In a move supported by Development Victoria, the tall ship Enterprize has officially returned to Seaworks, with the historic steam tug Wattle and the schooner Alma Doepel set to join her later this year. Under a three-year berth and shed agreement between Development Victoria and Seaworks, all three heritage vessels now have a dedicated home – marking a true homecoming for Enterprize and the start of an exciting new chapter for the precinct.
Long-time locals might remember Enterprize berthing at Boyd Jetty after she was launched here at the Seaworks site in 1997. The recent reconstruction and reopening of Workshops Pier earlier this year has provided the opportunity needed to bring the vessel back to the original Port of Melbourne site and the growing maritime hub at Seaworks.
“We are very, very pleased to be back here and to have that security,” says Captain Warwick Brown, one of Enterprize’s two Masters.. “There is something ‘full circle’ about being at Seaworks, being part of the site’s history as well as its future.”
Being back in Williamstown also offers major operational perks. With their former Docklands base requiring a time consuming transit down the river to reach open waters, the crew can now set sail the moment they cast off from Workshops Pier. That accessibility opens up new possibilities, including upcoming summer evening training sessions and immediate sailing starts for school charters.
With Enterprize, Alma Doepel, and Wattle all sharing berth and shed space alongside Seaworks’ existing maritime museum and resident shipwright, a vibrant maritime hub is taking shape once again.
Having access to the heritage sheds is vital for keeping traditional maritime skills alive. Enterprize recently completed eight weeks of intensive winter maintenance – a routine that involves dismantling the traditional rig, refurbishing the timber spars and flax canvas sails, and dipping the natural fibre rigging in tar. Around 10% of the standing rigging is remade every year using techniques that date back to Viking times and skills that are developed and preserved in-house.
“Ultimately, the vibe here suits us,” says Warwick. “Being in a heritage shed in Williamstown, surrounded by active maritime trades and heritage vessels, feels right.”
While Enterprize is a major tourism and education operator running around 120 events annually – from history charters and public sails to school camps – at its heart, it is a volunteer-powered community asset.
Unlike many traditional maritime organisations, Enterprize boasts a surprisingly young and diverse crew. Of its 80 active volunteers aged from 17 to 79, the largest cohort is aged 25 to 35.
“We are very much a training organisation – we’re always bringing in new crew and helping people learn,” Warwick explains. His own journey proves the point: an industrial designer and partner in an engineering firm by day, he joined as a volunteer 17 years ago with limited sailing experience, eventually earning his commercial tickets and stepping into the skipper role alongside fellow Captain Eden Alley-Porter
With four volunteer inductions a year bringing in around 100 new recruits, the ship’s community continues to grow.
Whether you’re catching a glimpse of her wooden masts from the shore or stepping aboard for a sail, Enterprize is officially home – and the team couldn’t be happier to share the water with the Seaworks community once again.
For more information on Enterprize, including how to book one of their upcoming sails or charters, visit enterprize.org.au
