An Albany detour

Can you imagine travelling halfway around the world for months on a ship to Albany – and then taking a second journey to Perth, your real destination? That’s what many people had to do before 1897, when Fremantle Harbour wasn’t considered safe enough for many ships.

Colonial Engineer CY O’Connor got rid of the Albany detour by dynamiting away the limestone rock bar, and dredging the inner harbour. Close to the current Rottnest Ferry Landing, Willis’ Point jutted out far into the river. The point was also dredged away and the spoil dumped against the shore, and  mud from the harbour floor was used to to make the wharves.

Nowadays, Victoria Quay berths have a design depth of 11 metres, North Quay berths have a design depth of 14.7 metres. Fremantle Ports operates a Dynamic Under Keel Clearance program so ships can safely enter the harbour.

On the opposite side of the harbour, North Quay wharf was built with the intention of constructing a dry dock for the harbour. However, the rock formation under this part of the harbour would not support the weight of a ship, which also dictates how heavy a crane can be situated on the wharf. Instead, a dry dock was later built on the opposite side of our Museum, where the HMAS Ovens submarine currently lives.

Since the late 1960s cargo handling has become progressively more mechanised and seen many improvements, more infrastructure and significant social change. Before shipping containers were commonly used, manual cargo handling took up to five days to turn a ship around. Today it can be as short as 5 hours.

Immigrants transferring from Albany to Perth, before the opening of Fremantle Harbour? On Albany Pier, by Walker Hodgson, ca. 1895. 
Credit: State Library of Western Australia, 090019PD