Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia - MAAWA

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Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia - MAAWA

MAAWA
Established in 1974

Our members represent the volunteer division of the Maritime Archaeology Department of the Western Australian Museum.

MAAWA
Dig | Dive | Discover

Maritime Archaeology Est 1974

•Passionate Preservation
•Dive Shipwrecks
•Research & Education
•Manage Underwater Heritage Sites

Guests Welcome

Shipwrecks Galleries, Fremantle, WA
www.maawa.net MAAWA members consist of a mix of divers, archaeologists, historians, and members of the general public who are all passionate about Western Australia's terrestrial and under

water maritime archaeology and heritage. We are primarily an archaeology association, not a diving club. While many of our members do dive, there are plenty of opportunities for research and fieldwork for people who do not dive. We carry out research into newly discovered and existing shipwrecks and we are authorized to carry out wreck inspections for the Museum. MAAWA was involved in placing the plaques at some of the wrecks at Rottnest Island. More recently MAAWA members have created an app called 'ShipwrecksWA' which has GPS locations, histories, and images of wrecks around the Western Australian coastline, Rottnest, and the Swan River. You can download the app from http://www.shipwreckswa.com

06/09/2026

For $45 per annum or $3.75 a month why not help us by JOINING

Your membership gives you access to a range of opportunities, including:
• Monthly meetings and presentations with like-minded members
• Social Meetings that are all about fellowship and connection
• Membership prices for merchandise, courses and some events
• Invitation to participation in maritime heritage projects and research activities
• Opportunities to dive on shipwreck sites and contribute to fieldwork
• Invitation to attend training and learning experiences in maritime archaeology
• Access to events, networking, and volunteer opportunities
• Being part of a community helping preserve Western Australia’s underwater cultural heritage
• A dedicated WhatsApp group, if the weathers good & a decision to “let’s go today and dive/dig” happens, you’ll be invited. This is members only.

Sign up here... WE'D LOVE IT
https://www.maawa.net/memberships-page

MAAWA meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Rottnest Island Authority Walyalup Office in Fremantle, providing members with a chance to connect, share knowledge, and stay involved in current projects.

05/09/2026

YOU’RE INVITED! EVERYONE IS WELCOME….
Dr Trevor Winton
Illuminating shipwrecks and indigenous landscapes currently buried under the seabed.
The Winwell Foundation plans to provide data, guidance and training from Australian and international investigations of sub-seabed heritage materials without them being disturbed.
This is made possible using state-of-the-art ‘acoustic wave’ technology and expert analysis.
This ‘non-invasive’ survey method could potentially help map and identify unknown wrecks or accurately locate and profile Indigenous and other sites of historic or cultural significance now submerged and buried under sand or mud.
Trevor’s passion for maritime archaeology has led him to launch a unique not-for-profit foundation aimed at helping identify, manage and ultimately preserve sub-seabed heritage material, such as historic shipwrecks and Indigenous sites.

6.15pm for a 6.30pm Arrive and mingle.
6.30pm MAAWA Update
6.35pm Our Speaker then Q & A
7.15pm Stay and mingle with members
Tuesday 15th September 2026
At the Rottnest Island Authority Walyalup Office,
1 Mews Rd, Fremantle.
Free parking is available at the front and along Mews Rd.
Google has this as a toilet block; we are just behind it.

Dr Trevor Winton
Founding Director, PhD, MSc, Grad Dip CM, BE (Hons)
Trevor is the Deputy Chair of the WA Museum’s Maritime Archaeological Advisory Committee and was appointed Research Associate. Dr Trevor Winton has more than 35 years’ experience in environmental, coastal and ocean consulting roles for industry and government.
He is a current president of the Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia and a former director of the not-for-profit Australian Water Association.
A former Councilor for the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, Dr Winton completed his PhD in maritime archaeology at Flinders University.

More details about Winwell Foundation click here:-
https://winwellfoundation.org
Come and listen to hear MORE….

We’re so EXCITED by this event, it’s going to be so INTERESTING!
Please RSVP by hit GOING or INTERESTED on this event page, THANK YOU!
https://www.facebook.com/events/2097317241209266

03/09/2026

On the way back from Kalbarri today me n Jac (Dave Jackson) did a little recce of Port Geogory to visit the Xantho site this spring/summer.

Wanted to check out the beach launch and try get a confirmed lat & long for the wreck and see if it actually was buried or not.

It was only a little way off the the listed position and an easy locate with the drone.

Looks pretty exposed and can clearly see the boiler.

Could be a good little mission in the next months if anyone is up for a drive. Beach is generally hard enough for an easy launch and nice and protected site from the swell.

Beautiful spot at Port Gregory!

THANKS DAVE this was in our MAAWA What's APP MEMBERS group chat, Casual and Catch ups.
If you're a member reach out to Dave to be added to the group.

01/09/2026

Deadwater wreck mystery in Busselton lagoon baffles centuries on.
By Jon Daly - ABC Southwest

A small archaeological team scours the algal-green shoreline of a stagnant lagoon in Western Australia's South West.

They're searching for evidence of a mysterious ship that has been the subject of fevered speculation and unfounded theories for centuries.

The murky pool, known to Busselton locals as the Wonnerup Deadwater, sits off the side of the Wonnerup Inlet like an appendix.

In a moment of excitement, the underwater metal detector sings out, and one of the men dives his hands into the silt.

Read more here and well done IAN McCANN!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-29/deadwater-wreck-mystery-baffles-centuries-on/107050790

30/08/2026

Meet the committee... Today is IAN McCANN, the fellow beside him is Marcel, scroll back to the previous post on our MAAWA page to read about him.

Ian McCann has been a past president of MAAWA and his main focus is maritime and terrestrial archaeology in Vietnam.

Ongoing projects include investigating the maritime landscape of Quang Ngai in central Vietnam and a prehistoric burial site on Quan lan island in Northern Vietnam.

In Western Australia using side scan sonar and mini ROV's to locate and record submerged indigenous landscapes.

The next project is wooden fish-traps in the Swan and Serpentine Rivers.

He also is an extremely well respected and well liked active board member!

29/08/2026

Meet the Committee..
Today we'd love to introduce you to Ian McCann and Marcel Teschendorff

We will share about Ian tomorrow, today is MARCEL DAY!

Marcel is a Senior Archaeologist and Maritime Archaeologist with experience in cultural heritage assessment and management across Aboriginal, historical, and maritime heritage.

He has worked on a variety of archaeological field projects in Western Australia, including the excavation of the Yirra rock shelter site in the Pilbara, monitoring of earth-disturbance works at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, and archaeological survey and site recording across the state.

Marcel has special expertise in underwater cultural heritage, particularly submerged landscapes, and has published peer-reviewed research on the deep-time archaeological potential of the submerged continental shelf off southwestern Australia in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology.

He is a super nice person too!

26/08/2026

MEMBERSHIP

Full Year is $45 single Membership
Full Year is $55 Family Membership
If you’re not a member, could you, would you join to support our work. If you are a member could you please pay your annual fee via https://www.maawa.net/memberships-page

YOU ROCK and THANK YOU!

IMPORTANT WHEN YOU REJOIN/JOIN PLEASE ADD YOUR EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBERS – THANKS!

We welcome new members throughout the year.
To make membership easy and fair, MAAWA memberships follows a 1st July to 30th June annual cycle.

Members joining from 1st January to 30th June can join for a half-year membership fee, with their next full annual membership renewal due on 1st July.

Members who join from 1st July to 31st December pay the full annual membership fee, which covers them until the following 30th June.

This system means everyone is aligned to the same membership year while allowing people to join whenever they are ready.

Your membership gives you access to a range of opportunities, including:
• Monthly meetings and presentations with like-minded members
• Social Meetings that are all about fellowship and connection
• Membership prices for merchandise, courses and some events
• Invitation to participation in maritime heritage projects and research activities
• Opportunities to dive on shipwreck sites and contribute to fieldwork
• Invitation to attend training and learning experiences in maritime archaeology
• Access to events, networking, and volunteer opportunities
• Being part of a community helping preserve Western Australia’s underwater cultural heritage
• A dedicated WhatsApp group, if the weathers good & a decision to “let’s go today and dive/dig” happens, you’ll be invited. This is members only.

JOIN HERE...
https://www.maawa.net/memberships-page

25/08/2026

OUR NEXT LOT OF SPEAKERS
Our meetings are always the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
SAVE THE DATES

Dr Trevor Winton our September Speaker
Illuminating shipwrecks and indigenous landscapes currently buried under the seabed.

Our October MAAWA Meeting.
Dr Corioli Souter | Head of Maritime Heritage
State/National UCH Legislation, UNESCO 2001 Convention, happenings with ICOMOS-ICUCH

Our November MAAWA Meeting is a TRIPLE TREAT!
Three of the most highly respected people in the industry!
Graeme Henderson | Patrick Baker | Trevor Winton

22/08/2026

The Georgette 150th Anniversary Photographic Exhibition

12–27 September 2026 ·
Daily 10am–5pm · Free admission
Margaret River Region Open Studios 2026

Read the STORY, the forgotten man, the shipwreck, the rescue and more...

https://exhibition.margies.app/story

“The vessel was seen going ashore by one of Mr Bussell's stockmen, and he and one of the Miss Bussells came down to us on the beach; it was a great relief to see them, for then we knew help was near.” — George Leake, 1877

Mark your diaries and head down to Margaret River, go for the exhibition but stay for the cheese and w**e....

Address

1 Mews Road
Fremantle, WA
6160

Website

http://www.maawa.net/

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