Armfield Slip and Boatshed

Goolwa's living boatshed

The Armfield Slip was started by the Armfield family in 1926 as a working slipway for Murray River wooden boats. It was acquired by the Alexandrina Council in 1986 and is now run by a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the old hauling cradle and winches in service, restoring classic wooden vessels and passing on traditional boat-building skills.

What visitors do

On open days you can step inside the weathered timber shed and see boats under restoration, watch shipwrights working with hand tools, and chat to volunteers about the history of the vessels and the men who built them. The shed has become one of the hubs of the biennial South Australian Wooden Boat Festival, but it is well worth visiting on a normal weekday when things are quieter and the volunteers have time to talk.

Practical notes

Open to the public 9am to 4pm Tuesdays and Fridays; other weekdays by arrangement. Entry is free, donations welcome. Find it on Riverside Drive right on the Goolwa Channel, an easy walk from Goolwa Wharf. Wear closed shoes - it is a working boatyard with tools, ramps and uneven surfaces.