QUEENS WHARF
BATMAN PARK MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE 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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QUEENS WHARF - History
Queen's Wharf
The Queens Wharf area has a long history associated with vessel anchoring and mooring. The wharf area is first shown in 1839 (Lewis, 1983: 15). In 1841, vessels tied up to stumps and stakes along the bank in this area, where raised walkways and planks were used to access the settlement through the swamps (Lewis, 1983: 48).
Original structural elements of the Queens Wharf may now under land reclamation and the river embankment.
La Trobe's Wharf
Lonsdale proposed in 1839 that a new wharf be built of tree trunks on the north side of the river opposite the Customs House. It was built from 1840-1842 between King and Williams Streets, and was the first government wharf in the area (Lewis, 1983: 44).
Coltherd's Shipsmiths
George Coltherd established this business between Spencer and King St in 1879 (Lewis, 1983: 63).
These wharves were amongst the earliest wharves built in Melbourne, and proved the foundation for later successive shipping facilities to be built in the same region.
Coles' Wharf
Built by Captain George Cole in 1841 between Spencer and Kings St, this was the first private wharf built in the area (Lewis, 1983: 44). The wharf was forty five feet long and 100ft deep and was located between Spencer and King St (Buchrich, 2002:39). Coles wharf is shown in 1862 with Raleigh?s Wharf to the immediate west, then Hughes Dock westward again on Spencer Street (Lewis, 1983: 61).
Raleigh's Wharf
Raleigh?s Wharf was located nearby Queens St before 1847, and was involved in shipping and exporting (Vines, 1989: 19). The site is located on the northern side of Yarra, between Spencer St Bridge and Queens Bridge and is the current site of Batman's Reserve bordered Swing Basin in 1855. A new wharf was constructed just west of the falls in 1879 (Lewis, 1983: 63). The wharf was used in conjunction with the Yarra Swing basin to provide port access for many years before it became redundant when the Queens Bridge was constructed in 1890
Hughes' Wharf
This wharf is shown in an 1862 plan situated at the riverfront on the east side of Spencer Street, bounded by Raleigh?s Wharf (Lewis, 1983: 61).
Coles Wharf was the earliest private wharves in Melbourne, and jointly these wharves formed a nucleus for the waterfront of early Melbourne.
QUEENS WHARF - Interpretation of Site
The site was not inspected, but remains are probably located under Batman Park between Spencer and King Street. Remnants of the wharf are likely to remain under the reclaimed land of Batman Park. These wharves were amongst the earliest wharves built in Melbourne, and proved the foundation for later successive shipping facilities to be built in the same region. These were the earliest private wharves in Melbourne, and formed a nucleus for the waterfront of early Melbourne.
Heritage Inventory Description
QUEENS WHARF - Heritage Inventory Description
A series of wharves were established between King and Spencer St on the northern bank of the Yarra River.
Wharf, piles and associated archaeological deposit from the site's former use.
Archeological Potential: Good
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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MELBOURNE SAVAGE CLUBVictorian Heritage Register H0025
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GENERAL POST OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H0903
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