"John Oxley" was donated to the Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) , arriving in Sydney in August 1970 and initially moored at Birkenhead Point. She saw very little repair work until 1997, when restoration on another ship, the barque "James Craig", was at a stage where she could be taken off the floating dock. Until then, its hull had gradually deteriorated and she was badly in need of repairs when put on the floating dock in place of the "James Craig".