Port Douglas Wharf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Douglas Wharf |
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Port Douglas Wharf and Storage Shed, 2020
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| Location | 6 Dixie Street, Port Douglas, Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Official name: Port Douglas Wharf and Storage Shed (former), Port Douglas Wharf and Shipwreck Museum | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600466 |
| Significant period | 1900s-1950s (historical) |
| Significant components | pile/s, shed - storage, wharf/dock/quay |
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The Port Douglas Wharf is a historic wharf found at 6 Dixie Street in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1904 and was once known as the Shipwreck Museum. This important structure is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected because of its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Wharf
The Port Douglas Wharf and its storage shed were built in 1904. The Douglas Shire Council was in charge of this project. Sadly, the buildings were badly damaged by a cyclone in 2011. The storage shed had some parts added to it in the 1920s.
Port Douglas: From Gold to Sugar
Port Douglas started in 1877. It was a port for the new Hodgkinson Goldfield to the west. From 1877 to 1893, Port Douglas was mainly a port for mining. It also served as a local center for farming areas. At first, Port Douglas grew faster than Cairns, a nearby town.
However, things changed in 1885. A decision was made to build the Atherton Tableland Railway in Cairns. This made Cairns grow quickly, while Port Douglas slowed down. After the railway reached Mareeba in 1893, trade at Port Douglas dropped a lot. It almost stopped when the railway went to Mount Molloy in 1908. A big cyclone on March 16, 1911, also destroyed much of the town.
How the Town Survived
From the 1890s until 1958, Port Douglas mainly survived as a sugar port. It was also the main office for Douglas Shire until the 1920s. Then, the main office moved to Mossman, where sugar farming was growing. In the 1960s and 1970s, Port Douglas became a fishing and holiday town. It kept its old-town feel. But in the 1980s, it became a very popular tourist spot.
Building the 1904 Wharf
The 1904 wharf was built to handle general goods. Before this, private wharves were used. Larger ships had to unload their goods onto smaller boats called lighters. These smaller boats then brought the goods to shore. An older stone jetty was used for passengers. It was made longer in 1888-1889.
In 1904, the Douglas Shire Council got a loan from the Queensland Government. They wanted to build a new wharf in a better spot. This new wharf was built with a slope from the wharf to the shore. This made it easier to move loaded rail trucks. A stone ramp was also built as part of the wharf. The 1904 wharf was about 15 metres (49 ft) wide. It had a storage shed 30 metres (98 ft) long by 8 metres (26 ft) wide. A jib crane was on the northern end of the wharf. Walkways were built next to the storage shed.
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Changes and New Uses
In the early 1920s, more piles were added to the wharf. They were about 3 metres (9.8 ft) to the east. The 1904 storage shed was moved over these new piles. It seems the shed was made longer by about 12 metres (39 ft) at its southern end. A lunch room with a water tank was also moved to the new end of the shed.
The wharf was last used for shipping sugar on April 1, 1958. After that, it was rented out to private businesses from 1963 to 1975. A famous Queensland diver, Ben Cropp, rented the storage shed from 1979. He ran a shipwreck museum there and also lived in the shed. He moved his museum to Cairns in 2000.
Later in the 1900s, the land near the wharf was filled in. The old timber jetty from 1904 was removed.
What the Wharf Looks Like Today
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This wharf is at the entrance to Dickson's Inlet. It is across from the western end of Warner Street.
The wharf is built next to the water channel. It is made of timber and is about 70 metres (230 ft) long. This includes the ramp leading up to it. It is also about 18 metres (59 ft) wide. A wooden storage shed sits on the eastern side of the wharf.
The storage shed's roof trusses are made from large timber pieces. These are mainly Oregon wood. The inside of the shed was lined with planks. This helped with stacking bags of sugar.
The old storage building has a simple gable roof. It is built over the water on timber piles. These piles are held strong by diagonal timbers.
The new roof is made of corrugated steel. You can see the inside of the roof. It is held up by timbers that connect to the main trusses. The floor is made of timber planks.
This building is a very important part of the Port Douglas town view. You can see it best from the sea and from the hills around the town.
An older stone ramp can still be seen. It is next to the newer earth-filled path that leads to the old storage shed and wharf.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Port Douglas Wharf and Storage Shed was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. It met certain rules to be listed.
The place is important in showing how Queensland's history has changed.
The building is important because it shows how Port Douglas grew as a shipping port.
