What is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village?
What is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village?
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village - A Community Lead Project
In 1974 the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce held a public meeting to float the idea of creating a new tourist attraction for Warrnambool. The lease to the Lady Bay Lighthouse had become available and the meeting proposed that the Warrnambool community take over the site and develop a new maritime museum.
Through a range of projects the village has been created and the dream of 1974 has now emerged to be the award winning Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village that welcomed its 2 millionth guest in 2009.
Now managed by Warrnambool City Council the 'village' is a focal point for tourism, heritage and collection management for Warrnambool.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village receives no recurremt Federal or State Government funding and we therefore rely on the gate receipts and commercial operation of the village to maintain our heritage listed site and artefacts.
What is Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village?
Built around the Victoria State Heritage Listed - Lady Bay Lighthouse precinct it reflects the rich maritime heritage of the Shipwreck Coast. More than 180 ships have come to grief along the Shipwreck Coast, with much of this tragic history being now held, documented, recounted at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is both a amuseum with Australia's richest shipwreck collection housed in its archives and museum gallery areas along with the village area that provides a glimpse of the maritime lifestyles and trades of the 1870's era.
The grounds has two lighthouses which still guide ships into the bay today. The upper lighthouse is open for inspection and provides the most beautiful views over the Lady Bay and Warrnambool Harbour area.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Museum Collection
As Victoria's most active maritime museum and village we hold Australia's most significant shipwreck artefact collection.
A key feature is the priceless Minton statue, the Loch Ard Peacock. Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefacts (Currently valued at $4m) the Loch Ard Peacock was being transported in 1878 from England to Melbourne aboard the clipper the Loch Ard, bound for display at Melbourne's Great International Exhibition of 1880. The ship ran into the cliffs at what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge, with the peacock being washed ashore two after the wreck.
Permanently housed at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village it forms the centrepiece of the Great Circle Gallery that houses our rich maritime heritage.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
With 40 buildings through the village area the lifestyles of the typical coastal port of the 1870's are displayed and can be explored by guests. The maritime trades are brought to life with the team of staff and volunteers that activate the village area.