News

• 2011-01-14 - Polly Woodside Restored and Reopened

  Melbourne’s iconic Polly Woodside has been lovingly restored with support from Major Projects Victoria. Be one of the first to walk the plank or find buried treasure during Pirate Sundays this January.
  
  Iconic Victorian attraction the Polly Woodside is again set to be the flagship of Melbourne’s maritime precinct after Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher helped relaunch the much-loved tall ship last month, on 23 December.
  

  
  The popular vessel reopened after a $3.6 million restoration by the National Trust of Australia. The renewal work is supported by an $8.5 million Major Projects Victoria commitment to refurbish the surrounding Duke’s & Orr’s Dry Dock.
  
  Around 100,000 visitors are now expected to explore the Polly Woodside each year to:
  

  • enjoy the new Interpretation Centre and gain real insight into life on-board a tall ship
    
  • watch Polly’s story on film and follow the 1904 journey of the ship’s carpenter, George Andrews, and
    
  • put all hands on deck to load the ship or make a hot rivet.
    

  During 2011 there will also be an action-packed calendar of events for families with young children including:
  

  • weekly story-time for children aged 2 – 7 years
  • pirate Sundays to find buried treasure, walk the plank and make pirate arts and crafts, and
  • Peter Pan performances during the January school holidays.

  The recent restoration is expected to boost both the Victorian economy and tourism sector, deliver more local jobs and encourage more visitors to South Wharf and Melbourne’s unique maritime precinct.
  

  For more information about the new Polly Woodside attraction visit the official website of Victoria
  
  

  
   

• 2009-05-19 - Historic Polly Woodside to reopen to public

  Melbourne’s iconic tall ship Polly Woodside set sail once again today to return to her home berth at Duke’s Dock following its $13 million restoration and will reopen to the public later this month. 

  Major Projects Minister Tim Pallas said the Polly Woodside’s berth at Duke’s Dry Dock had been restored to working order ensuring the barque would survive into the future as a reminder of Melbourne’s maritime history and tourist attraction.

  “The restoration of Duke’s Dry Dock means that the Polly can be periodically dry docked for repairs providing her with a safe, comfortable home,” Mr Pallas said.

  “The Spencer Street and Charles Grimes bridges mean she is locked in, which is one of the reasons why Duke’s Dock had to be restored to working order. The dock dates back to 1875 and is one of the few surviving relics of Melbourne’s extensive shipbuilding and repair industry that used to stretch along the Yarra’s Southbank from the Queens Street Bridge to Docklands.

  “Work is still underway on the area around Duke’s Dock to restore the board walk and wharf sheds. The final result will be a fantastic new tourist attraction for the South Wharf precinct around the new Melbourne Convention Centre.”

  Mr Pallas said the Polly Woodside would be open to the public for the first time in three years at the Melbourne Convention Centre’s free public open day on Sunday 31 May.

  The Polly Woodside was built in 1885 and is owned and operated by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). National Trust CEO Martin Purslow said the Victorian National Trust was delighted with the progress of work at Duke’s Dock.

  “These works will enable Polly to be dry docked for the first time in 32 years, allowing her iron hull to be maintained for future generations,” Mr Purslow said.

  “Polly Woodside is Victoria’s largest moveable heritage asset and we encourage the public to visit her at the upcoming public open day and sample the maritime experience that is due to fully open to the public in late 2009.”

  The Polly Woodside has been berthed on the Yarra’s Southbank for the duration of the restoration, which began in August last year.

  The Brumby Government has provided $8.86 million for the refurbishment of Duke’s Dock while the Plenary Group and National Trust are providing $4 million for the works on the adjacent area and the Polly Woodside itself.

• 2008-08-26 - Re-berth for Melbourne's historic Polly Woodside

  Melbourne’s iconic tall ship Polly Woodside will move for the first time in 33 years when the refurbishment of her current home, the Duke’s Dry Dock, begins today. 

  Major Projects Minister Theo Theophanous said the $13 million refurbishment of the dock and adjacent area as a maritime precinct will ensure the 1885 barque’s future as a tourist attraction and provide a new link to Melbourne’s seafaring heritage.

  “The Polly Woodside is a Melbourne icon, beloved by generations of kids, tourists and tall ship aficionados alike,” Mr Theophanous said.

  “The Brumby Government’s decision to fund the refurbishment of Duke’s Dry Dock creates an improved home for the Polly Woodside for many years to come. The dry dock, when in working order in the 1940s and 50s, sustained the barque during her time as a coal ship.”

  Mr Theophanous said the refurbishment of the Duke’s Dock would provide the Polly Woodside with a vastly improved berth and would be a highlight of the public spaces around the new Melbourne Convention Centre.

  “Duke’s Dock will be refurbished so it can once again function properly and allow the iron hull of the Polly Woodside to be periodically maintained. This work ensures the future of this historic ship and also restores the dock, itself a vital part of Melbourne’s maritime heritage,” he said.

  “Duke’s Dock dates back to 1875 and is one of the few surviving relics of Melbourne’s extensive shipbuilding and repair industry that used to stretch along the Yarra’s Southbank from the Queens Street Bridge to Docklands.”

  The Polly Woodside will be moved to a mooring on the nearby Yarra River to allow work to begin on the 107 metre long dock, before a temporary dam wall is built and the water is pumped out. A new dock wall, gates and base slab with keel supports for the ship will be built. The water will be once again drained to test the keel supports before the ship is finally refloated.

  National Trust CEO Martin Purslow welcomed the refurbishment of Duke’s Dock and said he looked forward to welcoming visitors back to the Polly Woodside once she is reopened.

  “We look forward to commencing work on the Polly Woodside to ensure she is maintained for future generations to enjoy,” Mr Purslow said.

  The refurbishment forms part of the $1.4 billion Convention Centre development precinct taking shape at South Wharf. Work is expected to take around 10 months to complete.

  The Brumby Government is providing $8.86 million for the refurbishment of Duke’s Dock while the Plenary Group and National Trust are providing $4 million for the works on the adjacent area and the Polly Woodside itself.

  The Polly Woodside, built in 1885 and owned and operated by the National Trust of Australia (Vic), is one of the world most significant, surviving iron vessels afloat – a tangible reminder of Australia’s maritime history and an iconic feature of riverside Melbourne.