SEAWORKS Maritime Museum, Williamstown

I visited this museum last Sunday with a friend who I shall call Michael or Chestcutter. Michael because that is his name. Chestcutter because that is his SOS name, and his profession.

We made the 1 hour trip to Williamstown because we had heard that it has in its collection a block from HMS Bellerophon, and the steering wheel from HMS / HMVS Nelson. There was a suggestion that the Nelson steering wheel was originally also from Bellerophon, but that is probably not the case. Michael was interested to see the Bellerophon block because he has modelled HMS Vanguard 1787, which was almost identical to Bellerophon. Both were 74 gun, line of battle, 3rd rate ships. Photographs of his Vanguard can be seen at “Ships of Scale” and search for Vanguard/Chestcutter.

The museum is open 11am -3pm Sundays and Wednesdays. Plenty of parking, overlooking Hobsons Bay and CBD Melbourne.

The Bellerophon block was impressively huge. 620mm wide. 156kg. 4 lignum vitae pulleys. We wondered what was its function. The label states “deck tackle”. Maybe a backstay tensioner? But the label says “backup for the anchor raising capstan. After HMS Bellerophon 1787 it was used on HMS –>HMCS Nelson 1814. (HMS Her Majesty’s Ship; HMCS “Her Majesty’s Colonial Ship”.)

Me, touching the block from HMS Bellerophon

We wandered around the other museum exhibits. Many superb ship models, from the first fleet, to our (fairly) modern navy.

HMS Sirius. Flagship of the 1788 first fleet which comprised 11 ships carrying convicts, supplies, soldiers, officers and crew, and Governor Arthur Philip. All first fleet ships are modelled, made by one person.

And the steering wheel from HMCS Nelson. It is about 8 feet high. The dummy is full size for scale.

2 or 4 steersmen were normally required, but in heavy weather up to 8 were used.
Note the waisted spindle. I guess that the smaller diameter provided more leverage.
A nice painting of HMVS Nelson and HMCSS Victoria. Nelson was launched at the end of the Napoleonic wars as a 3 decker 120 gun battleship, one of the most powerful sailing battleships ever built, but already becoming obsolete. HMCSS Victoria was built in England for the defence of Melbourne, Colony of Victoria. Victoria is currently being modelled by Patrick Majewski.

We finished our circuit of the museum and were surprised to see that 2 hours had elapsed. A very satisfying and pleasant visit.