Australian National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum
Australian National Maritime Museum
Australian National Maritime Museum is located in Sydney
Australian National Maritime Museum
Location within Sydney
Established1991; 33 years ago (1991)
LocationDarling Harbour, Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Map)
Coordinates33°52′09″S 151°11′55″E / 33.869167°S 151.198611°E / -33.869167; 151.198611
TypeMaritime museum
DirectorDaryl Karp AM (2022–present)
ChairpersonJohn Mullen
ArchitectPhilip Cox, Richardson Taylor & Partners
OwnerDepartment of Communications and the Arts
Public transit access
Websitewww.sea.museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) is a federally operated maritime museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. After considering the idea of establishing a maritime museum, the federal government announced that a national maritime museum would be constructed at Darling Harbour, tied into the New South Wales state government's redevelopment of the area for the Australian bicentenary in 1988. The museum building was designed by Philip Cox, and although an opening date of 1988 was initially set, construction delays, cost overruns, and disagreements between the state and federal governments over funding responsibility pushed the opening to 1991.

One of six museums directly operated by the federal government, the ANMM is the only one located outside of the Australian Capital Territory. The museum is structured around seven main galleries, focusing on the relationships between Indigenous Australians and the sea, the navigation of Australian waters, travel to Australia by sea and the naval defence of the nation. Four additional gallery spaces are used for temporary exhibits. Four museum ships – the HM Bark Endeavour Replica, the destroyer HMAS Vampire, the submarine HMAS Onslow and a replica of the Duyfken – are open to the public, while smaller historical vessels berthed outside can be viewed but not boarded.