The Alma Doepel is much more than just Australia’s oldest surviving tall ship. For years she has been an incredibly successful means of helping young people learn confidence, teamwork and resilience and once our restoration is complete, she will do that again. Thanks to all our volunteers, skilled tradespeople and community supporters that goal is close; however, the loss of our restoration site to Lendlease, will bring all this to a halt.

Development Victoria has issued a notice requiring us to vacate the current restoration site by the end of June. This is much sooner than we had been previously informed and this decision places the entire project in jeopardy, as alternative locations lack the facilities required to complete the ship’s restoration. Without intervention, we risk undoing over a decade of work and the tireless efforts of volunteers, tradespeople, and supporters like you.

Alma Doepel has been a regular sight in Victoria Harbour (Docklands) since 1916 and has had her home port here since 1975. The height of the Bolte Bridge was determined due to the height of the Alma Doepel’s masts!  For many years the Alma Doepel have been working with Development Victoria and City of Melbourne to find a permanent home in the Docklands…  despite many promises, there is no permanent home and our current facility is soon to be redeveloped!

Why We Need Your Help

We are determined to fight for the Alma Doepel and ensure her restoration is completed, but we need your support to continue this journey.  We have two objectives at this time:

1. Fast track the completion of the restoration – between now and June while we have access to the restoration facility we need to get as much of the critical restoration tasks completed as possible.  We need to raise $1m to fully complete the restoration and commence our work with young people  (we have raised $5.2m to-date)
2. Build a fighting fund  – to assist with our communication, legal costs, media and messaging during this critical time in the project

Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a critical difference in helping us take action and secure a future for the Alma Doepel.  We are now so close to finishing the restoration and commencing our important life changing work with Victoria’s young people.

How You Can Help

Make a Donation to the Fighting Fund:
Every dollar counts. Donations can be made securely via LINK .

Sign the Petition

Add your name to the growing list of supporters HERE

Spread the Word:
Share our campaign with your network. Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to join the fight for the Alma Doepel.

Get Involved:
Follow us on Facebook to stay updated and participate in upcoming events like our community rally.

Why It Matters

The Alma Doepel is more than a ship. She is a living link to Australia’s maritime history, a beacon of community spirit, and a future educational resource for generations to come. There is a crisis in our young people today as they are facing the challenges of navigating our modern and complex world.  The programs that will be delivered onboard Alma Doepel will help youth better understand themselves, others, leadership, teamwork and build the resilience required to navigate our modern world.

Together, we can ensure she continues to inspire and educate well into the future.

Time is of the essence. We need your support now to fight for the Alma Doepel and safeguard her place in Docklands.