Centuries of maritime history at risk as Development Victoria provides no viable alternative
The Victorian Heritage Fleet has issued an urgent warning that Melbourne is on the brink of losing its most significant collection of working heritage vessels, after months of stalled negotiations and no suitable relocation option being provided by Development Victoria (DV).
The Alma Doepel, Steam Tug Wattle and Enterprize — vessels with 120+ years of collective history and thousands of volunteer hours behind them — face a forced eviction from Docklands with nowhere to go, despite being invited to the precinct in 2009 as part of a government strategy to activate Victoria Harbour.
Dr Peter Harris OAM, Restoration Director of the tall ship Alma Doepel said:
"We are now at an absolute crisis point. Development Victoria has given us a deadline to leave but has not provided a single viable place for us to relocate to. Without immediate government intervention, these ships will be displaced, programs suspended, and decades of community work put at risk."
There have been no viable alternatives offered to the fleet.
The only location DV has put forward is Seaworks in Williamstown, this site is currently unsuitable due to:
- Unavailable (pier under reconstruction until late 2026)
- Unsafe (sheds in disrepair and unsuitable)
- Unaffordable (around $120,000 per year for unusable space)
Meanwhile, the only practical site that could support the Fleet — Docklands North (509 Docklands Drive) — has not been approved by DV, leaving the Fleet stuck in a bureaucratic stalemate with a looming eviction.
A Community Asset on the Brink
These vessels are not museum pieces — they are working platforms for:
- Youth development and mental health programs
- Volunteer training and community participation
- Heritage skills and maritime apprenticeships
- Public activation and tourism
Losing them from Docklands would mean losing the last visible link to Melbourne's maritime identity.
A Peaceful Call for Public Support – Day of Action, 7 December
To demonstrate the depth of community concern, supporters will gather for a Day of Action on the Water:
Saturday 7 December
11:30 AM
Victoria Harbour, Docklands
The event will be a peaceful, symbolic show of support for keeping Melbourne's maritime heritage alive in Docklands.
Captain Warwick Brown, captain of the Tall Ship Enterprize said:
"We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a fair, workable solution so these vessels and the thousands of people who rely on them are not abandoned. The government must act urgently."
