New immersive exhibition ‘Windjammers’ to open at the South Australian Maritime Museum

Immerse yourself in the newest permanent exhibition to be installed at the South Australian Maritime Museum, Windjammers, open from 25 January 2021.

The exhibition is an interactive cinema experience taking visitors back to the age of sail to experience life on board a windjammer, the large commercial sailing ships that sailed between Australia and the Finnish Baltic, delivering South Australian grain to Europe and beyond from the 1880s until the final grain race in 1949.

South Australia was the go-to destination for grain in the early 20^th century and the exhibition explores the lives of the young crew who sailed these large ships across the world’s oceans.

Each summer, small crews of 25-30 sailors would make the tumultuous journey from the Aland Islands, in the Finnish Baltic, to SA, passing through the seas of Cape Horn. These 90-metre-long ships of iron and steel would ride waves that loomed like walls of water, up to 50-feet high.

Discover a rich collection of objects including 13-year-old windjammer Alan Rogerson’s sea chest and shipwright’s tools, the massive ships wheel from the Hougomont which limped into Port Adelaide after being dismasted in a squall off Western Australia and Lance Potter’s woolen greatcoat along with a small bottle of water he collected while rounding Cape Horn.

Marvel at the lights of the Aurora Australis, endure bitter cold and constant damp in a Cape Horn storm and celebrate the crossing of the line as the ship sails through the calmer waters of the equator.

Delve deeper and watch a selection of short films and interviews, or discover journals and photographs of the men who sailed the windjammers. This plus much more awaits you at the new Windjammers exhibition at the South Australian Maritime Museum, opening 25 January 2021.

The Windjammers immersive experience was developed by the South Australian Maritime Museum in collaboration with the University of New South Wales Centre for iCinema.

Interviews are available with Dr Adam Paterson, Curator SA Maritime Museum and Dr Andrew Yip (University of Coventry, formerly UNSW)

What: Windjammers

Where: South Australian Maritime Museum, Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, South Australia

When: Opens 25 January 2021

Entry: Museum Admission – Adult: $15.00 | Concession: $9.00 | Child: $6.00 | Family $34.50 (Cashless only)

Contact: 08 8207 6255 / maritime@www.history.sa.gov.au

More information: https://maritime.history.sa.gov.au/events/windjammers/