About

To nominate a vessel for inclusion in the register please review the assessment criteria below and complete the nomination form: Nomination form

About the Australian Register of Historic Vessels (ARHV)

The Australian Register of Historic Vessels (ARHV) is the definitive online registry of historic vessels in Australia.

A vessel is registered as historic after a rigorous process, including their relevance to Australia’s social history, and their particular significance to our maritime heritage.

Facts and figures are recorded with each vessel’s registration: current location, type or class, the eras their life spanned and the stories of their owners and designers.

The ARHV benefits all historic vessels by creating public awareness of the important role vessels have played in Australian history. This builds an environment for historic craft and their stories to be recognised and valued by the public, and through this, support from various sources will be encouraged and realised.

The ARHV is developed by the Australian National Maritime Museum in association with the Sydney Heritage Fleet.

The ARHV includes:

• All vessels built up to and including 1970 which meet a set of assessment criteria for Australian heritage, along with a small number of vessels with special significance that have been built after 1970.
• Vessels of all types and sizes - there is a diverse range from canoes, Indigenous watercraft, dinghies, skiffs, through to yachts and power craft, the wide variety of commercial vessels, Australian military craft - it is open to vessels that have operated on inland waterways as well as sea going craft.
• Vessels with a known provenance and background.
• Vessels that satisfy the assessment criteria but are now owned, operated or displayed outside of Australia.
• The ARHV does not include wrecks or replicas. A wreck is a vessel which is submerged, semi-submerged and abandoned.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) heritage vessel survey exemptions require a vessel be listed on the ARHV prior to AMSA's review of any exemption requested. The grant or otherwise of an exemption and compliance generally with vessel safety requirements are entirely outside the scope of the ARHV assessment process. The ARHV Steering Committee and Council do not undertake any assessment of vessel safety or statutory compliance, and inclusion on the ARHV is not to be taken as any endorsement of the vessel's safety or suitability for any particular purpose or activity. Owners and operators should make their own inquiries as to those matters with AMSA.

Contact us

Our ARHV team of curators are happy to answer any questions about the ARHV. Please email us at arhv@sea.museum and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

You can also contact us by phone on +61 2 9298 3740

Or our mailing address is:
Australian Register of Historic Vessels
Wharf 7, 58 Pirrama Rd
Pyrmont NSW 2009

Governance

The authority of the Australian Register of Historic vessels is built on two levels of review, discussion and management: the ARHV Council, and its sub-committee, the Steering Committee.

These committees meet regularly. This governing structure ensures the Register has a solid foundation as a recognized body able to advise objectively on matters relating to Australian heritage vessels.

• For exemptions to survey as a heritage vessel AMSA requires a vessel be listed on the ARHV, prior to their review of any exemption requested.
• The International Historic and Traditional Ships panel working within the International Congress of Maritime Museums has ARHV Council members Alan Edenborough and David Payne as founding members of the panel which meets regularly with other international participants.

ARHV Council

This is an eight member committee chaired by the director of the Australian National Maritime Museum. It is made up of representatives from the ANMM and SHF. Representatives from other maritime museums, the marine industry, and private maritime heritage associations are invited to join. One position is held open for regular rotation.

The ARHV Council promotes the Register throughout Australia, discusses significant matters concerning heritage vessels and endorses craft nominated by the Steering Committee for acceptance onto the register.

Council Members 2021

Richard Wesley - Chair, Assistant Director ANMM

Alan Edenborough - Sydney Heritage Fleet

Peter Higgs - ANMM volunteer and Tasmanian Wooden Boat Guild member

John Jeremy - Naval Historian, former CEO Cockatoo Island Dockyard

Dr Ian MacLeod - Honorary Fellow Western Australian Museum

Dr Damian Purcell - Classic Yacht Association of Australia, Vic

Matt Poll - Head of Indigenous Programs ANMM

Diana Lorentz – Director, Jervis Bay Maritime Museum

Dougal Harris – Naval Architect, Tas

Kevin Myers – Chair Mid Murray Maritime Heritage Committee

David O’Sullivan - ANMM Curator Historic Vessels

Steering Committee

This is a three member sub-committee of the ARHV Council, and its primary role is the thorough review of vessels put forward for nomination onto the Register, and to decide on their acceptance. Reviews are conducted regularly and the Steering Committee have the opportunity to seek clarification from the full ARHV Council on any craft whose nomination needs wider consideration.

Steering Committee Members

David O’Sullivan - ANMM Curator ARHV

Alan Edenborough - Sydney Heritage Fleet, President of the Australian Maritime Museums Council

Peter Higgs - ANMM volunteer and Tasmanian Wooden Boat Guild member

FAQs

Q: Do vessels have to be located in Australia for them to qualify for the ARHV?

A: No, the vessel has to have Australian significance but can be located anywhere in the world, as long as it is not a wreck.

Q: Do vessels have to be floating or operational to qualify for the ARHV?

A: No, vessels not in operational use, and stored on land or in museums are included. The vessel has to be intact and reasonably complete, and not a wreck.

Q: If I nominate my boat for the ARHV, will any subsequent work on the vessel or its use or sale be affected by heritage restrictions?

A: No, nominated vessels do not become subject to any heritage restrictions, and the ANMM and SHF, through the ARHV, have no authority to control how a vessel is maintained, repaired or used; nor is the information released outside of the ARHV.

Q: Can I donate or sell my boat to the Australian National Maritime Museum or the Sydney Heritage Fleet?

A: No. The ANMM and SHF are developing the ARHV to document and survey surviving historic craft and to encourage their preservation in the community. They can be operational or preserved on land and promoted as significant items of local interest. The ANMM has an historic boat collection but does not have sufficient resources to acquire and manage more vessels at this stage. Similarly, the SHF’s not-for-profit resources mean it rarely considers additions to its vessel collection.

Q: How do I nominate my vessel for the ARHV?

A: Go to the Nomination Form with as much information as you have about your vessel, and complete the online questionnaire. Or you can print it out blank, and return by mail or fax.

Q: Can I nominate a craft belonging to someone else?

A: Yes, but the vessel must be nominated with the consent of the owner and with the owner’s details included on the form. The form can be filled out by someone other than the owner.

Q: How old does a vessel have to be if it is to be nominated for the ARHV?

A: The vessel should be built before 1970, but exceptions are created for vessels after this date if they are considered significant. This date is a management tool and will change as the Register develops over time.

Q: What gives a boat the significance to be nominated for the register?

A: The nomination form lists four areas in which a vessel can have significance. It may have strong and important connections to a community, it may be able to teach us something about its construction or use, it may be a very rare or significant vessel, or it may have strong and important connections to significant people or events. One or more of these criteria should be met for the vessel to be considered for nomination. If you suggest the areas in which the boat is special and provide evidence, the ARHV team will make the significance assessment from this information.

Q: Is there any restriction on the size or type of vessel to be nominated for the ARHV?

A: There are no size restrictions. The ARHV will accept vessels as small as dinghies and Indigenous canoes, up to and including large ships. It will not accept model boats or replicas.

Q: What information is required to nominate a vessel for the ARHV?

A: The Nomination Form outlines a series of questions relating to the boat’s details, ownership, historic significance, construction, configuration, condition and documentation. Fill out those areas relevant to your vessel which you are able to answer, and then return the form with any photographs and research information you have. The ARHV Project Officer will contact you to follow up your nomination.

Q: Where can I get restoration work done?

A: Shipwrights and other tradespeople are qualified to do many of the jobs required to restore a vessel, and there are a growing number with experience of restoration work on older vessels. Enquiries can be made through shipwright listings in the yellow pages, class associations and boat clubs.

Q: What are the priorities or guidelines for a restoration project?

A: The ANMM and SHF encourage people to retain as much of the original structure or integrity of the vessel as is practical. If restoration work is required, we encourage work that identifies a particular time or event in the vessel’s history and tries to configure the vessel to that point in time. In some cases preservation of the boat as it is, is preferable to major restoration and rebuilding work. It is recommended that before any work is done, the existing structure is assessed, photographs and notes taken, and if possible, plans drawn for the work required. It will be necessary to undertake research to find evidence of the vessel’s earlier configuration, by sourcing pictures, plans and contemporary reports or documents that can be used as primary sources. Contact us for further advice.

Q: How can I research and document my vessel?

A: A comprehensive documentation of a vessel includes information and images of the boat as it exists, and of its history, noting the various stages it has passed through and any important events. It can include plans and drawings, (original or recently drawn), register or other official papers, any references, articles or stories in the media, (including audio visual material), and anything else which might add to the knowledge of the boat and its use. The documentation can begin with just a few pieces of information, which can be gradually added to, to eventually form a more complete picture of the craft.

Q: Where do I find information about my vessel’s history?

A: The ANMM and SHF have a number of references which may hold information about the vessel’s past history including official registers, contemporary magazines and publications, and other resources. Previous owners often have information, as do local libraries, historical societies, and other groups, such as yacht clubs and community, sporting or special interest associations.

Q: Will the ARHV accept replica vessels?

A: The ARHV will not accept replica vessels.

Q: Can I use the ARHV to contact other owners?

A: Vessel owner details will not be made public. If you would like to contact an owner please Contact us and we will pass on your interest. It will be the owner’s choice to respond to you.

Assessment Criteria

The ARHV assesses vessels on the well-established standard criteria of significance used in the heritage and museum world. Significance in this context describes the relationship between vessels and their Australian connections:

• Historical themes and events - such as the history of trade and commerce, the relevance of vessels to the development of coastal, riverine and regional communities, to sport and leisure pursuits and vessel design and technology.
• Aesthetics
• Scientific and research lessons which can be learnt from a vessel.
• Social importance of vessels to their communities e.g. fishing vessels, Indigenous craft, river and coastal transport vessels.

It is important to note that a vessel can only be assessed for inclusion in the ARHV if it meets one or more of the above criteria.

The following questions may assist you in deciding if your vessel meets the ARHV assessment criteria:

• Was your vessel built before 1970? (1970 has been chosen as the cut-off date because it marks the start of the era of mass production. It also helps us manage the number of boats. In some exceptional cases vessels built after 1970 will be included.)
• Has the vessel been associated with people or events that have contributed to Australia's (maritime) history?
• Is it a rare or important example of its type, designer, builder, class, construction or period?
• Can the vessel tell us about or demonstrate some aspect of maritime history or technology?
• Does the vessel have a special relationship to a community or group?
• Does your vessel still include original construction features?
• Have any major modifications been made?
• Do you have information about the vessel's history or any of its former owners - its provenance?
• Do you know if any major modifications have been made?
• Does the vessel demonstrate examples of innovative and contemporary vessel design that capitalizes on the use of technologies resulting in marine boating and yachting excellence?

Exemplary Class Vessels

Exemplary or contemporary vessel nominations may be considered under the below criteria. There are no construction date cutoffs for this particular category, however the ARHV Council assesses such applications with stringent attention to the criteria

• Vessel design, structural, and material breakthroughs that set an exceptional technological standard, and have paved the way for subsequent vessel design development.
• Prototype vessels that may be seen as at the vanguard of technological development.
• Exceptional or pioneering examples of performance achievement as a result of the exemplary nature of the vessel, whether it be ocean/still water racing, sail training, cruising, naval, ocean science, commercial trade or amateur boating.
• NOTE: Multiple examples of vessels with identical or similar exemplary characteristics, such as class vessels built after the initial breakthroughs, may not be considered within this category.
• This new ARHV assessment criterion will acknowledge and recognize legacy vessels, pioneer vessels in innovative design, vessels using innovative materials and build techniques, as well as vessels regarded as being at the vanguard of technological development and breakthroughs.

The Nomination Process

If you think your boat is suitable for the Register, gather as much information as you can and complete the online form here and submit to the ARHV. The ARHV Curator will contact you to follow up research details. An assessment will then be made by the ARHV Council's Steering Committee who review all nominations before recommending craft to be added to the Register. The ARHV Curator will then notify you about your vessel's nomination assessment.

The primary information about your vessel is held on a database managed by the Australian National Maritime Museum. Only specified fields are published on the ARHV website. Vessel ownership and personal details will remain CONFIDENTIAL and vessels on the Register, unlike historic buildings, will NOT have any heritage restrictions placed on them affecting modifications or sale. Any requests to contact owners will be forwarded by the administrators of the ARHV.

Boat owners will benefit from providing information for the ARHV by:

• Receiving a certificate rewarding their active participation in the project
• Gaining recognition for their boat in the form of a statement of significance, putting it into historical context
• Gaining access to research information on designers, builders and similar vessels
• Making contact with other boat owners, clubs and museums
• Receiving advice on preservation methods and materials, and suppliers

Your vessel on the ARHV

Unlike historic buildings, there are no heritage restrictions of any sort on vessels on the ARHV. The ANMM has no authority to control how a vessel is used or maintained.