1860 Port of Melbourne Ship Canal Concept Plan
In the 1850's, the gold rush brought volumes of new arrivals to Melbourne. At one point, over 138 ships were anchored in Hobsons Bay. The Australian Wharf was built downstream from Spencer Street but navigating large ships through the Yarra River curves was difficult. The Hobson’s Bay Railway line from Melbourne to Railway Pier (now Station Pier) in Sandridge created a shortcut solution, but didn't solve all the difficulties in getting goods directly from ship to city centre. New innovations and ideas were commissioned. This print is one of those amazing designs for a ship canal of "tidal harbor" and docks for the Port of Melbourne with proposed extension of the city west-ward by John Millar on the 21st December 1860. This concept was groundbreaking and would have been a beautiful sight for newcomers after the long journey.
In 1877, the formation of the Melbourne Harbor Trust used Sir John Coode's recommendation to develop a new canal to straighten the Yarra River to improve access instead.
In the 1850's, the gold rush brought volumes of new arrivals to Melbourne. At one point, over 138 ships were anchored in Hobsons Bay. The Australian Wharf was built downstream from Spencer Street but navigating large ships through the Yarra River curves was difficult. The Hobson’s Bay Railway line from Melbourne to Railway Pier (now Station Pier) in Sandridge created a shortcut solution, but didn't solve all the difficulties in getting goods directly from ship to city centre. New innovations and ideas were commissioned. This print is one of those amazing designs for a ship canal of "tidal harbor" and docks for the Port of Melbourne with proposed extension of the city west-ward by John Millar on the 21st December 1860. This concept was groundbreaking and would have been a beautiful sight for newcomers after the long journey.
In 1877, the formation of the Melbourne Harbor Trust used Sir John Coode's recommendation to develop a new canal to straighten the Yarra River to improve access instead.
In the 1850's, the gold rush brought volumes of new arrivals to Melbourne. At one point, over 138 ships were anchored in Hobsons Bay. The Australian Wharf was built downstream from Spencer Street but navigating large ships through the Yarra River curves was difficult. The Hobson’s Bay Railway line from Melbourne to Railway Pier (now Station Pier) in Sandridge created a shortcut solution, but didn't solve all the difficulties in getting goods directly from ship to city centre. New innovations and ideas were commissioned. This print is one of those amazing designs for a ship canal of "tidal harbor" and docks for the Port of Melbourne with proposed extension of the city west-ward by John Millar on the 21st December 1860. This concept was groundbreaking and would have been a beautiful sight for newcomers after the long journey.
In 1877, the formation of the Melbourne Harbor Trust used Sir John Coode's recommendation to develop a new canal to straighten the Yarra River to improve access instead.