PIRATE PIER
BEACH STREET PORT MELBOURNE, PORT PHILLIP CITY
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Statement of Significance
This record has minimal details. Please look to the right-hand-side bar for any further details about this record.
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PIRATE PIER - History
The drill hall was used by the Sandridge Artillery Corps and Naval Brigade from 1876. Sandridge was an important military centre by 1881, and in 1883, the Drill Hall and harbour facilities shifted westwards. During 1885, the Russian Scare saw men were given relief work filling sandbags to build a battery west of Railway Pier. A torpedo Depot was established here before 1890 and is shown in Cox's plan of 1894 with a jetty extending into the bay, called the Pirate Pier, which had a square offset platform at the end. The depot was still here in 1906, and was to be subsequently occupied by the Commonwealth Engine Works, which built ship's engines in the 1940s. It was retained by the Department of Supply after World War II, was closed in the 1970s, and dismantled by the Sandridge City Development Company in 1991.PIRATE PIER - Interpretation of Site
This facility formed part of the early defence networks of Melbourne, and provided training facilities for the militia and defence forces. This area has been subject to extensive development as part of the new Beacon Cove development. Extensive high and low rise housing have probably obliterated all remains of the former depot, although some may still survive under the road networks.
Taylor (pers comms) maintains that during underwater work to lay a concrete seawall, the grab dredge raised various quantities of lead lighting, bottles and various other artefacts (from his description probably dating to the late 1880s). This could be from the torpedo depot, but the leadlight is more likely to have originated form Watson's Baths to the east.
Heritage Inventory Description
PIRATE PIER - Heritage Inventory Description
No archaeological evidence was identified at the site.
Drill hall, torpedo depot and pier. Archaeological discard with pier use.
Archeological Potential:
Good
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PORT MELBOURNE COURT HOUSE, POLICE STATION AND LOCK-UPVictorian Heritage Register H1318
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FORMER SWALLOW & ARIELL BISCUIT FACTORYVictorian Heritage Register H0567
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JUBILEE TERRACEVictorian Heritage Register H1829
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