The replica of the first European ship to reach Australia has called Fremantle home for years, but a lack of State funding could see the Dufken leave our waters.

A call to 6PR’s Rumour File told us about the “Little Dove” departure, which was quickly confirmed by the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation CEO, Peter Bowman.

Mr Bowman told Steve and Baz there was a ten-year agreement with the State Government that ran out in June this year, but no future offers have been made and no agreement reached.

“At the moment she’s due to go on a ship in November out of Fremantle and be transported to Newcastle in NSW, then we’ll sail it from Newcastle down to Sydney and it’ll become part of the Australian Maritime Museum heritage fleet,” Mr Bowman told 6PR Breakfast.

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