Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network

Melbourne has in effect turned its back on its rich maritime heritage. Melbourne was and is still a great port city. Trade by sea was, and is still, crucial in underpinning Melbourne’s economic prosperity. Melbourne remains the nations largest port. This cultural and economic strength in Melbourne has not been adequately acknowledged in the public realm and thus far remains undervalued and inadequately exploited by the government. The Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) was formed to address these ‘deficits’ and to facilitate cooperation, collaboration and coordination across stakeholder groups. The MMHN membership is not constrained by single-interest groups or confined to specific locations. It seeks to sharpen the focus upon the richness of Melbourne’s maritime heritage and upon the crucial role of its port facilities in delivering social, cultural and economic benefits to Melbourne and regional Victoria.