Container Excitement Hits Wollongong

Six colourful 20-foot shipping containers have sprung up along the foreshore this week as an exciting new outdoor exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum makes its mark in Wollongong.

Container, an exhibition houses entirely in the six containers has been developed by the Sydney-based museum and is in Wollongong until 20 January.

Over this week, the containers were moved into place along the Wollongong Harbour Foreshore between Osborne and Lang Parks. The exhibition was officially opened on Friday 19 October.

“I invite the community to step inside the boxes and learn all about how shipping containers have revolutionised the way we live,’’ said Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM.

“Plus, this touring exhibition will provide an insight to the activities that are happening right on our City’s doorstep in the port of Port Kembla and highlight how shipping and the transport of goods takes place.’’

The exhibition looks at the history and impact of containerisation and the way the shipping container has changed the world. Each of the containers are themed – ship, cargo, port, ocean, build and things.

Australian National Maritime Museum Director Kevin Sumption said they were excited to bring the Container exhibition to Wollongong as it had been popular with visitors to Darling Harbour where it was first on display. The exhibition also won Silver at the Sydney Design Awards earlier this year.

“I’m excited that by going on tour more people get an insight into this fascinating industry,’’ Mr Sumption said.

“As an island nation some 99 per cent of Australia’s trade is conducted by sea freight. The Container exhibition highlights the importance of this industry and how it impacts on all of us.’’

Additional Information – What’s in the Containers?

Ship – the history of the cargo industry before the invention of the container and the impact of its introduction are explored. From transporting goods in crates, bales, sacks and barrels loaded by hand, the container now allows the world’s 1.5 million seafarers to deliver 10 billion tonnes of trade each year.

Cargo – looks at trade, customs, biosecurity and how perishable goods are transported around the world.

Port – talks about the radical transformation of ports and port cities in Australia and around the world. It also gives visitors a peek behind the scenes at Port Botany, one of Australia’s busiest ports and the gateway for 99 per cent of New South Wales’ container demand.

Ocean – looks at the challenges mass shipping poses to our oceans, including lost shipping containers, cargo spills and acoustic pollution, and the current focus on sustainable shipping.

Build – uncovers the quirky and innovative ways containers are used beyond shipping, including ‘small homes’, food trucks, art installations and even swimming pools.

Things – is a glass fronted container with a shop-front style window display demonstrating the origins of everyday objects in our homes. The total number of kilometres travelled by sea by all the products in this container is 887,082 km.

The exhibition has been embraced by the shipping industry with a large number of its key organisations coming on board to provide essential support to tell this important story. Major sponsor NSW Ports has played a key role in the development of the exhibition. Sponsors include ACFS Port Logistics, Maritime Container Services, DP World Australia, Smit Lamnalco and Transport for NSW. The containers were supplied by Royal Wolf and Shipping Australia and the USA Bicentennial Gift Fund are proud supporters.

For more information you can contact Council’s Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111 or visit our website at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au

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