They don’t make boats like this anymore!

Opening this Saturday, 4 December 2021 and running until Sunday 1 May 2022 at the WA Shipwrecks Museum at the corner of Marine Terrrace and Cliff Street, Fremantle, is the Wooden Boat Building in WA exhibition.

To build a ship, the Duyfken Replica Photo: Robert Garvey

This is a community exhibition highlighting the importance of wooden boat building in Western Australia and marks the 25th anniversary of the construction of the Duyfken replica in Fremantle.

The exhibition includes selected images, artwork and objects, reflecting examples of wooden boat building in this State from the early 1700s to the present day.

Amongst other things, you’ll be able to discover the intriguing story behind the sloop, built by survivors of the Abroholos Islands in 1727.

Learn also about instances of shipbuilding occurring at King George Sound in 1827 and the Swan River Colony from 1829, including repairs to HMS Success when it ran aground near Carnac Island in 1829.

And uncover stories of wooden boat building in regional WA, for the purposes of whaling in Albany, fishing in Geraldton and pearling in Broome, and the importance of wooden boat building in other places around the State.

You will marvel at the skill and expertise of shipwrights who were involved in building the Endeavour and Duyfken replicas and the many volunteers who supported them.

Wooden Boat Building in WA is a free exhibition, proudly presented by the Dutch Australian Foundation, with support from the Western Australian Museum.

We note the Dutch Australian Foundation is sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia, the City of Fremantle and Fremantle Ports.