HMS Sirius Museum – 10th Anniversary
14 July 2023
Last month, the Norfolk Island Museums celebrated a very special milestone – the 10th
anniversary of the opening of the HMS Sirius Museum.
The HMS Sirius has a significant history as the flagship of the First Fleet. Originally named ‘Berwick’, it was refitted for the voyage to New South Wales. Due to increasing difficulties in Port Jackson, the HMS Sirius and Supply came to Norfolk Island in March 1790, loaded with convicts, free settlers, crew and limited supplies. Regrettably, while attempting to off-load the cargo close to the settlement of Sydney (now known as Kingston/Daun’taun), the HMS Sirius was driven onto the reef and wrecked. Remarkably, there was not a single loss of life from this disaster, although it brought the two young Sydney settlements to near starvation.
Over the years, many artefacts have been recovered from the wreck site including three anchors (two of which are on display in Sydney), two carronades, cannon balls, ballast, brass sexton and pantograph, and even an embellished stove leg from the officers’ quarters. Today the wreck site is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and is listed on the Australian National Heritage List. A new heritage management plan for the wreck site and associated artefacts is currently under review.
In 2013, a special project was undertaken to move the Sirius anchor and collection from the Pier Store Museum to the convict-built former Protestant Chapel at the rear of the ‘Compound’ or Prisoners Barrack which had previously hosted the ‘Trial of the Fifteen’. To see the huge 1.5-tonne anchor moved is quite amazing – you can find a short video on YouTube titled ‘Relocating the HMS Sirius Museum Norfolk Island’.
Today, many of the 6,000 artefacts recovered can be seen in the impressive HMS Sirius Museum, a few hundred metres away from the wreck location. Taking pride of place is one of the wrought iron main bower anchors and the two 18 pounder ‘smasher’ carronades. This collection is the most significant display of First Fleet cultural heritage material held anywhere in Australia and its Territories.
The HMS Sirius Museum is open Monday-Saturday 11am-3pm and is free for locals. Tag-a-Long Tours through the HMS Sirius Museum are free with the combined Museum Pass and start at the REO at 9.30am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
See you daun’taun!