Polly Woodside – Open Day
After travelling 1.5 million miles across the globe, the Polly Woodside now welcomes you aboard
Discover the fascinating story of Polly Woodside, the historic three-masted cargo vessel built in Belfast in 1885. Designed to carry coal and nitrate between England and South America, this remarkable ship sailed around the infamous Cape Horn 16 times. Constructed from iron, the favoured material for shipbuilding in the 19th century, the Polly Woodside took just six months to complete and was named after Marian “Polly” Woodside, the wife of its owner, the dynamic entrepreneur William Woodside.
As the age of steam replaced sailing ships, Polly Woodside adapted to changing times, delivering cargo wherever it could be found. Renamed Rona in 1904, the ship eventually became a coal hulk, refueling steamships at the Port of Melbourne. In 1968, after years of service, the vessel was saved from the scrapyard, entrusted to the National Trust for the symbolic cost of just one cent, and lovingly preserved as a piece of maritime history.
Join us on Open Day to step back in time and experience life aboard this iconic tall ship. Explore the Polly Woodside at your own pace or join a guided tour to uncover its incredible history. Guided tours run at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm and last approximately 45–60 minutes. Please arrive a few minutes early to join a tour.
Bring your sense of adventure and set sail on a journey through history!