The Sea Heritage Foundation’s Mission:
“To create a self-sustaining Living Working Maritime Museum that preserves heritage, builds skills, and drives innovation for future generations by providing a unique community hub for social and economic change.”
The Historic Lighthouse Tender the MV Cape Don
Unlocking potential through human-centred learning with our unique learning and development environment, the heritage lighthouse tender ship, the MV Cape Don.
History
A Royal Connection
Training
- WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT - HELP PRESERVE AUSTRALIAN MARITIME HISTORY
- WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT - HELP PRESERVE AUSTRALIAN MARITIME HISTORY
The Sea Heritage Foundation Pty Ltd is a not-for-profit incorporated charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The Foundation was founded to carry out the refurbishment and conservation of the historic Commonwealth Lighthouse Service (CLS) Ship MV Cape Don with the aim of preservinge a unique example of Australian shipbuilding, ship design and maritime history.
MV Cape Don was built at the State Dockyards in Newcastle, NSW. Completed in January 1963. She was one of a unique “Cape” class of ships that were purpose-built to service the important shipping and trade lanes around Australia’s vast coastline.
The Conservation work onboard the ship is carried out by crew of volunteer members of the MV Cape Don Society which is managed by the Sea Heritage Foundation Board of Governors.
The ship is undergoing a staged 10-year strategic plan to diversify her income, dry dock the ship, creating training and employment pathways for Indigenous Australians.