NEWPORT COAL WHARVES

DOUGLAS PARADE NEWPORT, HOBSONS BAY CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Newport Coal Wharves Williamstown Aug 2003 001

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    NEWPORT COAL WHARVES - History

    Two phases of construction were undertaken to build the oil wharves. Sheet piling was installed for the first oil berths from 1911-1915 by the Melbourne Harbour Trust to service the needs of the British Imperial Oil Company, which had established a new depot at Spotswood in 1913. The berths consisted of free standing piers stood 8 m from the and parallel to the sheet piling/ shoreline, and were accessed via connecting landings/ gangways to the shore. The installation of the wharves led to the widening of the river so as not to impede navigation of the channel. This section consisted of the unshaped circular piles at the northern end of the site. When the Commonwealth Oil Refinery Co. established a bulk terminal at Spotswood on 1923, a second wharf (Berth 4) was constructed. This facility was erected to the south of the first wharf, and was made from rectangular sawn piles. The berth was of similar construction to the first phase outlined above (Lovell, 2006: 4, 11). This phase was mistakenly identified as the Newport Coal Wharf (H7822-0535) earlier in this assessment project.

    Interpretation of Site

    NEWPORT COAL WHARVES - Interpretation of Site

    There is some confusion as to where the Coal Wharves finish and the Oil Wharves begin, and it is possible that the different construction methods actually distinguish the two different wharf phases and uses. The upright (uncut) piles in the northern section date to the 1911 - 1915 period of sheet piling, and the southern section (rectangular section sawn piles) dates to the 1923.

    These wharves are part of the Newport Oil Wharves (H7822-0534) -this information has recently been provided by Peter Lovell in 2006. The wharf was a significant component of the Newport Power Station, which provided much of the power for the Melbourne region. They are a prominent aesthetic feature of the Yarra River foreshore.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    NEWPORT COAL WHARVES - Heritage Inventory Description

    The Coal Wharves consist of worked upright timber sheet piles for the southern area, all secured with horizontal tie beams/ rubbing strakes along the wharf face at the waterline and platform edge. The wharves stretch approx 250 m along the Yarra River Frontage close to the Newport Power Station.

    Wharf and associated discard from wharf use.

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