G'day spindrift (Al [... & Barbara?]),

I have not heard back from Robert Brooks (to be dead right "one-time second mate of the Polly Woodside") so I did a bit of searching: Polly Woodside .

Address: Melbourne Martime Museum
South Wharf Rd
Southbank VIC 3006
Phone: 03 9699 9760
Fax: 03 9699 6117
Email: polly@nattrust.com.au
Web: http://www.nattrust.com.au

Discover the sights, sounds and sensations of Victoria's fascinating maritime heritage.

Visit the restored 1885 tall ship Polly Woodside, once described as the 'prettiest barque ever built in Belfast'. Walk the deck marvelling at the complexity of the rigging and imagine the great square sails drawing aloft.

Polly Woodside is afloat in Melbourne's original wooden walled dry dock. Discover how the massive pumps emptied the dock and how ships were serviced and repaired here for almost a hundred years.
Historically listed cargo sheds house a rich collection of displays, artefacts, models as well a maritime library and photographic collection.

There is a focus on the development of the Port of Melbourne - its origins, importance to immigration and trade as well as its role in the continuing development of Victoria.

I would guess that the "www.nattrust.com.au" (National Trust) link indicates they are the body restoring the Polly Woodside - so they may have more info on their own site ... but probably not anything about shanty singing!

I'll pass on anything else that turns up.

BTW: Is that one ... or two ... "spindrift" badges ... and something else?

Regards,

Bob