THE LAGOON TRAINING WALLS, WHARVES, AND DRAIN
1 BEACH STREET AND ESPLANADE EAST AND ESPLANADE WEST PORT MELBOURNE, PORT PHILLIP CITY
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![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain April 2003 Lagoon Pier East Stone 001 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain April 2003 Lagoon Pier East Stone 001](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/108.jpg)
![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain April 2003 Lagoon Pier East Stone 001 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain April 2003 Lagoon Pier East Stone 001](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/108.jpg)
![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Lagoon Pier Pile 002 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Lagoon Pier Pile 002](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/109.jpg)
![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Groyne And Drain 003 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Groyne And Drain 003](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/110.jpg)
![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Construction Site 004 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Construction Site 004](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/111.jpg)
![Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Sugar works 005 Lagoon Training Walls Wharves And Drain Port Melbourne April 2003 Sugar works 005](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/025/112.jpg)
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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THE LAGOON TRAINING WALLS, WHARVES, AND DRAIN - History
This area began as a swamp lagoon and was once the mouth of the Yarra River. Situated between Rouse and Graham Streets, the lagoon once covered an area of 27 hectares and was used as an outlet for most of Sandridge's sewerage until local residents petitioned for it to be converted into a dock to alleviate the health risks it presented. First use of the maritime use of this area was undertaken by Herneker, who built flat bottomed boats in the lagoon from 1862. In 1868, the lagoon was surveyed with the aim of opening it for light draughted shipping access. A 1320ft canal was proposed, and the area was gazetted from Spring, Raglan, Esplanade East and Esplanade West as a reserve by the Emerald Hill Council in 1869. Arguments over sewerage drainage proposals and a lack of Public Works funding led to delays in its construction, and other proposals including diverting water from the river Yarra into the lagoon to flush it out were put forward. By 1872, the mouth of the lagoon was regularly open to the sea, as vessels were using the area to mine sand for ballast. Grass was planted at the entrance of the lagoon, and tidal dock gates were even suggested as a means of preventing sand accretion that occurred across the lagoon entrance. In 1875, a rubble wall was built across Bridge Street to stop water flooding the northern end of the lagoon, but this was removed again in when the embankments for the dock wharves were begun in 1878. Work was delayed until 1881, when a large storm wrecked many small boats and calls were renewed for a harbour. In 1890, the Australian Sugar Company bought the land on the western side of the lagoon, and finally ended almost two decades of political turmoil that had had delayed the lagoon's construction. The wharves were built by 1890 (Messum) and the dock had to be dredged four times in twenty years to keep it navigable. The lagoon was filled by 1929, when the pollution problem became too intolerable.THE LAGOON TRAINING WALLS, WHARVES, AND DRAIN - Interpretation of Site
Archaeological deposits may remain buried in the silt under this complex, as water table restrictions have limited the construction depth of the basements to one level only. Components of the former wharves may lie under the current street near the former flour mill. The former depth of the harbour was around 12 ft deep.
The wharf was one of the only harbour for small vessels in this area. It was predated by a small boatbuilding industry and is an important component of the recreational and industrial landscapes of Melbourne.
Heritage Inventory Description
THE LAGOON TRAINING WALLS, WHARVES, AND DRAIN - Heritage Inventory Description
The remains of a 100 m long stone training wall were located on the eastern side of the lagoon, and runs at an angle slightly east of (and under) the current Lagoon pier. The training wall is approximately three metres wide and proceeds from the shore out and under the bend in the current pier for about 10 m. A cut off timber pile is also evident under the current pier at the high tide mark. West of the pier, a concrete drain outlet appears to have been built upon the foundations of the eastern training wall, whose bluestone base is visible at low water. No evidence of the former wharves was located as a substantial high rise housing development has been built on the site.
Stone training walls, timber piles, concrete drain, possible wharf structure under landfill and possible archaeological relics associated with former site use.
Archeological Potential:
Good
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ALBERT PARK PRIMARY SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H1629
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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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