Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network

Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) is a non-political, not-for-profit, member-based ‘umbrella’ organisation (i.e. a Network) that brings together individuals and stakeholder groups from marine, maritime heritage, education, tourism, corporate and community sectors, all of which share a commitment to fostering greater recognition of, and knowledge about, Melbourne’s rich maritime heritage and maritime industry sector – past, present and future.

MMHN is a catalyst to advocate for the better management of maritime matters. It seeks to sharpen the focus on the richness of Melbourne’s maritime heritage and the crucial role of its port facilities in delivering social, cultural and economic benefits to Melbourne and regional Victoria.

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 nation’s 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 government. Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) was formed to address these ‘deficits’ and to facilitate cooperation, collaboration and coordination across stakeholder groups.

Australia is an island nation which is, and always will be, dependent on maritime capability. Yet the fundamental significance of the maritime sector is seldom acknowledged in the public realm.  This has effectively inhibited due recognition in young people, not only of our rich maritime heritage, but also that Australia’s prosperity, sustainability and defence are and will always be, essentially dependent to our maritime capabilities. MMHN has responded to this problematic issue by adopting a ‘future focus’. In order that young people better understand where their future lies, a key driver in MMHN advocacy effort is proactive engagement with young people.

In the twenty-first century MMHN is committed to ensuring Maritime Melbourne, so critical to our future national prosperity, is accorded due recognition by:

• Celebrating Melbourne’s rich maritime heritage,
• Recognizing the critical economic importance, strength and expertise of Melbourne’s diverse maritime industry.