ST Wattle Restoration Appeal

The amazing journey …

"The steam tug Wattle is historically, socially and technologically significant at the national level as the only small harbour steam tug still surviving in Victoria."

Historic steam tug Wattle was launched in 1933 at Cockatoo Island and worked with the Royal Australian Navy until 1969.

Then Wattle arrived in Melbourne and soon became an iconic sight, steaming on pleasure cruises around Port Phillip as its delighted passengers experienced the romance of a bygone era.

Wattle was lifted ashore in 2009 for restoration by a dedicated team of volunteers and returned to the water in 2015.

Since then a steady program of repairs and renovation took Wattle almost to operational status: until Covid-19 hit. But now at last — with your help — we're almost there!