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Alma Doepel

Alma Doepel

Alma Doepel restoration

2016 (scroll down to see 2019 and photos.)

2019

The Alma Doepel which was built in 1903 is a topsail schooner under restoration at Docklands, Melbourne.

Alma Doepel was built in 1903 in Bellingen, NSW, by Frederik Doepel, and named after his youngest daughter Alma. She sailed mainly around the coast of Australia, carrying goods such as timber, wheat and jam. She was also used in World War II as a supply vessel in Papua New Guinea, before returning to commercial service around Tasmania in 1946. From 1961 to 1975 she was stripped of her rigging and used to carry limestone, before being sold, for the scrap value of her engines, to the Melbourne company Sail & Adventure in 1976. Alma Doepel on custom-made barge undergoing hull work as part of complete restoration.

From 1976 to 1987, Alma Doepel was comprehensively restored and returned to full sail in magnificent style to lead the Parade of Sail in Sydney Harbour in January 1988. She was then used as a sail training ship, based in Melbourne, until 1999 when the need for work on the hull and lack of funds put a stop to this activity.

In April 2001, Alma Doepel was taken to Port Macquarie where she was berthed at Lady Nelson Wharf and open to the public as a static exhibit. In January 2009 the Alma Doepel returned to Melbourne. She is berthed at No 2 Victoria Dock (Melbourne) undergoing an extensive refit to return her to survey so she can recommense sail training.

Source: almadoepel.com.au

1856-1870 Parliament

1856-1870 Parliament

Melbourne from Parliament 1856 to 1870

1856 Walter Woodbury from the roof of parliament. Source V&A Museum London
1858 De Gruchy & Leigh Lithograph – source State Library of Victoria (SLV)
1865 Charles Nettleton – source SLV
1870 Charles Nettleton – SLV
1855 Woodbury from Gasworks Tower

1855 Woodbury from Gasworks Tower

Woodbury panorama from Gasworks Tower 1855

In 1855 a young photographer from England captured the first panoramic photographs of Melbourne. The West Melbourne Gasworks Tower was located where the (former) ANZ building 833 Collins st West is situated.

Walter Woodbury (1834-1885) was an inventor and pioneering English photographer. We celebrate the old masters by showing you a modern view from Docklands Park, from where Woodbury captured the first photographic panorama of Melbourne, from the Docklands Gasworks Tower. Woodbury died 137 years ago.

We walk in the footsteps of old masters, for whom the task was infinitely more difficult. Switch between old and modern views in the link on the lower right.