CUNNINGHAM PIER AND RAILWAY PIER
GEELONG, GREATER GEELONG CITY
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Statement of Significance
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CUNNINGHAM PIER AND RAILWAY PIER - History
Work began on the pier in 1854 and was completed in 1855 by the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company, who also constructed a branch line to the proposed railway station. The new pier was badly needed in the colony in 1854, as the other contemporary piers and wharves (Moorabool St and Steamboat Wharves, Yarra St and Customs House (Eastern) Pier) were either falling apart or inadequate for shipping needs (Brownhill, 1990: 45, 284). The pier's pronounced curve to the west proved a hindrance to other pier development in the area. By 1862, plans were adopted to build a new 1000ft long straight pier extending to 22 ft depth of water, and the contract was awarded to Hugh Dalrymple. Work began in 1863 and was completed by 1864. It was 24 ft wide for a length of 250ft from shore, where it widened to 44ft for its remaining length. The pier was originally known as Railway Jetty, then Railway Pier, and later as Cunningham Pier, and has been an integral part of Geelong's import and export trade (Brownhill, 1990:291, 292; G448). The pier was renovated in the late 1990s, with a new restaurant pavilion, Smorgy's, built at the seaward extremity.
CUNNINGHAM PIER AND RAILWAY PIER - Interpretation of Site
Although the site of the original curved pier has probably been extensively dredged at its shorewards extremities, remains of the original piles and other discard may have survived at the north western extremity, which has never been subject to major pier development. The jetty section is likely to be extant under the land reclamation that occurred up to the 1930s. Original pier piles appear to have been incorporated into subsequent alterations to the pier.
Heritage Study and Grading
Heritage Victoria - Maritime Infrastructure Assessment Project
Author: Heritage Victoria
Year: 2005
Grading:Heritage Inventory Description
CUNNINGHAM PIER AND RAILWAY PIER - Heritage Inventory Description
Possible archaeological deposits associated with pier use. Possible structural remains of timbers from the pier and stoen from the original jetty under water and under land reclamation.
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FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
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FORMER SCOTTISH CHIEFS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0662
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GEELONG TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0184
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