Bass Strait Maritime Centre

The Bass Strait Maritime Centre is a maritime museum on the Mersey River waterfront at 6 Gloucester Avenue, Devonport, Tasmania. It interprets the maritime history of Bass Strait, including navigation, shipwrecks, trade, and the development of the Port of Devonport. Notable for interactive exhibits, ship models, historic vessels and artefacts, it overlooks the river and Spirit of Tasmania berth and serves as a key centre for northern Tasmania's seafaring heritage.

Visitors can expect a waterfront museum with indoor exhibition galleries overlooking the Mersey River. Inside are interpretive displays on Bass Strait exploration, navigation, shipwrecks, lighthouses, and port history, including ship models, maritime artefacts, photographs, and interactive exhibits. There is a viewing deck over the river to watch vessels and the Spirit of Tasmania ferries, a gift shop, and information on local maritime heritage. The setting is compact and family-friendly within the Devonport port precinct.

The centre interprets the maritime history of Bass Strait, first navigated by Europeans in the late 18th century, and the development of Devonport as a major Tasmanian port at the mouth of the Mersey River. Exhibits cover early exploration, coastal shipping, shipwrecks, lighthouse keeping, and the evolution of ferry services across Bass Strait, including the Spirit of Tasmania.

The centre preserves and presents the seafaring heritage of northern Tasmania and Bass Strait, highlighting the cultural connection between Tasmania and mainland Australia through maritime trade, migration and transport. It serves as a community heritage and education resource for Devonport's port identity.