Shorncliffe pier facts for kids
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| Type | Fishing Pier |
|---|---|
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Spans | Bramble Bay |
| Locale | Shorncliffe, Queensland, Australia |
| Design | Pier |
| Total length | 351.5 metres (1,153 ft) |
| Width | 5.5 metres (18 ft) |
| Clearance below | March 2016 |
| Opening date | 1884-2012 |
| Destruction date | 2014 |
The Shorncliffe Pier is a famous old pier in Shorncliffe, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's close to Saint Patrick's College and Moora Park. This pier has white wooden railings, old-style street lamps, and a shelter at the end. Many families, locals, and tourists loved visiting it. It stretches out 351.5 metres into Bramble Bay, which is part of Moreton Bay. This makes it the biggest wooden pier in Brisbane and one of Australia's longest piers for fun activities. The pier was rebuilt and opened again in March 2016.
The Pier's Story
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Long ago, Shorncliffe and nearby Sandgate were popular beach towns. People from Brisbane would visit them for day trips or holidays. In 1865, a group of people formed a company. They wanted to build a pier to make it easier to travel between Brisbane and Sandgate.
They tried to convince the Queensland Government to build a pier, but it didn't work. So, in 1879, a local hotel owner named William Deagon decided to build a smaller jetty himself. It was built right across from his hotel and even had a tram track.
However, this jetty wasn't big enough. A new company was started in 1882. They built the pier we know today between 1883 and 1884. It was designed by FDG Stanley and built by John Watson. The pier was first 260 metres long. Later, another 91.5 metres was added. This made it long enough for ferries to dock even when the tide was low.
People used to pay a small fee to enter the pier. Ferry services to Brisbane ran until 1928. At that time, the pier also had fun things like gaming machines and an outdoor movie theatre.
In the 1950s, the Sandgate Ladies Life Saving Club used bathing sheds at the pier. These were Queensland's first women lifesavers!
The pier is also the starting point for the famous Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race every April. It's often seen in photos and art in Brisbane. From the pier, you can see the Redcliffe peninsula, the Boondall Wetlands, and the Moreton Bay Islands. It's a very important part of the area's coastal view.
Around the year 2000, the pier was fixed up and repainted. In 2008, the path leading to the pier and the nearby parks were also improved. This was part of a Brisbane City Council plan to attract more visitors.
In early 2012, the pier had to close. It was in bad shape because of tiny sea creatures called marine borers that eat wood. Engineers looked at it and said the pier needed to be removed. In March 2012, Brisbane City Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he wanted to rebuild the pier.
Rebuilding the Pier
In May 2012, the Brisbane City Council announced that the pier would be rebuilt. The plans for the new pier were shared in mid-2013. The new pier would be the same length and width as the old one. It would also be in the same spot.
The new design uses strong concrete and steel for the main structure. It still has wooden parts like the walking surface, handrails, and the round shelter at the end. The new pier also has a bigger hammerhead shape at the end. There's a lower platform for fishing, places to clean fish, water fountains, benches, and new lights.
Work to remove the old pier started in November 2014. The brand new Shorncliffe Pier opened to the public on Good Friday, March 25, 2016.
Since it was rebuilt in 2016, the pier has been open for everyone to enjoy. It's a popular place for locals to go jogging in the morning, run, and take photos of the sunrise.
Images for kids
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Current pier following renewal
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Shorncliffe pier from Moora Park Beach
