From the observation of the transit of Venus, to the importance of the night sky in Torres Strait Islander navigation and voyaging – planets and stars unite the long history of all navigators around Australia.

Incredible feats of navigation were not the sole preserve of the Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese or British, but were part of a global current of trade, migration and voyaging – all made possible by skills and technologies that understood wind, water and stars. This new gallery space tells the stories of all these navigators under the southern skies using more than 500 objects from the National Maritime Collection – many never shown publicly before.

Among these objects are ancient tools, navigational charts, ceremonial items, and modern instruments that reflect the evolving relationship between people and the sea. Together, they reveal how celestial navigation shaped cultural exchange, survival, and innovation, and how the stars continue to guide our understanding of identity, movement, and place.