An historic Australian vessel moored at Balls Head will be seized and disposed of by the NSW Government, disappointing locals who claim it provides a base for young volunteers to receive "valuable knowledge”.
What happened: Since 2000, the 76-metre MV Cape Don has been docked at Waverton, operating as a museum for those interested in nautical history.
On Sunday, the NSW Government called time on the boat, claiming “severe corrosion” makes it too big a risk to leave in the harbour.
Heads up: The decision hasn’t come out of nowhere: NSW Maritime claims nearly fifty meetings have been held with the boat’s owners, where concerns were raised about the vessel’s “deteriorating condition”.
Maritime claims the boat is at risk of sinking (as occurred at the same location in 2022 to a former Manly ferry) which they estimate could cost taxpayers around $15 million.
Response: The Sea Heritage Foundation, the charity who cares for the boat, has asked for an independent review, claiming the boat forms an important part of nautical history. In turn, NSW Maritime points to an independent report it commissioned, prepared in 2025 by accredited marine surveyors.
This report, provided to the Lorikeet, found the boat to be in a “severely deteriorated condition” and said that without substantial funding for a full restoration, “scrapping the vessel is the most prudent option”.
Volunteers: Volunteers have been working aboard the ship for decades. Daniel Callender, the boatswain of the ship, told the Lorikeet volunteers were a “melting pot of different communities”, ranging from ages 16 to 84.
“Young museum staff, future engineers and tradespeople were receiving valuable knowledge”, he said.
The NSW Government volunteering website lists 29 volunteer roles aboard the Cape Don for exhibition researchers, tour guides, radio operators, marine engineers and welding.
History: “The Don”, as it is referred to by volunteers, was built and launched in 1962 at Newcastle, and serviced lighthouses along the Australian coast until 1990.
Since 2004, the vessel has been maintained as a museum, with volunteers running tours exploring the ship's design and history.
While volunteers have maintained parts of the ship's interior, work on the hull would require dry docking, an expensive endeavour.
The Sea Heritage Foundation was contacted for comment.