New Mandurah exhibition to explore Australia’s love of boats

A travelling maritime exhibition is set to make its way to Mandurah next month, showcasing stories about Australia’s love of boats and local history.

‘Remarkable — Stories of Australians and their boats’ will be at the Mandurah Museum from May 4 to 31 as part of an 18-month national tour of regional Australia.

Created by the Australian Maritime Museums Council, the Australian National Maritime Museum and assisted by the Federal Government’s Vision of Australia program, the exhibition provides an opportunity for regional audiences to hear national and local stories.

Maritime museums and heritage institutions around Australia nominated 34 stories, with 12 of the most compelling stories selected to feature in the exhibition.

It includes a documentary titled ‘Moogy’s Yuki’ (Moogy’s Bark Canoe), which follows the making of the first traditional Ngarrindjeri/Boandik tree canoe on Boandik Country in more than a century.

The Mandurah Museum will add to the exhibition by featuring three local stories, including the mystery 1968 disappearance of crayfishing vessel, the Avaneta, and the shipwreck tragedies of the Leviathan and James Service.

Australian National Maritime Museum director and chief executive Kevin Sumption said it was a great opportunity for regional communities to share their stories.

“After a period of drought, bushfire, COVID-19 and floods, the chance for regional communities to enhance a national exhibition with their own content is a great opportunity for outreach and community development,” Mr Sumption said.

“It gives affected communities the chance to share their stories both locally and nationally.”

The Mandurah Museum is open Tuesdays to Fridays 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm.