GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY
2-3 GRIFFITHS STREET AND OCEAN DRIVE AND GIPPS STREET PORT FAIRY, MOYNE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY - History
By the early 18505, the need for improved shipping facilities at Port Fairy was becoming apparent. Since the early I840s tramport and trade was conducted via small lighters and whaleboats running between wharf facilities constructed along the banks of the Moyne River and coastal vessels anchored in Port Fairy Bay. The size of vessels able to enter the Moyne was restricted due to siltation of the river mouth creating a shifting sand bar and many shipping difficulties and incidents occurred. As the township developed and shipping traffic increased, public agitation grew and petitions were made for Government funding to provide adequate infrastructure.
In 1856, the Government called for tenders for the construction of a timber ocean jetty, to be built on the southwestern shore of Lady Bay and thence be connected to the township via a bridge over the Moyne River. A short timber jetty was constructed, however, soon abandoned as being too short and too poorly built.
In the late 1850s - early 1860s, a second attempt was made at providing a coastal jetty, again with the idea that it would be linked to the township via a bridge over the Moyne. Produce would be transported from the jetty to stores on the western bank of the river by a horse-drawn tramway. Ironically, at the same time, dredging operations were also being conducted in order to dear the western passage and prepare the area for the construction of training walls planned forthe entrance to the Mayne; both schemes aimed at allowing vessels to more easily enter the Moyne.
By the mid 1860s, the tramway bridge had been constructed and the jetty was well underway. This time the jetty was designed as a much more substantial structure, extending further out into Port Fairy Bay. It was built as a composite timber and stone structure, with rock quarried from Goat Island, as part of the dredging works, used as raw material.
By 1870, the tramway complex comprised the tramway jetty (with lifeboat & lifeboat shed attached), the tramway running over the sand hummocks of East Belfast, the tramway bridge across the Moyne and the terminus on the western bank with store facilities.
Within only a few short years, the second attempt to improve shipping via a coastal jetty and linked tramway also proved to be a dismal failure, creating many more problems than it solved. The jetty was hard to approach in difficult weather. 'Che double-handling I loading and unloading of goods at the jetty and again at the tram terminus was cumbersome and.' most importantly, the low level tramway bridge prevented large vessels from passing underneath an;fthus lighters were required to transport goods further to the wharves lining the .banks of the Moyne further upstream.
Finally in 1875, following much public agitation - particularly from merchants situated along the river north of the bridge, the tramway bridge was removed. The jetty remained and for the following few decades was used only occasionally as a landing place, eventually being allowed to fall apart. On the Ist July 1875. The first schooner - john Lewis - traveled up the Moyne to the wharves of shipping merchants Challacombe & Bishop; which had previously been blocked by the tramway bridge. The schooner was hailed as the forerunner of a new fleet of vessels able to use the port and wharf premises along both banks were decorated with bunting for the occasion and "the healths of the master and charterer of the schooner were drunk."GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY - Archaeological Significance
The archaeological significance of Government Tramway, Bridge and Jetty focuses on its potential to inform on the manner of their construction and the materials used. This could possibly provide an insight into the importance placed by the relevant authorities on providing durable, or otherwise, maritime infrastructure in the middle years of the 19th century before the Training Walls were constructed. The cultural deposits associated with jetty could provide valuable information about its use and the trade that passed over it.
GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY - Historical Significance
The Government Jetty, Bridge and Tramway was a large investment in capital to maintain Port Fairy as a viable port of trade at a time when it was competing with Warrnambool to be the premier regional centre.
GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY - Interpretation of Site
There were no pile stumps visible at low tide and up to 0.5 m underwater. It appears that the jetty was allowed to deteriorate and so the remains of piles associated with the jetty are likely to be present and buried under the beach.
They may be exposed at times of heavy seas. Remnant pile stumps may be slightly protruding from the seabed.
Other structural timbers such as headstocks and planking may be buried within the vicinity of the jetty alignment as would be artefacts discarded from the structure as well as from vessels tied up along side it.
At the location of the concrete ramp there was a shed type structure, presumably to protect waiting passengers and cargo from the elements. It is unclear whether the structure was built on the jetty or on the land. If the latter post holes (presuming it was of timber construction) may be present under the concrete ramp and the seaward end of the
Battery Lane.
It would appear that the foundation for the tramway along Battery Lane is present in places, particularly closer to Griffiths Street. It is unlikely that the tram lines would still be present though some sleepers may still remain. The property where the bridge came ashore on the eastern bank could not be accessed at the time of the inspection, however substantial bluestone seawalls and stub jetties observed could have some association with the abutments of the bridge.
There are unlikely to be any remains of the bridge piles towards the centre of the Mayne River on account of the dredging that has taken place since the end of the 19th century. The footings of the bridge may be present on the western bank underneath the raised bitumen surfaces and within river sediments adjacent to the river wall.
Heritage Inventory Description
GOVERNMENT TRAMWAY, BRIDGE AND JETTY - Heritage Inventory Description
This is linear site composed of a jetty, tramway and a bridge. Nearly the whole 350 m length of t he jetty is submerged. At the landward end of the jetty alignment the beach dune and associated residential properties are protected with large basalt boulders. At the point where the jetty is connected with the tramway a concrete ramp runs down to the beach from Battery Lane.
The tramway alignment follows that of Battery Lane. The surface of the lane is a mixture of hard packed gravel and dirt. The lane has been cut into the slope of a dune along most of its southern side. On its northern side, close to where the lane intersects with the bitumised Griffiths Street, it is clearly visible that this section of the lane has been benched.
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EMOHVictorian Heritage Register H0252
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RAILWAY GOODS SHEDVictorian Heritage Register H2072
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ST JOHNS ANGLICAN CHURCHVictorian Heritage Register H0524
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