells.
“With the opening of the Sydney Harbour Gallery, the museum can now progress that story into our own times and show the profound impact of modern technology on the life of the harbour.”
