Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO® Bricks at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Designed by Certified Professional Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught in partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum, this captivating showcase invites visitors of all ages to delve into the fascinating tales of eight iconic shipwrecks, brought to life through intricate, large-scale LEGO® models. Brickwrecks takes visitors on a journey through maritime archaeology, recreating world-famous shipwrecks with incredible detail and creativity. From ancient vessels to modern-day wrecks, the exhibition covers legendary ships spanning over 3,000 years, offering a unique opportunity to discover each ship’s story, its historical significance, and the remarkable finds uncovered at these underwater archaeological sites.

Visitors can see renowned shipwrecks recreated with thousands of LEGO® bricks, including:
RMS TITANIC: The famed luxury liner that tragically sank in the North Atlantic in 1912.
BATAVIA: A Dutch trading ship that met its end in 1629 off the coast of Western Australia.
HMS TERROR & HMS EREBUS: Both wrecked in 1848 while seeking the Northwest Passage.
ULUBURUN: The oldest known shipwreck, dating to around 1300 BCE, discovered off the coast of Turkey.
HMS PANDORA: Lost in 1791 while pursuing the Bounty mutineers on the Great Barrier Reef.
VASA: The iconic Swedish warship, sunk in Stockholm harbour in 1628.
SHINAN: A Chinese vessel that sank in 1323 near South Korea’s Shinan Islands.
MV RENA: A Liberian container ship wrecked on New Zealand’s Astrolabe Reef in 2011.

These meticulously crafted models range from 1 to 3 metres in length, showcasing varying scales and details that capture the history of each wreck.

Beyond the LEGO® models, Brickwrecks offers interactive elements and multimedia exhibits that delve into the science of maritime archaeology, shipwreck exploration, and their environmental impact. Visitors can try their hand at various archaeological techniques, learn about cutting-edge technologies used in underwater discoveries, and build their own LEGO® creations inspired by the shipwrecks on display.