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The Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company's pier at Sandridge, near Melbourne, Australia, 1862. Creator: Unknown
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The Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company's pier at Sandridge, near Melbourne, Australia, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company's pier at Sandridge, near Melbourne, Australia, 1862. In 1853-4, ... the cost of transit, by lighters from the shipping in the bay, via the circuitous route of the River Yarra Yarra, to the wharves in Melbourne averaged from 45s. to 35s. per ton, but, on the opening of this railway pier for traffic, these rates were reduced to one-seventh...It is constructed of the best colonial hardwood, supported upon blue gum piles...The pier is lighted with gas, and water...is laid on the entire length...From the period of its opening...upwards of half a million tons of merchandise have passed over the line from vessels at the pier...A large and increasing coal traffic has also sprung up within the last two years, by which upwards of ton thousand tons of that invaluable mineral are annually discharged at the pier and conveyed by rail...At the time the accompanying sketch was taken the following vessels were lying alongside: On the east or left side, the Gondola, Hercules steamer, Thomas Brown, Dover Castle, Success, Blue Jacket, and Sirocco; on the west or right side, leading from the pier gates, the celebrated steamers Aldinga, Water Nymph, Vortigern, Suffolk, Queen of England, Agincourt, and Lord Raglan'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph depicts The Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company's pier at Sandridge, near Melbourne, Australia, in 1862. The pier was a significant engineering feat of the time, revolutionizing the transportation of goods from ships in the bay to the city. Prior to its construction, the cost of transporting goods from the ships to Melbourne's wharves via the River Yarra Yarra was steep, averaging from 45 shillings to 35 shillings per ton. Upon its opening, the pier drastically reduced these costs, making trade more accessible and efficient. Constructed from the finest colonial hardwood and supported by blue gum piles, the pier was a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the colonial era. The pier was also equipped with modern amenities such as gas lighting and water supply, ensuring the safety and convenience of those using it. At the time this photograph was taken, an impressive array of vessels graced the pier. On the east or left side, the Gondola, Hercules steamer, Thomas Brown, Dover Castle, Success, Blue Jacket, and Sirocco were moored. On the west or right side, leading from the pier gates, the celebrated steamers Aldinga, Water Nymph, Vortigern, Suffolk, Queen of England, Agincourt, and Lord Raglan were docked. The pier quickly became a hub of activity, with over half a million tons of merchandise passing through it in the years following its opening. A large and increasing coal traffic also emerged, with upwards of ten thousand tons of coal being annually discharged at the pier and conveyed by rail. This photograph offers a glimpse into the bustling activity and economic importance of the pier during this period in Melbourne's history.
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