Sydney Heritage Fleet
The current major Sydney Heritage Fleet restoration project is the 1927 coastal steamship John Oxley. This vessel was built for the Queensland Harbours and Marine Board. John Oxley steamed out to Australia under her own power and served as a pilot steamer for Brisbane and as a buoy and lighthouse tender along the Queensland coast. 43 years later, a donated John Oxley would steam down the coast with a crew of volunteers from Brisbane to Sydney to start a new life as a museum ship.
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SIGNIFICANCE – John Oxley is the last remaining coastal steamship in Australian waters. Before rail and road networks were built, we relied on many ships like this to carry passengers and cargo around the Australian coast.
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Significant features of this important vessel are the traditional forecastle, well deck, cargo hold, navigation bridge amidships, and accommodation aft. The steam propulsion plant includes the triple expansion main engine and auxiliary machinery. Steam is supplied from two scotch boilers, which originally burned coal, however, conversion to burn heavy fuel oil took place in 1946.
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WORK TO DATE IS ADVANCED – In 1997, John Oxley’s hull was docked on our barge and restoration in earnest commenced in 2004. The next 18 years would see a huge amount of work take place – Most hull plates were replaced along with underlying structures (including new boiler stools). Engineering work included replacement of most piping systems, and a full restoration of all machinery. Above the hull works include replacement of steel main deck and boat deck, plus repairs to most main deck to superstructure coamings. Main deck bulwarks and boat deck railing have been replaced. Most cabins have also been refitted including Master’s cabin, chartroom and engineers’ cabins.
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WORK CONTINUES… Current tasks include retube of both boilers (almost complete), construction of boiler furnace arrangements and uptakes, work on cabin fitouts, and there is always painting…
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Join contact list – Ask a question – Offer to help
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Your donation enables purchase of materials and services for the restoration of John Oxley.
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Your donation of materials or services will advance this important work – Donated steel, grit blasting, galvanising, equipment, inspections, industrial gases, etc. makes the restoration of John Oxley possible.
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You can join in – Volunteers can be skilled and we really need metal fabricators and woodworkers. Many other volunteers join up with DIY skills to paint and to refinish cabins and equipment. Many enjoy the benefits of volunteering (social contact, physical activity and learning new skills on the job).
