Bass Strait Maritime Centre

The Devonport Maritime Museum is a major cultural asset for the city, formerly housed in a heritage-listed building which was originally the Harbour Master’s residence.

Jaws Architects was engaged to enhance this facility through provision of additional display space and storage for the numerous artefacts which the museum holds. A purpose-built interpretation space was designed to enable the many stories of Bass Strait to be told and to re-brand and strengthen the museum’s position as a cultural tourism destination.

Sited behind the existing museum, and evoking the experience of entering a shipwrecked hull, the new addition provides a large multi-purpose exhibition space, offices and public facilities/amenities including ticketing, retail and a kiosk. The building itself commences the interpretation with display boxes on the approaching elevation contain a series of intriguing items designed to engage and entice visitors within.

A deck provides views to the museum and signal station as integral elements of the interpretation experience and an orientation point for views of the Mersey River and out to Bass Strait.

The new wing opens up to provide one flexible display space able to be configured for interpretation, gallery or lecture formats. A glazed link delineates the transition from new to old, with conservation works undertaken to reinstate the original roofline and the integrity of spaces within the museum.