Library

 

The Centre has a collection of over 5,000 non-fictional books covering a wide range of maritime subjects providing valuable reference material for research. These books have been classified into 149 different Subject areas, eg. Engineering, Ferries, History, Navigation, Shipwrecks and Lloyds Registers.

 

Specific areas of the collection cover;

•	Australian and New Zealand Shipping Registers (1890/91 – 1966)
•	Lloyds Publications
	Lloyds Register of Ships	(1893 – 2003)
	Lloyds Register of Ship 0wners	(1955/56 – -1992/93)
	Lloyds Register of Yachts	(1886 – 1980)
	Lloyds List	(1741 – 1826)
	Lloyds Calendars	(1905 – 1973)
•	Square Rigged Sailing Era – books authored by the majority of “masters” of the period (late 18th century through to World War 2).
•	Shipping Companies and Agents – from the early days of Australian colonization to current
	times. Available information is heavily weighted towards Australasian and British organizations,
	but also included is an international collection of interest on Scandinavian, Dutch, German, French, south-east Asian, Japanese and North American companies.
•	Technical books on vessels powered by wind, steam, and motor covering design (naval
	architecture),sail rig, steam propulsion and motor (oil) driven. Complementing these books is a
	large collection of catalogues, technical brochures and specifications on small and large marine engines and components.
	Note – Many of these books are not only of public interest but useful to the Fleet’s volunteers in their successful efforts to restore and maintain the SHF’s heritage vessels.
•	Miscellaneous books on maritime insurance, maritime law, meteorology, model making, navigation and oceanography.

Ron Parsons Collection – The Maritime Records and Research Centre (MRRC) has recently acquired the research notes of well known maritime historian and author, Ron Parsons. The collection contains 26 folders of research notes put together over many years and which form the basis of the many publications covering ships and shipping companies operating from early settlement in Australasia. Ron Parsons was editor and publisher of “Australasian Shipping Record” the quarterly journal of the Australasian Maritime History Society. The MRRC has within the reference library a number of the booklets written by Ron Parsons.

 

Any of the library items held by the Maritime Records and Research Centre can be viewed by making an appointment with the volunteers at the Centre.

 

The Maritime Records and Research Centre is located at Wharf 7, 58 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays except for public holidays, and may be visited by prior appointment.

 

For further information contact the Maritime Records and Research Centre’s Curator on 02 9298 3850 or [email protected]/home