Vessel Management Plan: Little Dirk, 2026

Author/s David O’Sullivan, Sue Maslen and Dudley Maslen

Year of publication 2026

Report Number: 364

The Little Dirk Vessel Management Plan (VMP) outlines a program whereby the vessel is conserved in its current configuration as a Shark Bay fishing vessel used during the early to mid- twentieth century. Little Dirk is on display out of the water in the Carnarvon Heritage Group’s (CHG) historic One Mile Jetty Precinct. It is part of the maritime heritage section, that also includes the former Babbage Island Lighthouse Keepers cottage, and items related to shipping, and the former local whaling industry. The Little Dirk VMP will be reviewed every two years, and Section 2 Conservation Requirements yearly.

The Vessel Management Plan for Little Dirk determines that CHG will undertake the following actions:

• Maintain the long-term strategy to display, conserve and interpret Little Dirk in its current configuration as a Shark Bay fishing vessel used during the early to mid-twentieth century
• As the Little Dirk is in an advanced state of deterioration, to take the conservation approach of stabilizing the vessel in its current state as is best possible to avoid further deterioration
• To support complementary experiences in the heritage precinct that reflect histories of fishing in the Shark Bay region, and traditional wooden boat building practice
• Where possible, pursue selective restoration of the Little Dirk to highlight its original design characteristics