RIVERVIEW TEAGARDENS WHARF AND SLIPWAY

TEA GARDENS DRIVE AVONDALE HEIGHTS, MOONEE VALLEY CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Riverview Teagardens Wharf And Slipway Maribyrnong May 2003 001

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    RIVERVIEW TEAGARDENS WHARF AND SLIPWAY - History

    The Riverview Gardens were established in 1909 by the Daniel Hicks, and were a popular local picnic site accessible by rivercraft. The Hicks family operated a fleet of pleasure craft on the Maribyrnong River between the gardens and the Maribyrnong Bridge at Raleigh Road, and one vessel (The River Queen) could carry over 200 people. The gardens were designed by John Oliver, curator of Queens Park in Moonee Ponds, and included tennis courts, pavilions, a kiosk, open air theatre and dance hall. The Hicks family also built a large vessel at this site (Somerville, pers comms). Trade flourished at the site until the 1930's, when the family opened an office to service the Yarra River. Trade at the gardens declined during WWII, when a boomgate was installed downstream on the river to protect the explosives industries, and further declined until 1947, when the venture was discontinued. The land was subsequently used as a bluestone quarry, and a fire later destroyed the gardens former buildings.

    Interpretation of Site

    RIVERVIEW TEAGARDENS WHARF AND SLIPWAY - Interpretation of Site

    There is a high probability of stratified archaeological deposits on the riverbed given the long use of the site. The site is the only surviving example of a teagardens wharf in this area, and is one of only two extant slipways in the river. The tea gardens are of social significance as a former popular recreational facility.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    RIVERVIEW TEAGARDENS WHARF AND SLIPWAY - Heritage Inventory Description

    Lightweight paired square piles from the former wharf are evident in the intertidal zone, and are spaced about 1 m apart, over a distance of about 100 m. A possible slipway is evident at the eastern end of the site, and is constructed of dressed stone to form an inlet approx 2 m wide.

    Wharf, landing, slipway and archaeological deposits associated with the site's use.

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