Portland Maritime Discovery Centre

The Portland Maritime Discovery Centre is an informative complex dedicated to revealing the areas maritime history.

The museum evokes many maritime themes allowing you to discover the mysteries of the sea and the traditions and lifestyle of the people who lived by the coast. Explore the treasures of our past and discover the stories and legends of shipwrecks and rescues.

The centrepiece of the Discovery Centre is the Portland Lifeboat. The lifeboat is recognised as one of the oldest surviving intact vessel in Australia and is famous for rescuing 19 people from the 'Admella' shipwreck in 1859. The 'Admella' was carrying 113 people when she was wrecked on Carpenter Rocks, off Cape Banks in South Australia.

The Portland Maritime Discovery Centre decided that a dead sperm whale, which had been buried at Narrawong Beach since 1987 would make a fascinating exhibit and hence exhumed it. With help of local builders, the sperm whale skeleton was reassembled and now has pride of place in the museum. It gives visitors the unique opportunity to sit inside the giant ribcage of a whale.

A giant Paper Mache model of a 5.7 metre long, 2 tonne Great White Shark, caught off local waters in 1982 also makes a realistic and spectacular exhibit.

There are at least 18 shipwrecks around the Portland area, all of which are documented at the Maritime Discovery Centre.

The Maritime Discovery Centre has many static displays, which are interesting and enlightening. As the hub of Portland's foreshore, the Maritime Discovery Centre provides visitors with a one stop shop for all their information needs.

The Maritime Discovery Centre also incorporates Portland's Visitor Information Centre and Souvenir shop.

Portland Maritime Discovery Centre

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