Queensland Maritime Museum

31/05/2026

The Shaw, Savill Line.

The 1960s and 70s were the time when Brisbane had those beautiful ships lining the Hamilton Reach, Newstead, and Dalgety’s with their graceful lines .

One such company that were regular visitors was Shaw Savill ships, and it was a pleasant sight seeing them among several other well-known shipping companies such as Blue Star, Alfred Holt’s Blue Funnel, and Port Line, etc. etc.

Shaw Savill goes back to 1858, when two young blokes working together in a ship-broking business started their own company, so Shaw, Savill & Company was born. Later becoming the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line.

In this article, the “Southern Cross” passenger ship pamphlet, menu, and house flag are all in our collection.

30/05/2026

The Embalmer and the “Fiery Star”

It was way back in 1863, just 4 years after Queensland separated from the Colony of New South Wales, the new state government was leasing ships to bring emigrants from the U.K directly to Queensland.

On board the Black Ball Line’s “Fiery Queen” was 18 year old Kate Farrell from Ireland who had decided to travel to the the other side of the world to Australia to be with her brother.

It was on board “Fiery Star,” she met, fell in love and soon after married John Smith.

John Smith became a lighthouse keeper on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria with his new bride.

John and Kate had their first child born on Thursday Island. His name was also John, and was the first white child born on T.I.

In 1874, the growing Smith family moved to Brisbane.

John started a furniture business in Elizabeth St. in the city, and his coffins were in demand.

When John Smith died at Wickham St. at 42, his wife Kate took control of the business and raised her children on her own until her death in 1932.

Kate Mary Smith made a remarkable success of her business and was the first woman in Queensland to become a funeral director and a certified embalmer that was and still is known as “K.M SMITH”, funeral directors.

So that meeting on board the emigrant ship “Firey Star” in 1863 between John Smith who was escaping the brutal English climate because of ill health and a vigorous young lady who was escaping a step mother who she had too many run ins with for her liking was the beginning of one of the most recognised funeral companies in Australia,

Compiled from old “Emigrants arriving in Queensland” newspaper clippings at Queensland Maritime Museum collection.

30/05/2026

Yesterday, Russell C had the honour to represent the Queensland Maritime Museum at the Freedom of Entry to the city for the Royal Australian Navy personnel on HMAS Brisbane. The crew of HMAS Brisbane marched along Adelaide Street to King George Square, where the ceremony continued.

HMAS Brisbane III was commissioned on the 27th of October 2018. This ceremony represents the second time the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Brisbane has exercised their right to Freedom of Entry to the city, with the last being in 2019. Congratulations to Commander David Mason, the Royal Australian Navy and all personnel involved in this parade!

28/05/2026

2026 marks 125 years since the formation of the Commonwealth Naval Forces that later become the Royal Australian Navy. To celebrate, Royal Australian Navy Open Day is on this Sunday at the Port of Brisbane! The free, family-friendly event runs from 9-3pm featuring ship tours of HMAS Brisbane III, ADF displays, and live entertainment. Free shuttle coaches transport attendees from the car park to the wharf. While tickets are free, hourly time slots are used, and advance booking is highly recommended to secure your place.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/navy-open-day-2026-tickets-1988551629454

https://www.navy.gov.au/community-engagement/125th-anniversary

HMAS Moreton is excited to host HMAS Brisbane alongside to celebrate Navy 125 with all members of the public welcome!

28/05/2026

Good one The Pearling Lugger Penguin Restoration Project. team 👍👍

We are all very proud of you for preserving this beautiful old historic vessel. 😀.

It may be a slow process but one thing is for certain and that is our “Penguin” will be just as good as she was built in 1907.

27/05/2026

The railway lines at South Brisbane.

A couple of days ago at the Queensland Maritime Museum, I discovered this interesting picture of the South Brisbane Railway Coal Wharves in our collection.

The photo would have been taken somewhere near where the Captain Cook Bridge now crosses the river, and on the left would be high rise buildings with magnificent city views.

The square chimney and dome roof building marks the South Brisbane Dry Dock pump house boilers and workshop

During World War Two, a huge concrete structure comprising cement and ash from the boilers was built over the below ground level boiler room and pump house because if it was bombed by the enemy, it would shatter rather than cave in, putting the dry dock out of action for a considerable time.

This structure is currently being given a facelift. The railway line passed beside the Dry Dock workshops and pump house, and this section is now the back entrance road into our museum.

The railway line then continued up around the head of the dock and then under a small tunnel at the entrance to the dry dock, where QMM has set up a display with an information panel, and a coal wagon.

The tunnel was located across the road from the Ship Inn hotel where the “Goodwill” pedestrian bridge is today.

24/05/2026

Historic South Brisbane Dry Dock and the Pub,

Many workers have passed this old postcard scene from our collection captured in the early 1900s every day.

Then it was the busy Stanley Street with trams, trucks, ship’s crews, wharfies with a line of ships working their cargos, and the dry dock’s workforce attending to vessels in need of repair and some just in for a “haircut & shave.

During World War Two, the U.S. Navy had a submarine base at New Farm and used this dry dock for repairs after engaging the enemy when patrolling the S.W. Pacific.

Today, when standing at this same spot where the postcard image was captured, you will notice it is closed to traffic, and colourful bougainvilleas line the street, and in this scene today, the Queensland Maritime Museum with “Diamantina” welcoming visitors in the dry dock can be observed.

Where The Ship Inn - Southbank hotel, which is even older than the dry dock across the road from our museum was once a rough waterside pub catering for wharfies and sailors with colourful language is still there, but now is very posh with fine dining and a wide range of drinks catering for tourists and visitors in a very relaxed, peaceful surrounding.

The photo of “Tina” was taken some time around 1988.

23/05/2026

“Making Waves”

At the Queensland Maritime Museum, these two blokes were instructed to go into gallery three and make waves, and make waves they did !! ...😀

The “Making Waves” display is open and presents many adventuresome sailors and their exploits battling the seas.

80-knot winds tore this reefing jib sail on show when on the shipwreck strewn mid west coastal region of Western Australia.

Young Xavier Doerr’s yacht was battered by mountainous seas and gale force winds that knocked the yacht on its side numerous times.

Regardless of the catastrophic conditions to the sails and instruments, Xavier could still maintain 3 knots and limpted into Fremantle harbour.

Please come and visit our museum; you can read all about these young adventurers including Jessica Watson, Kay Cottee and others.

We also have Jessica’s yacht, “Ella’s Pink Lady,” and the boat “Freedom,” which was used in the Crossing the Atlantic Ocean rowing race, here on display at the museum.

23/05/2026

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, each day this week our volunteers enjoyed a sausage sizzle to recognise their passion and hard work. Throughout the week over 100 volunteers enjoyed these delicious sausages.

An extra shout out to all of our chefs this week including our Tuesday and Thursday maintenance teams, the Penguin team, Craig and his team, Paul and Michael. Our museum wouldn't be the same without the dedication of everyone involved.

22/05/2026

As a follow up to our post yesterday, we thought it appropriate to again feature everybody’s favourite Sailmaker Jack, who yesterday knocked up some new bags for sale in our museum and online shops! Get in fast!
https://shop.maritimemuseum.com.au/~565
https://shop.maritimemuseum.com.au/tote-bag