What’s Happening?
Australia’s maritime legacy has received a national funding boost, with the Australian National Maritime Museum announcing over $120,000 in funding and in-kind support under the 2025 Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS). A total of 25 projects across the country—spanning every state and territory—will benefit from this grant round.
In Queensland, key maritime preservation and education projects have been funded, including those in Gladstone, Brisbane, and the Low Isles, helping preserve stories of Australia’s seafaring past while building professional skills in museum management.
The program is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, and is administered by the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
Why It Matters
Queensland’s coastal identity and history are tightly tied to its maritime past. From naval vessels to lighthouse communities, these stories shape our understanding of regional development, community identity, and national heritage.
“Australia is intrinsically linked with our network of waterways. These projects explore our maritime history and enable communities across the country to learn and engage on a deeper level,” said Minister for the Arts Tony Burke.
“Thanks to the dedication of countless Australians contributing to projects across a nationwide network of museums, organisations, and communities, this rich legacy will continue to be protected for future generations,” added Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Local Impact
Three Queensland-based organisations were among the successful recipients:
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Queensland Maritime Museum Association (Brisbane) The Museum will use its MMAPSS funding to upgrade artefact and artwork storage, supporting long-term conservation and access. These improvements help protect important maritime relics relevant to southeast Queensland.
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Gladstone Maritime History Society Inc. This project funds preventative maintenance of HMAS GLADSTONE, a decommissioned Fremantle-class naval patrol vessel. The vessel is dry-docked at the mouth of Auckland Creek and serves as a key maritime education exhibit in Central Queensland.
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Low Isles Preservation Society Inc. (Port Douglas) The Society will send a representative to the Museum Administrators’ Course, receiving professional training in museological skills.
Zoom In
The grant to the Queensland Maritime Museum, located in Brisbane’s South Bank precinct, has strong regional significance. It offers learning and inspiration for nearby local museums across southeast Queensland, which is home to several community heritage collections.
Meanwhile, Queensland’s inclusion in the Museum Administrators’ Course is critical for upskilling regional and volunteer-run museums, which are the lifeblood of Australia’s distributed heritage system.
Zoom Out
This year’s MMAPSS-supported projects also include:
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NSW: Traditional Kuridja canoe building by a Thaua Elder; sextant conservation at Shoalhaven
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TAS: Restoration of artworks from HMS BRITOMART; a suspended exhibit of the 19th-century wooden boat MIRAGE
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VIC: Welding repairs aboard HMAS CASTLEMAINE; coastal interpretive signage and memorials
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WA: Vessel stabilisation in Cocos Keeling Islands; preservation of whaling and fishing histories
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SA: In-kind support for interpretive resources in Robe
Six organisations will attend the week-long Museum Administrators’ Course in Sydney—supported by the museum and valued at up to $3,000 per person—to enhance national museum standards and skills.
What to Look For Next?
Applications for the next MMAPSS round will open soon. Local Redland-based organisations caring for maritime collections are encouraged to apply. Grants of up to $15,000, training valued at $3,000, and in-kind expert support are available.
Learn more at www.sea.museum/grants
