Colonial-Era Boat Found in Sydney Harbour

Topic: History

Fri 15 May 2026 at 6:33am

Maritime archaeologists are working to restore the oldest colonial-era boat found in Australia.

The boat was discovered during construction of the Barangaroo metro station in 2018 and will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum by 2027.

Sydney Metro head of operations Hugh Lawson said they found something incredible at the Barangaroo station site.

The remnants of a colonial-era boat were discovered during construction of the Barangaroo metro station in Sydney.

The boat was used by British settlers between 1790 and 1830 for trade across Sydney Harbour.

Archaeologists believe it travelled south to the Shoalhaven and north to Newcastle, with its timber from the Hawkesbury River.

Maritime archaeologists are working on the restoration of the vessel.

Maritime archaeologist Benjamin Wharton said it's the earliest example of using traditional boat building techniques in Australia.

The boat is made of Australian hardwoods coated in pitch, which helped preserve it.

The boat was used by British settlers between 1790 and 1830 for trade across Sydney Harbour.

Archaeologists took two months to excavate the boat, keeping it moist for over a year.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham said it's an incredible story of old and new transport.

Reconstructing a 200-year-old boat

Archaeologists traced the boat's timber back to eucalypt species found along the Hawkesbury River.

The ANMM team used old records to understand the type of trade and how the boat was used.

Mr Wharton is investigating how to reconstruct the boat like a puzzle.

The team is coming up with ways to join wood together using custom-made fasteners.

Benjamin Wharton says reconstructing the boat's remnants is like a puzzle.

Hundreds of items were well-preserved alongside the boat's remains, including glass and ceramics.

Maritime archaeologist James Hunter said the items give a snapshot of everyday life in the new British colony.

The items include leather shoes, smoking pipes, toothbrushes, and bones of food.

The bones show bite marks of humans and rats.

Hundreds of items were well-preserved alongside the boat's remains.

Dr Hunter said all the items dated to the mid to late 1830s, when the boat was abandoned.

At that time, convicts and free settlers were coming to Australia.

The artefacts show settlers tried to replicate their lives in Europe, with boats instrumental to life in the new colony.

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