By Martin Playne
As family historians, we have tended to ignore the role that the sea has played in the history of Port Phillip. Yet, we all have ancestors or even ourselves who have arrived by sea. Our history and prosperity are intimately linked to the sea.
The development of harbours, jetties and wharves; the use of dredging, building of rock walls and breakwaters to reshape our waterways; the development of navigational aids, such as lighthouses, marks and light; the fortifications and military settlements arising from perceived threats of war, of invasion and piracy; and quarantine stations and ship’s surgeons were discussed.
Martin went on to discuss the great variety of shipping: full rig square and barque sailing ships, clipper ships, sail/ paddle steamer ships, and propeller driven steam ships. These types of vessels have been used for international and interstate travel and for the transport of goods, such as wool. Ferries and punts have been widely used to cross rivers since 1835. Excursion steamers have provided passenger and freight services around the Bay for people at outlying settlements from 1845 to 1900, and for tourists until the 1940s. Small coastal mail boats have provided postal services on a weekly basis between Melbourne and Port Fairy for example for many years, calling at places like Port Campbell and Warrnambool en route, as well as larger coastal steamers plying trade along coastal settlements from Portland to Lakes Entrance, as well as to Sydney and Tasmania. Pilot ships have provided guidance to large ships entering Port Phillip Heads for many years.
Finally, the role of early settlers like George Ward Cole and Abraham Liardet, and the English engineer, John Coode in the development of the waterways of Port Phillip were discussed.
Many of our ancestors must have been involved in such maritime activities, yet we read little of this with most of history telling of squatters, settlers, grazing and gold-rushes, and the development of towns and cities.
Thanks to Martin Playne for providing the above summary of his address to the General Meeting of 9 July 2022.