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Category: Newcastle

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Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin

Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin in Newcastle Harbour

Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin

Although now retired from from its confrontations with Japanese whaling fleets, the MV Steve Irwin still looks impressive with its camouflage and skull painted deck house. Docked at Thales Marine in Newcastle, New South Wales, the ship is now owned by the non-profit organisation Ship4Good. Tours are a great way to learn about the fight to save the whales while contributing to the preservation of the ship.

We met our tour guide at the Thales Security Gate, where we were issued hi-visibility jackets for the walk to the ship. The jackets were necessary because the Thales dock is a working area.

Ship’s History

After a safety briefing our tour started with a talk on the ship’s history. Originally serving 28 years as the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency conservation enforcement patrol boat, FPV Westra, Sea Shepherd purchased her in 2006. Although originally named the MV Robert Hunter after Canadian Robert Hunter, co-founder of Greenpeace it was renamed the MV Steve Irwin following his death. Steve had been considering joining the vessel the following year before his death.

Over the next 12 years, the ship undertook 17 voyages ranging from anti-whaling and illegal fishing. These occurred in areas as diverse as the Antarctic and Mediterranean. However, she is most famous for confronting the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. These clashes occurred as close range, with activists throwing stink bombs onto Japanese ships and attempting to entangles their propellors. On several occasions, ships rammed each other, a very dangerous action because of the freezing Antarctic waters.

Tour of the Ship

Over the next hour we toured the ship from the bridge to engine room. On the bridge we were able to see where the ship and its operations were directed, with the large windows providing an excellent view of the surrounding area.

In the engine room, the two British Polar 12-cylinder 2,100 bhp Engines with their turbo chargers showed why Sea Shepherd bought this ship. The engines and the ship’s design gave it a speed able to match and overake the Japanese whaling fleet, while being relatively stable in rough seas. Along with the embarked helicopter this enabled them to find and harass the whalers.

Getting Around the Ship

Anyone intending on touring the ship should be aware of several restrictions. Several of the rooms and corridors are small and narrow. So if you are claustrophobic, this may be a problem. Moving from one deck to another is via steep stairways. If you are mobility impaired or have small children this may make getting around difficult. Remember to wear sensible enclosed shoes, because of the stairs and outside surfaces.

We had a great time here learning about the Steve Irwin’s history and seeing the inner workings of the ship.

Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin in Newcastle Harbour
Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin in Newcastle Harbour
Gangway onto MV Steve Irwin
Gangway onto MV Steve Irwin
Covered walkway around the ship
Covered walkway around the ship
Some of the cruises the ship participated in
Some of the cruises the ship participated in
Some of the cruises the ship participated in
Some of the cruises the ship participated in
Throwing stink bombs at the Japanese whaling ships
Throwing stink bombs at the Japanese whaling ships
Dramatic painting of the Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
Dramatic painting of the ship at sea
The two 12-cylinder 1,600 kW engines
The two 12-cylinder 1,600 kW engines
The Steve Irwin's propellor shaft Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
The Steve Irwin’s propellor shaft
The Bridge
The Bridge
The Bridge Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
The Bridge
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Fighter World Williamtown NSW

Fighter World Williamtown

Fighter World Williamtown Aviation Heritage

Getting to Fighter World

Fighter World located adjacent to the Williamtown RAAF base has an excellent display of jet fighters operated by the RAAF. Fighter world is very easy to find due to its location and parking is easy, because the museum has its own large car park.

The Collection

Main Hanger

Housed in an old hanger the collection illustrates the evolution of the jet fighter in Australian service from its beginnings with the Meteor to high tech aircraft like the F-111 and Mirage III. Also displayed are Winjeel and PC-9 forward air control aircraft because they marked targets for the fast jets.

All aircraft can be approached closely so it is possible to get a great close-up view.  Many also have stairs to enable a view of the cockpit and top of the aircraft, which also gives you great views around the display hall.

If you have kids or like the interactive side of museums there is a Mirage cockpit that you can sit in, which gives you a hands-on feel for the aircraft.

Aircraft armaments are displayed around the hanger ranging from Matra R.530 missiles for the Mirage to Bomb ejector racks for the F111.

Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-3 Fighter World
Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-3
CAC Winjeel A85-428 Fighter World
CAC Winjeel A85-428
Aermacchi MB326H
Aermacchi MB326H
Sopwith Camel replica Fighter World
Sopwith Camel replica
Boeing Stearman replica 1/3 scale Fighter World
Boeing Stearman replica 1/3 scale
Fokker Dr.I Triplane replica
Fokker Dr.I Triplane replica
Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile Fighter World
Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile

Second Hanger

Containing the first RAAF jets, a small hanger houses a Vampire, Meteor and CAC Sabre. Also housed here are two replica Spitfires, one only consists of the fuselage, but the other is full size. Several early jet engines, the Ghost, Goblin and Nene, show how they worked, with cut-away sections revealing their interiors.

In addition to the aircraft displays is the Norm Forrester Collection. Displayed in cabinets this large collection of model aircraft covers most RAAF, British and US subjects.

Gloster Meteor F.8
Gloster Meteor F.8
de Havilland Vampire A79-1 Fighter World Williamtown NSW Australia
de Havilland Vampire A79-1
CAC CA-27 Sabre Fighter World
CAC CA-27 Sabre
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Replica Fighter World
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Replica
Rolls-Royce Nene Jet Engine
Rolls-Royce Nene Jet Engine
Model Aircraft Display Fighter World
A small section of the Model Aircraft Display

Outside Displays

Located between the two hangers is a Pilatus PC-9 used until recently by the RAAF for Forward Air Control.

In front of the museum a CAC Sabre stands as a gate guardian along with a radar dish and a Jindivk target drone.

Pilatus PC-9
Pilatus PC-9
CAC CA-27 Sabre A94-959 North American Sabre F-86 Fighter World Williamtown NSW Australia
CAC CA-27 Sabre A94-959
GAF Jindivik drone
GAF Jindivik drone
Radar Antenna at Fighter World Williamtown
Radar Antenna at Fighter World

Viewing Platform

A stairway leads to a viewing platform where the active Williamtown RAAF base and its aircraft movements can be observed. The Williamtown base is currently home to F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters (operated by No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 3 Squadron and No. 77 Squadron), BAE Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighters (operated by No. 76 Squadron), E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft (operated by No. 2 Squadron) and Pilatus PC-21 forward air control aircraft (operated by No. 4 Squadron).

Because the base also has the Newcastle Airport located opposite, you can see commercial planes coming and going as well.

What Did We Think?

A great museum showcasing Australia’s jet fighter aircraft from the 1940s to the present. Located close to Newcastle NSW, this is a fantastic place to visit if you have an interest in aircraft.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Fort Scratchley Newcastle

6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley Newcastle

No longer used by the military, Fort Scratchley is now a memorial to the servicemen and women who served there. During World War Two, the Japanese submarine I-21 attempted to shell Newcastle and the BHP Steel Works. Fortunately most of the shells missed or failed to explode with no-one hurt and only minor damage caused. Fort Scratcheley returned fire but failed to hit the submarine. In doing so, it became the only Australian fort to fire on an enemy ship.

Regularly fired by volunteers, two of the original guns are still in place. Most of the original buildings and tunnels are intact and can be viewed, with guided tours of the tunnels also available.

Now a heritage site, the fort’s buildings and guns from World War Two are still intact. Still operational, the guns are fired each day by volunteers. The upperworks and buildings are free to walk around, but a tour of the tunnels require a ticket as it is a guided tour.

As well as the fortifications, the views over Newcastle and the nearby beaches are fantastic.

Fort Exterior Displays

On entering the fort, you are free to enter all areas apart from the underground tunnels. As the tunnel tours are timed, we booked one and then went exploring the remainder of the fort. At the top of the hill, the 6-inch guns that fired on the I-21 can be seen and you are able to get close to them.

Older muzzle loading guns have been returned to the fort and re-sited where they used to be. The size of the 80-pound cannon really has to be seen to understand how massive it is.

Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
The fort's buildings on the upper level Fort Scratchley
The fort’s buildings on the upper level
80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour Fort Scratchley
80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour
6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley
6-inch Nark VII guns
View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance
View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance

Display Rooms

Rooms that used to house soldiers now serve as display rooms showing the history of the fort. A full room is dedicated to Sir Peter Scratcheley who the fort is named after. Another room has a model of the I-21 and some of the shells fired that night.

Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
Weapons display Fort Scratchley
Weapons display
Uniform Display Fort Scratchley
Uniform Display
Women's uniform display
Women’s uniform display
Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
Model of the Japanese submarine I-21 Fort Scratchley
Model of the Japanese submarine I-21
The fort's gaol
The fort’s gaol

The Tunnels

The highlight of the trip was the tunnel tour which takes you under the fort and into its working areas. The guide was great and full of information about the fort’s past and how it worked. From the magazines that used to store the fort’s ammunition to the gun emplacements it was a comprehensive tour. We were able to get close to most of the guns to get a detailed look.

One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
One of the fort's tunnels Fort Scratchley
One of the fort’s tunnels
Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
The disappearing gun's pit. Now covered
The disappearing gun’s pit. Now covered
80 pounder muzzle loading cannon Fort Scratchley
80 pounder muzzle loading cannon
Shells in the magazine Fort Scratchley
Shells in the magazine
8 Inch breach loading gun
8 Inch breach loading gun
How the disappearing guns worked Fort Scratchley
How the disappearing guns worked

What Did We Think?

This was a great place to visit, because it’s full of local history and amazingly restored guns and displays. Well worth the visit.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.