Victoria Quay, Fremantle facts for kids
Victoria Quay is a busy area on the south side of the Swan River in Fremantle, a port city in Western Australia. It's a long platform, called a wharf, where ships can dock. A railway line separates Victoria Quay from Fremantle's main city area, known as the CBD.
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Originally, this area was called South Quay. But on July 26, 1901, it was renamed Victoria Quay to honor Queen Victoria, who had recently passed away. Together with North Quay, it forms the inner part of Fremantle Harbour.
In 1999, Victoria Quay was added to a special list of important historical places. This means it's recognized for its heritage and needs to be protected.
Today, Victoria Quay is home to several important places. These include the Fremantle Passenger Terminal, where people catch ferries and cruise ships. You'll also find the Challenger Institute of Technology, the Western Australia Maritime Museum, and the popular E Shed Markets. Close by are the historic areas of West End and Arthur Head Reserve.
Contents
How Victoria Quay Started
Early Days in Fremantle
In May 1829, a British naval officer named Captain Charles Fremantle arrived at the mouth of the Swan River. He officially claimed this land for King George IV. At that time, Australia was known as New Holland.
Years later, in 1843, work began to create a channel through a rocky barrier at the river's entrance. This was followed by building a jetty, a long pier, at the end of Cliff Street. It was called the North Jetty. By 1866, the first bridge was built across the Swan River, marking the eastern edge of the harbor.
The Need for a Safe Harbor
By 1881, a railway line connected Fremantle to Guildford. It ended in Fremantle near the river. However, there weren't many good places for ships to unload their goods. Many ships were damaged or wrecked during winter storms. Because of this, local businesses, like the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, pushed for a safer harbor in Fremantle.
In 1890, Western Australia gained "responsible government." This meant the colony could make more of its own decisions. The Premier, John Forrest, was determined to make Fremantle the main harbor for Western Australia. Other colonies preferred Albany as the main port, but Forrest believed in Fremantle.
In 1891, a skilled civil engineer named C. Y. O'Connor arrived in Western Australia. He had a lot of experience from New Zealand. O'Connor was appointed the chief engineer for Western Australia. In 1892, he presented two plans for building the new Fremantle Harbour.
Building the Harbor
Construction Begins
Building the harbor started in 1892. The first step was to work on the north mole, which is a large pier or breakwater. They also began blasting away the rocky barrier at the river's mouth. Because this was close to Fremantle, the blasting had to be done slowly and carefully.
In August 1894, construction began on the south mole. Rocks from nearby Arthur Head and Rocky Bay were used for this. It wasn't until late 1896 that they started dredging the harbor. Dredging means scooping out the blasted rock from the bottom. The material they removed was then used to fill in the land for Victoria Quay.
A Busy Time
During this time, many people were arriving in Western Australia because of the gold rush. This put a lot of pressure on Fremantle harbor. To help with the busy traffic, a temporary wharf, about 91 meters long, was added to the south mole. Another temporary wharf, about 304 meters long, was built on the north mole.
Victoria Quay was mostly finished by 1897. It officially opened when a ship named SS Sultan docked there on May 4, 1897.
Buildings and Offices
The Sheds on the Quay
The large storage buildings, called sheds, on Victoria Quay were given letters of the alphabet. Over time, they were changed and updated. In 1995, E Shed was moved from right next to the water to a spot closer to the Cliff Street entrance. Today, this building is home to the popular E Shed Markets, where people can shop.
Old Police Station
In the 1950s, offices for Customs and Police were located where the quay met the railway yard. The building on Victoria Quay that is now called the Old Police Station was known as the Immigration Buildings between 1906 and 1966. This is where new arrivals to Australia would have been processed.
Watching the Harbor
Fremantle Ports, the group that manages the harbor, has 14 "harborcams." These are cameras located around Victoria Quay. The images from these cameras are shown live on their website, so people can watch the harbor activity.
