"Concerning the functioning of this commercial museum. It is now intended to add another section of Industry, i.e. that of Naval Architecture. Several of the Shipping Companies have lent models of their Ships, so that the public may see the advance that has been made of recent years.

I am very anxious to develop the Court so as to illustrate all branches of the science. I therefore write to ask if I could enlist your valuable assistance in this connection by lending models of any vessels in your possession, also any other exhibits which you think would be of educational value for such a display."

This excerpt is from a letter written in 1907 by the then curator Richard Baker. In it he clearly outlines the reason for bringing this and the other ship models into the museum.

Their educational and historical value has not diminished with time and the models remain important evidence of Australia's shipping history. Ship models are also important for more practical reasons. Real ships are subject to stresses of the sea, rot and rust and are used in place of those that have not survived. Their size also makes the display and comparison of key features easier than with the full size vessel.

Block and half block models became more popular after 1720, and ship builders made them to illustrate the designs of local engineering firms. By the middle of the 1850s, half block models were common in commercial shipyards. They were used as aids for framing, planking and plating ships although by the 1880s it was becoming more common to find their use limited to display.

Geoff Barker, Assistant Curator, April 2008

References
Davison, G., Webber, K., 'Yesterday's Tomorrows; the Powerhouse Museum and its precursors 1880-2005', Powerhouse Publishing, 2005
Lavery, B. and Stephens, S., 'Ship Models; their purpose and development from 1650 to the present', Zwemmer, London, 1995

+ Sea transport
+ Model making

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