STONY CREEK WHARF #2 (STONY CREEK RECLAMATION PILES)
HYDE STREET SPOTSWOOD, HOBSONS BAY CITY
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Statement of Significance
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STONY CREEK WHARF #2 (STONY CREEK RECLAMATION PILES) - History
The piles from this wharf are shown in a photo from 1925 (PRO 8357/ P1). Further investigation is required to establish its identity.
Rename: Stony Creek Reclamation Piles.
The Stony Creek Backwash is a shallow wetland and mangrove stand, situated at the confluence of Stony Creek and the Yarra River at Yarraville/Spotswood. It includes the West Gate Memorial Park and the Stony Creek Backwash Park, which is managed by Parks Victoria. The backwash lies partially beneath the West Gate Bridge. The backwash is bordered on the north by the Mobil Yarraville Oil Terminal, on the west by Hyde St and on
the east by the Yarra River. A double line of remnant pile (partially obscured by a modern boardwalk) disects the backwash from west to east, along the course of the creek.
Bluestone quarrying was carried out in the vicinity of the Stony Creek from the 1850s. One use of this bluestone was as ballast for vessels leaving the port of Melbourne. Ballast was carried down the creek in shallow vessels to ballast wharves located on the Yarra River. In the late 1860s the Victorian Meat Preserving Company established its meat preserving works on the north side of the backwater and built a pier projecting into the backwater. Other industrial enterprises which were located on the south side of the backwater in the 1870s included a cement works and a blasting powder company.
From 1878 the backwash area came under the control of the Melbourne Harbor Trust. The Trust began to reclaim portions of the backwash in the 1880s, installing sheet piling along the course of the Yarra and what appear to be a double row of piles along the
course of the creek as far as Hyde St (MHT General Plan showing River and Harbor Improvements, 1892).
There is little evidence that the reclamation of the Stony Creek Backwash was carried out continuously during the first two decades of the twentieth century. In 1923, however, the Harbor Trust Commissioners announced plans to reclaim 'approximately twenty-six acres [10.52 hectares] at the mouth of the Stony Creek and on the north side of same' (MHT Commissioners' Report, 1923, p.20). To begin this reclamation, a contract was let for the construction of 1,100 feet of reinforced concrete sheet piling, while the Trust would supply timber piles (MHT Commissioners' Report, 1923, p.20). Dredged material was to be deposited behind the proposed structure. A year later it was reported that this work was progressing slowly as there was difficulty obtaining supplies of material and in driving the piles into soft ground. Yet by 1926 twenty acres had been reclaimed (Argus 13 Feb 1926 p.35). A Melbourne Harbor Trust Plan dated 1924 indicates that the double row of piles that traverses the Stony Creek Backwash from west to east was installed as part of the reclamation program in the 1920s. Remnant concrete sheet piling at the entrance to the backwash also appears to have been installed at this time. Part of the southern row of this paired row of piles is now incorporated into a boardwalk erected at the backwash in 2003 as a component of the West Gate Memorial Park.
STONY CREEK WHARF #2 (STONY CREEK RECLAMATION PILES) - Interpretation of Site
Appears to be a former wharf, possibly associated with ballast loading or the former Victorian Meat Preservation Company. The associated use of the structure is unknown, but may be linked to the ballast trade or meat exports from the Victorian Meat Preserving Co.
Nominated for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register as Part of the Stony Creek Heritage Precinct for its significance as one of the only remaining archaeological examples of the development of a port area.
Heritage Inventory Description
STONY CREEK WHARF #2 (STONY CREEK RECLAMATION PILES) - Heritage Inventory Description
A paired line of piles is located across the mouth of the Stony Creek Backwater. The piles appear to be remnants of a wharf approx 230 m long possibly associated with ballast loading or the former Victorian Meat Preservation Company. The structure has horizontal timber beams laid upon recessed rebates in the piles. The wharf platform was approx 5 m wide, based on the pile spacing. The southern piles have been re-used to provide the foundation piles for the later boardwalk structure.
Pier, piles, beams andpossible associated artfeacts from former wharf use.
Archeological Potential:
excellent
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SEWERAGE PUMPING STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1555
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CSL (COMMONWEALTH SERUM LABORATORIES) COLLECTIONVictorian Heritage Register H2422
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SPOTSWOOD PUMPING STATIONVictorian Heritage Inventory
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