Living in Koolewong for the last 30 years, Graeme dedicated his life to preserving Australia’s maritime history. His deep connection to the sea, combined with his vast knowledge, made him one of the country’s most respected authorities on maritime heritage.
His passion for the sea began early in life. At 17, he joined the Australian Navy and later became the master of Sydney ferries, and firefighting vessels. After retiring, he skippered commercial ferries and enjoyed sailing on Brisbane Waters and continued writing.
Sitting on his balcony in Koolewong with his wife Winsome was a great pleasure for him in later life, watching the sailing boats, the colors change, and the sun sparkle on the water, as he recalled many of his maritime adventures.
He became isolated in recent years due to illness, with two extended stays in Brisbane Waters Private Hospital. His comments to me highlighted the importance of personal care and the human touch that locals enjoy in Woy Woy.
Customer service and a friendly smile are so important to everyone, but particularly to the elderly, for whom trips to Woy Woy shops provide purpose, structure, and social connection. Automatic tellers and self-service checkouts are stressful for some elderly people and can lead to greater isolation. The human touch is, quite literally, their lifeline.
Graeme loved his early morning shopping trips to Woy Woy Woolworths. He always found the staff helpful, he knew many by name, and enjoyed a chat at the checkout.
Luana always greeted him with a big smile. At Woy Woy Pharmacy, Vicky would always provide him with excellent service, and a hug. It made his day.
He didn’t use a smartphone, and didn’t trust the internet, so he always paid his bills in person at the bank. Cathy at the Greater Bank always took the time to help him pay his bills and manage his account. In his last weeks, he praised the nurses at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital.
They called him “Sean Connery” as he shared compliments and jokes. Mum joked that he was already in heaven, surrounded by “angels” who helped and cared for him every day.
In his last book, The Watermen of Sydney: Memories of a Working Harbour, Graeme chronicled the transformation of Port Jackson through remarkable photography and oral histories of those who lived and worked on the harbour.
He wrote of people who took pride in their work, in many service roles on and around the harbour. Graeme published over 20 books during his career, including The Ferries of Sydney, Australasian Navies, Pictorial History of Ferries, South Coast Steamer, and Veteran Ships.
He contributed to Afloat Magazine and Sea Heritage for many years. His creation of the Sydney Working Harbour photography collection was a crowning achievement.
He digitised, identified, and donated approximately 10,000 images to the City of Sydney Archives. This marked one of the largest and most significant photographic contributions of its kind, offering future generations invaluable insight into Sydney
Harbour’s history as a working port. This resource can be accessed a through https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1975534.
Despite leaving school at 15, Graeme went on to earn a Master of Arts in History in 1999 and was awarded the Order of Australia in 2000 for his services to maritime history.
Beyond his professional life, Graeme was a devoted family man. He was a loving and grateful husband to Winsome Andrews, a proud father to his daughters Carina McSweeney and Gillian Andrews, and a dedicated grandfather to Elyse, Patrick, Ren, Mitchell, and Aiden.
Late in life, Graeme discovered that he was autistic, a revelation that helped him understand the social challenges he had faced throughout his life.To overcome this, he always tried to always treat people with respect and greet them with a smile and a friendly comment.
The staff in his favorite shops in Woy Woy appreciated this attitude. He credited his autism for his exceptional memory and his deep passion for maritime history.
Graeme Andrews’ profound contributions to maritime history, through both his writing and photography, ensure that his legacy will be cherished for generations to come. He loved living in Koolewong and enjoyed shopping in Woy Woy.
A memorial service will be held on October 25. The family can be contacted at gandrews2073@gmail.com
Gillian Adrews is Graeme's daugther.
