Polly Woodside

Place VIC

After travelling 1.7 million kilometres and circumnavigating the world 17 times, the Polly Woodside now welcomes you aboard.

Built in Belfast in 1885, the three masted cargo vessel carried coal and wheat between England and South America.

You can join the crew, come aboard for a tour of the ship and discover what life was like on a tall ship sailing the seven seas.

Polly Woodside offers a range of activities for visitors including a gallery with the story and history of the ship, children’s Crew Calls, Pirate Days and a wharf with picnic facilities.

What’s On

Open every day during the Victorian school holidays! Saturday 22 December to Tuesday 29 January (2019).

Polly Woodstock – Family Fun Day, Sunday 6 January 2019

Ahoy there, families and mateys of all walks and ages – it’s time to ready yer sea legs and leave the landlubbers behind for a day of music, arts and crafts, food stalls and wild pirate games aboard the historical Polly Woodside.

Children under 15 are welcome free of charge and you can receive 50% off parking at DFO South Wharf with your entry ticket.

Buy Tickets

Children’s Crew Calls – 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm

Every weekend & during the Victorian school holidays!

Children with loud voices, energy to scrub decks and an ability to pull scary faces are encouraged to attend our fun and interactive tour of the ship!

Please note,  the Crew Calls are subject to change and do not run on Pirate Day.

Storytime every Saturday and Sunday at 10.15am (ages 0-5)

and during the Victorian school holidays.

 

Vale Captain Ralph McDonell.

Ralph McDonell left his mark through a lifetime of support to the Polly Woodside.  Read his story here.

Polly Woodside - Planning your visit

Address:

21 South Wharf Promenade
South Wharf 3006 VIC

Open:

Normal Trading Saturdays & Sundays 10am-4pm (last entry 3.15pm)
Open 10am-3pm Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

School holidays every day (subject to change) 10am-4pm (last entry 3.15pm)

Groups and schools by appointment: Bookings Office (03) 9656 9889 Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm.

A Virtual Reality headset is available for mobility impaired visitors courtesy of the State Trustees Australia Foundation.

Closed:

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Phone:
(03) 9656 9889 Mon-Fri
Email:
pollywoodside@nattrust.com.au
Entry Fees:

Adults: $16,
Concession: $13
Child (3-15years): $9.50
Family: $43 ( 2 Adults and 2 Children),
Single Family: $30 (1 Adult and 2 Children)
Additional Children: $5.00 per child.

What we offer:

What's happening at Polly?

We're revitalising the much loved Polly Woodside by undertaking conservation works to the rigging and masts.

Ahoy there!

Due for completion by May 2019, the Polly Woodside will be undergoing extensive conservation works to her masts and rigging. The purpose of this major project is to restore the masts and rigging to a sound and safe condition; repairing and refurbishing where possible and renewing where required.

Tusk Engineering, Ferdi Darley and the Polly Woodside Volunteer Association will be –

  • removing and replacing the rigging,
  • sanding, refinishing and replacing areas of the masts and
  • repainting or replacing associated elements like the blocks.

Preliminary non-destructive ultrasonic testing has shown that the lower steel sections of the mast (below deck level) are in very good condition however we do need to undertake work to the upper timber masts. To get these large pieces of timber down we will need a crane, so please watch your step!

All this hard work will make the Polly Woodside safe and able to support willing volunteers and pirates aloft, so we ask you to please be patient through this process.

The works will only be undertaken during the day however if at any stage you have concerns or are just interested in what’s happening onsite, call the contacts below or pop in to the Polly Woodside Museum.

 

For preservation enquries: Samantha Tait – s.tait@tuskengineering.com.au  0408 761 843

For volunteering opportunities and how you can assist the Polly Woodside contact Emily Howells – emily.howells@nattrust.com.au 9656 9840

 

Supported by the Victorian Government, Living Heritage  Program

 

Weddings and Functions at Polly Woodside Tall Ship

For weddings and function enquiries, please contact the Bookings team:

Email –  bookings@nattrust.com.au or phone 9656 9845.

More information can also be found in the following brochures:

Download The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Wedding Brochure.

Download The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Functions and Venue Hire Brochure.

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VR headsets for Mobility Impaired Visitors

Visitors who have difficulty navigating the stairs and narrow entrances of the ship can use a Virtual Reality Headset on request. These are provided courtesy of the State Trustees Australia Foundation.

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