1 – 9 March, 2025 – Queenscliff, Victoria
Harbour to Horizon: Nine Days of Maritime History, Harbour and on water Celebrations.
Queenscliff will come alive with maritime history, on-water activity, community storytelling and coastal dining when the Harbour to Horizon Maritime Festival happens in March 2026, featuring the arrival of Australia’s historic tall ship Alma Doepel as a centrepiece of the nine-day festival.
Running from 1–9 March 2026, the Festival brings together Maritime History Week, the major centenary celebration of the Lifeboat Queenscliffe and the continuing legacy of volunteer marine rescue, and a vibrant harbour-side weekend, showcasing the stories, skills and traditions that have shaped Queenscliff and Victoria’s coast for generations.
At the heart of the program is Maritime History Week (1–6 March), featuring daily specialist talks, exploring working boat building, shipwrecks, sea Country, rescue, coastal navigation, women’s maritime stories, marine science and the people and vessels of Port Phillip and Bass Strait.
The Alma Doepel will sail from Melbourne to Queenscliff, arriving on Thursday 5 March, offering a rare opportunity for the public to experience one of Australia’s most significant surviving tall ships in an active working harbour.
Chair of the Alma Doepel Trust, Matt McDonald, said the visit reflects the importance of connecting maritime communities through living heritage.
‘Alma Doepel represents the working sail traditions that helped shape ports and coastal towns across Victoria. Bringing her to Queenscliff allows people to experience that history where it belongs, on the water, in a living harbour, and as part of an active maritime community.’
Celebrating 100 Years of the Lifeboat Queenscliffe
A major highlight of the Festival will be the 100th anniversary of the Lifeboat Queenscliffe, marking a century since the launch of the town’s iconic vessel in 1926.
On Friday 6 March 2026, the community will gather in the Museum for a Lifeboat Centenary celebration, honouring the past crews, rescue history and spirit of service that have defined Queenscliff’s lifesaving tradition for generations. The event will be a key moment of reflection and celebration within Maritime History Week, linking past and present through shared stories and community pride.
Alongside talks and on-water events, the Festival will feature Tastes of the Sea, a Maritime Week dining trail encouraging locals and visitors to explore participating restaurants, cafés and hotels across Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale throughout the week.
The Festival is supported by the Borough of Queenscliffe, recognising its role in celebrating local heritage, strengthening community connection and supporting visitation during a traditionally quieter time of year.
Museum President Kerri Erler said the program is designed to take maritime history beyond museum walls.
‘This Festival is about stories that live across the whole town in the harbour, on the water, and through the people who continue to care for this place. Whether you come for a talk, the Blessing of the Feet and sail past or a meal by the sea, you’re part of Queenscliff’s living maritime story.’
The Festival Committee includes representatives from the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, Queenscliff Harbour, Queenscliff Coast Guard, Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club, and Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club.
The Festival culminates in Maritime Weekend (7–8 March), featuring the Blessing of the Fleet, a Sail Past (led by Coast Guard Queenscliff and other emergency response vessels), classic and working vessels, family activities, live music from Shedding the Blues, and harbour-side celebrations.
For the CYAA the festival organising committee invites owners of classic yachts to showcase their vessels in the Harbour Boatyard, as well as participating in a spectacular sail-past and Bay Sailing Race, a handicap event featuring Classic Yachts, Couta Boats and other yachts creating a vibrant display that celebrates our region’s rich maritime heritage.
In addition a special invitation has been issued to CYAA members to form a flotilla with the Alma Doepel as she sails from Melbourne to Queenscliff on Thursday 5th, this is a tremendous one-off opportunity not to be missed. Further details here.
Further program details, including public access opportunities aboard Alma Doepel, the Lifeboat Centenary, Maritime History Week, and the full weekend program, will be available via What’s On – Queenscliffe Maritime Museum here.
