History

The NSW Maritime Authority is connected with a maritime history that can be traced back to 1811 when the first harbour master was appointed to control the port of Sydney.

In 1901 the Sydney Harbour Trust was formed to take over the privately owned wharfage for the special purpose of controlling, administering and developing the port of Sydney. This left the supervision of the other ports of the State in the hands of the Department of Navigation, NSW, which was also responsible for the State's navigation laws and the pilotage services at all ports.

These arrangements continued until 1936, when the Maritime Services Board of NSW commenced operations. The MSB had responsibility for all the ports of NSW (with the exception of Port Kembla) and the exercise of the general powers of a navigation, pilotage and conservancy agency with jurisdiction over all navigable waters in the state.

The administration of Port Kembla was transferred to the MSB in 1948 from the Public Works Department. A Waterways Management Division was established in 1984.

From 30 June 1995, the MSB and its four subsidiary authorities were abolished under the Port Corporatisation and Waterways Management Act 1995.  This resulted in the dissolution of the Maritime Services Board of NSW on Friday 30 June 1995 and the emergence of independent port corporations for Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney.