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 places the vessels, the heritage equipment, the volunteers, the community at risk.This has motivated stakeholders to organise a day of action and protest this Sunday the 7th December.

Participation in the discussion was broad, ‘animated’, lively, inclusive and positive. For the first time since the DV eviction notification, members of the HF were able to actually discuss the challenge of eviction, the specific needs of each project as well as any shared concerns in relation to the eviction threat to include developing a coordinated HF response.

“It is disappointing to now be told to leave Docklands with no viable alternative,” Mr McDonald said, adding that it had received a previous commitment from DV “for a future home for the Alma Doepel in Docklands for more than a decade. After all of the work, meetings, plans and advocacy to now end up with ship getting kicked out of Docklands is extremely disappointing.”

The Melbourne Boat Show is back for its 61st year. This year there will be a “Heritage and Wooden Boat Precinct” Hosted by the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) over four days in the heart of the city, at Docklands.

Credit where credit is due and a great opportunity to work with a great team!

Last Saturday the 118 year old ALMA DOEPEL was lifted back into the murky waters of the River Yarra after a 10 year restoration. In this film we speak with Ferdi Darley the amazing and articulate head shipwright on the project just four days before the launch.