The Musée Maritime de Nouvelle-Calédonie, located in Nouméa, is the place to go to understand the nautical history of the Pacific. Thanks to meticulous conservation work and an immersive approach, it invites visitors on a journey through the centuries, between exploration, trade and navigation. A tribute to maritime heritage and to those who have dedicated their lives to preserving its memory.
From the mystery of La Pérouse to the creation of the Maritime Museum
In 1791, the ships La Recherche and L'Espérance, under the command of Joseph-Antoine Bruny d'Entrecasteaux, left France to find La Boussole and L'Astrolabe, which had disappeared in 1788. Having set out from Brest in 1785 on a scientific expedition, the two frigates had run aground, taking 220 sailors and scientists with them. D'Entrecasteaux died at sea before he could locate the wreck site.
In 1826, Irish adventurer and merchant Peter Dillon identified the location of the tragedy at Vanikoro, in the Solomon Islands. The following year, he collected testimonies from the inhabitants and recovered several objects from the expedition.
At the same time, between 1826 and 1829, Captain Dumont d'Urville led an exploration mission in the Southern Ocean. Informed of Dillon's discovery, he called at Vanikoro. In exchange for some fabrics, the islanders took him to the site of the "Fausse Passe", where he discovered the remains of one of the ships. He salvaged furniture from La Boussole and erected a monument in memory of La Pérouse and his crew.
In 1981, Alain Conan, a Nantais by birth, Caledonian by adoption, sailor and history buff, founded the Association Salomon in Nouméa with friends, driven by a single goal: to understand the disappearance of the two frigates sent by Louis XVI under the command of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse. A mystery that would fascinate him for the rest of his life.
For 36 years, Alain Conan led a relentless research effort. Under his impetus, 8 archaeological expeditions were organized between 1981 and 2008, including 3 in partnership with the French Navy and DRASSM (Département des recherches archéologiques subaquatiques et sous-marines). The discoveries were remarkable. Given the wealth of artefacts unearthed, he and his team set about creating the Maritime Museum of New Caledonia, which today houses an extraordinary collection.
Alain Conan disappeared at sea on March 6, 2017 during a dive on Sournois Reef, New Caledonia. Without his commitment, the site would never have seen the light of day.
A permanent exhibition under the sign of the link
With nearly 2,000 objects from Caledonian shipwrecks and the site of the La Pérouse shipwreck, the permanent exhibition of the Musée Maritime de Nouvelle-Calédonie highlights the historical and maritime links between peoples and continents. Designed around the concept of "Connecting - Being Connected", the immersive museography offers a dynamic exploration of 4 major themes.
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La Pérouse, an expedition in the Age of Enlightenment
In 1785, Jean-François de La Pérouse took command of a scientific expedition commissioned by Louis XVI. Aboard the Astrolabe and the Compass, he set out to explore the Pacific. His journey came to a tragic end in 1788 at Vanikoro. Thanks to archaeological excavations, the museum now boasts a unique collection of objects from the shipwreck site: navigational instruments, crockery, armaments and relics from the various ports of call.
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Voiles du commerce, in the wake of the giants of the sea
In the 19th century, New Caledonia became a crossroads for maritime trade. Sandalwood, guano and nickel fueled intense traffic. The museum traces the history of the great sailing ore carriers, including the France II and the Roanoke, that plied these trade routes. The Tacite collection is one of the highlights, recalling the essential role played by these commercial sailing ships, which began supplying the archipelago in 1873.
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Caledonian links, maritime traffic in the lagoon
Before the rise of aviation and road infrastructures, the sea was the main means of transport in New Caledonia. Pirogues, cutters and coasters provided supplies and transport.
The construction of the Amédée lighthouse in the 19th century testifies to the importance of maritime signalling in the face of increasing traffic.
The museum also revisits key events such as the tragic disappearance of the coaster Monique in 1953.
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Maritime migration, boarding for New Caledonia
New Caledonia has seen several waves of migration, initiated over 3,000 years ago by Oceanic peoples. After the discovery of the archipelago by the English in 1774, France took possession of the territory in 1853, initiating new migratory flows. The exhibition highlights these population movements and looks back at the landing of American troops in New Caledonia during the Second World War.
Collections rich in maritime history
The collections of the Musée Maritime de Nouvelle-Calédonie, which today number over 9,000 objects, are the fruit of excavation campaigns carried out by local associations Fortunes de mer and Salomon. Nearly half of the pieces come from the wrecks of the Boussole and Astrolabe, the emblematic ships of La Pérouse's expedition. The rest of the collection is made up of artifacts from local wrecks, including warships such as the Seine (relics of the American era), commercial sailing ships such as Tacite, and sailing ore carriers such as Roanoke and Ville de Saint-Nazaire.
Finally, the museum also preserves a variety of maritime objects representing around 10% of its collections, such as lighthouse and beacon equipment, navigation instruments, charts and ship models acquired through donations or deposits.
The laboratory for processing archaeological objects
The museum also boasts a laboratory specializing in the treatment and preservation of the archaeological collection from New Caledonian shipwrecks and the La Pérouse expedition. More than 8,000 objects or fragments of artifacts, recovered after centuries on the seabed, are cared for in this way.
Made from a variety of materials such as wood, leather, textiles, bone, ivory, glass, metal and ceramics, these objects have been weakened by the action of sea salt, which has degraded their structure over time. Thanks to modern techniques, the laboratory is now able to treat these relics to ensure their preservation in the best possible conditions.
Escape Game: an immersive adventure for schoolchildren
The Musée Maritime de Nouvelle-Calédonie is also presenting an educational and fun experience for schoolchildren in the form of an Escape Game taking place in one of its exhibition spaces. Participants have 50 minutes to solve riddles and escape from the room. Their objective: to discover a chest containing treasure and, above all, the key to their freedom. Designed by history-geography teacher Patrice Fesselier-Soerip, a member of the museum's educational team, the game is aimed at secondary school students from 6e and upwards. It's an original way to discover maritime history while having fun. It can accommodate a class of up to 24 students. Cost: 4,000 CFP (teacher included) and 350 CFP per accompanying adult.
Rates for the Maritime Museum are as follows (rate 2025):
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Full price: 1,000 CFP
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Senior fare (over 60): 700 CFP
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Children aged 6 to 18, jobseekers, students (on presentation of proof): 500 F
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Family rate (2 children + 2 adults): 2,000 CFP
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Children under 6, disabled persons, museum members, ICOM card holders: free of charge
