Vaughan Evans Library
Come into our library to research migration stories, family history, shipping records, maritime heritage, naval history and much more!
Open 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday.
Please make an appointment with our librarians before you visit, or enquire at reception in the Wharf 7 building behind the main museum.
What's in the library?
You’ll find all sorts of resources and skilled librarians to help you find information and put your research into the wider context of Australia’s rich maritime heritage. Let us help you on your voyage of discovery!
Our collection features:
- Numerous shipping records to track down the movement of people and vessels in and out of Australia’s waters over the last 250 years, such as Lloyd’s List (1741–1900), Lloyd’s Captains Register (1851–1901) and Register Veritas for non-British vessels (1829–1981).
- Rare, out-of-print and hard-to-find works about maritime communities, people, vessels, organisations, events, technologies, sports and art. Examples include Kathleen’s Voyage: the Log Book of the Kathleen Gillett; Observations on the Diseases of Seamen; and America’s Cup Yacht Designs, 1851–1986.
- Standard reference books and specialist works on maritime history, archaeology, conservation and restoration. These invaluable sources include Log of Logs, Shipping Arrivals and Departures, Royal Australian Navy List, Register of British Ships, Australian Ports and many shipping company histories.
- An impressive collection of journals and magazines that contain a wealth of news, techniques, plans and photographs of shipbuilding, yachting and surfing. These sources range from Tracks, Seacraft and Australian Motorboat & Yachting to The Rudder: the Magazine for Yachtsmen and Shipbuilder & Marine Engineering Magazine.
- Transcripts of many of the original diaries, journals, logs and letters held by the museum.
- Access to subscription-only library and genealogy databases.
- Hard copies of the museum’s globally recognised magazine, Signals.
