Tathra Wharf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tathra Wharf |
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| Location | Wharf Road, Tathra, Bega Valley Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1860–1862 |
| Owner | Department of Planning and Infrastructure |
| Official name: Tathra Wharf and building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 405 |
| Type | Wharf |
| Category | Transport - Water |
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The Tathra Wharf is a very old pier and building located in Tathra, Australia. It was built between 1860 and 1862. This special place is now a museum and a cafe. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure, a government group, owns it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of Tathra Wharf
Building the First Wharf
The very first wharf in Tathra was a simple jetty. It was built around 1860-1861 and reached out into the ocean. People called it the Farmer's Sea Wharf.
Soon after, a new, bigger wharf was built over the old one in 1861-1862. It was made from strong turpentine timber. Over the years, the wharf was made even longer in 1873, 1878, 1886, and 1889. Old drawings show that two sheds were built on the early wharf, but they are no longer there.
Why the Wharf Was Needed
The wharf was built because ships were becoming important for moving goods along the coast. The Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company started in 1858. This company needed places for its ships to stop.
The first cargo ship came to Tathra in 1858. It stopped offshore, and goods were moved to land by small boats. A storage shed was built nearby that same year. Later, a place called Kianinni was found to be better protected for loading ships.
Growing and Changing
As more ships came, the wharf needed to be bigger and stronger. Records show that many repairs were done. The way piles were put into the ground also got better. The wharf grew as ships got larger and needed deeper water to dock.
The wharf and its buildings kept growing even after 1900. Cattle and pig yards were added in 1901. The wharf was made longer again in 1903. The main two-story building we see today was rebuilt in 1907.
At this time, a big improvement was made. Special spring-loaded buffers were added to help large ships dock safely. This was important because the wharf was open to rough seas from the north-east. Ships would drop anchor and use ropes to pull themselves against these buffers.
The wharf was built in this spot because it was the most protected area, especially from strong winds from the south.
Later Extensions and Decline
Between 1907 and 1912, the wharf had many more additions. These included a sub-deck, a crane, a ramp for loading cattle, and a shelter for passengers.
In 1919, the passenger shelter was replaced by a single-story shed. This happened because fewer people were traveling by sea. The focus shifted to moving goods and cargo.
Later, road transport became more popular. This caused shipping to decline. However, the South Coast was one of the last areas to be affected. This was because there was no railway line to carry large amounts of goods to Sydney. The last ship to take freight from Tathra was in 1954.
Saving the Wharf
For the next twenty years, the wharf was mainly used for fishing boats. In 1973, there was a plan to tear it down. But the local community and the National Trust of Australia (NSW) fought to save it. They raised money for its restoration.
The wharf was saved through conservation work that lasted until 1988. The State Government and the federal government also helped with money. In 1978, a new group called the Tathra Wharf Trust was formed to look after the wharf.
The wharf was officially reopened in 1988 after being restored.
In 2002-2003, more money was given for repairs. In 2006, parts of the wharf like the piers and platform were replaced. They used the same types of strong timbers as before. The roof was also fixed.
Recent Events
In June 2016, a big storm damaged the wharf buildings. The cafe had to close for six months for repairs.
The 2018 Tathra bushfire came very close to the wharf area. Luckily, the wharf was not damaged.
Today, the restored wharf buildings are home to the Tathra Wharf Museum and a cafe.
What the Wharf Looks Like
The Tathra Wharf is made of timber. It has a wooden deck and buildings on top. These are supported by strong timber poles that go down to the rocky seabed. At its deepest point, the wharf is supported in water about 25 feet deep.
Near the land, the wharf ends at a stone and concrete wall. On the western side of the wharf, there are two timber buildings. The older, two-story building is closer to the land. The single-story shed, built around 1900, is next to the larger building, closer to the sea.
The big timber shed has interesting roof supports called trusses. All the timber parts are put together using old-fashioned joints and metal fasteners. Both the wharf and the sheds show strong timber construction and great craftsmanship from that time.
The wharf is located on a small piece of land that sticks out into the sea. This spot offers wide views along the coast. A road leads down to the wharf from the west. There are also remains of another road that was partly washed away by storms.
The wharf is on the north side of this headland. This helps protect it from winds and waves coming from the south. The wharf structure sits on a rock platform that gently slopes into the ocean, providing a base for its supports.
Why Tathra Wharf is Special
The Tathra Wharf is very important because it's the only wharf and building like it still standing on the eastern coast of Australia from the 1860s. It shows how coastal shipping worked back then.
A Link to the Past
The wharf helps us understand how the towns of Tathra and Bega grew. It clearly shows how the whole wharf area operated a long time ago.
Beautiful and Well-Built
The wharf is a great example of a marine building made entirely from strong hardwood. It was built with consistent details and high-quality construction. The wharf and its buildings still look much like they did when they were busy with ships.
Important to the Community
The wharf and its location are very important to the people of the Bega/Tathra area. Tathra itself grew because of this port. For almost 100 years, life in the town was centered around the wharf.
Learning from the Past
The wharf and its buildings show us how construction technology changed from the 1860s all the way to the 1950s.
A Rare Survivor
Tathra Wharf is unique. It is the only wharf and building combination from the 1860s coastal shipping era that still exists on Australia's eastern seaboard.
A Great Example
The wharf represents many similar wharves that were built along the coast. These wharves were part of a way of transport and life that has now disappeared.
Engineering Heritage Award
The Tathra Wharf is recognized as a National Engineering Landmark. This award is given by Engineers Australia as part of their Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.
Images for kids
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Tathra wharf
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See also
