“If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity.”
― Albert Einstein
We all know about the famous protest vessels that have sailed the globe for a noble cause. The Rainbow Warriors, the Sea Shepherds, the Golden Rule, and more recently the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Many of us sail along with a particular vessel in our hearts, but lack the time, funds and perhaps even courage to participate and use our vessels to advocate for important causes.
Well, it may not be about saving the world, but this weekend in Melbourne there’s a chance to help save a little bit of history by joining an on water protest against the eviction of the Melbourne Heritage fleet from their Docklands Home. They have been given a deadline to vacate their Shed by the end of December and they have nowhere to go.
The Three Key Vessels
Alma Doepel
Built in Bellingen, NSW in 1903, this three-masted topsail schooner was designed for coastal trading, carrying goods such as timber, wheat and jam. It is the last remaining vessel of the type known as a ‘trading ketch’ still capable of operating as a sailing vessel. For almost 60 years, from 1903 until 1975, it had a career transporting cargo around Tasmania. It was requisitioned for service in Papua New Guinea during World War II. She was then used as a sail training ship in Melbourne until 1999 when the need for work on the hull and lack of funds put a stop to the activity. It’s currently undergoing restoration in Victoria Harbour.
Enterprize
A timber two-masted, topsail schooner, the Enterprize Tall Ship, is a replica of the first vessel that brought British settlers to Melbourne in 1835.
Steam Tug Wattle
Launched in Sydney in 1933 during the Great Depression, the Wattle is the first tugboat to have been completely designed and made in Australia. The historic ship has returned to operation after years of restoration in the Docklands by volunteers from the Bay Steamers Maritime Museum. It is one of the last compound steam engine tugboats in the world.
This fleet has proudly called Docklands home for over 15 years, and now they face a critical moment. The Victorian government plans to hand over the current site to developers on January 1, 2026, leaving the fleet without a suitable home. This puts the vessels, the heritage equipment, the volunteers, the community at risk.
But it has motivated stakeholders to get organised and a day of action and protest is planned fro this Sunday 7th December.
So far they have received a positive response from the Docklands Charter Boats, Yacht Clubs and other boating enthusiasts who have indicated they will be attending the Regatta.. But there is room for more!
The Main Event will start around 1100hrs with vessels assembling. Finish time is around 1230hrs. Below is a plan of action.
Some of the Heritage Fleet will be berthed during the afternoon so can be available to visitors.
For those who need to know, the WORKING CHANNEL is 74
Be a part of history and turn the tide!
To Join the protest Register Now
Just as I was going to hit “Post” on this story… an update thanks to the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network
In the face of callous disregard for the unique maritime heritage of Docklands by Development Victoria (DV), is there perhaps cause for optimism? The most urgent and acute challenge to maritime heritage in Docklands Precinct is, of course, Development Victoria’s plan to evict the Heritage Fleet Group. According to the eviction notice, the Fleet need to vacate Shed 2 on North Wharf by January 2026, effectively prohibiting any further restoration work on the vessels. While offering no viable relocation option, inexplicably DV offered $30,000 for each vessel. For what purpose?
Viable Solution: MMHN is pleased to support the Heritage Fleet Group in its recent proposal. The Fleet has identified a low-cost relocation option within Victoria Harbour which would enable work on the heritage fleet restoration to continue in the short term. The site, controlled by DV, is potentially an excellent site for a permanent Heritage Fleet facility on vacant land adjacent to the Ron Barassi Snr Park, across Victoria Harbour from North Wharf at New Quay. The City of Melbourne barge, used for staging the Central Pier, is onsite. The barge could accommodate all three heritage vessels. Access from the vacant site to the barge is via a gangway which spans the degraded seawall. Temporary work sheds or shipping containers on the land would provide an interim solution, enabling restoration works to continue. In the long term, this site is ideal for a permanent Heritage Fleet facility to ensure a Heritage Fleet presence remains in Docklands in the future. The Heritage Fleet Group has investigated and costed this option and determined that, given the barge and gangway infrastructure is already operating, estimated costs are minimal. Better still, the City of Melbourne has been consulted in relation to planning issues and has no objections to the proposal.
Our understanding of the situation at this time is that DV remain uncooperative. Despite DV’s own promotional material acknowledging the significance of the Heritage Fleet in Victoria Harbour, their Victoria Harbour agenda is unfathomable. MMHN has proposed this viable, cost-effective solution to the Minister for Precincts, Harriet Shing, who is responsible for DV.