Polly Woodside Virtual Tour

Students can explore all three levels of the Polly Woodside, a fine example of a merchant fleet sailing vessel from the late 19th Century.

The Polly Woodside was built in Ireland in Belfast’s shipyards in 1885 and was named after the owner’s wife Marian ‘Polly’ Woodside.

Polly Woodside sailed on 17 journeys between 1885 and 1904, rounding the notorious Cape Horn – the ‘sailors’ graveyard’ 16 times. She also visited ports all around the world.

Renamed Rona in 1904 she sailed the Tasman and Pacific trade routes until 1922, before ending her working life as a coal hulk in the Port of Melbourne.

This application lets you wander around our sites and see them just as though you could really walk around from room to room or place to place.

Things to find while exploring the Polly Woodside

Can you find these things?

• The Ship’s Bell – the Ship’s Bell was rung at different times to tell the sailor’s what time of the day it was. Sailors were divided into two shifts called watches. When one Watch was on duty the other watch could sleep.
• The Wheel – the helmsman steered the ship and had to have a look out at the front of the ship to warn of dangers ahead. What possible dangers could a ship face at sea?
• The Deckhouse – the Deckhouse included the crew’s sleeping quarters, the Galley and a cabin for the Sailmaker and a cabin for the Ship’s Carpenter
• The Galley – a ship’s kitchen is very busy as they have to provide meals for the crew at different times throughout the day. What sort of food did sailors eat?
• The Anchor – the anchors were stowed on the deck until they were used to stop the ship from moving when in a bay or port. Could you use an anchor to stop a ship when out at sea?
• The Binnacle – this is used to help the Helmsman and Officers steer the ship on a set course. What do you think is inside the Binnacle?

Can you work out the answers?

1. Bedrooms on ships are called cabins. How many cabins can you find?
2. Why does the Captain have his own special cabin?
3. What special things does the Captain have in his cabin?
4. How many masts are there on the ship?
5. What is the deck made from?
6. What are the sides of the ship made from?
7. Make a list of all the different materials you can find aboard a ship.
8. How did sailors climb up the masts?
9. Why are there so many ropes?
10. What safety equipment can you find aboard to help sailors if they fell over board?
11. On the top deck near the anchors there is a tall green metal cylinder that appears to spin around called a capstan. What do you think this did?
12. In front of the Ship’s Wheel is a brass binnacle. What do you think was inside the binnacle?

More information about Tall Ships and the Polly Woodside

Find out about the Plimsoll Line

Discover some different types of sailing ships and boats.

• The Brig
• The Brigantine
• The Barque
• The Square Rigger
• The Schooner