wc_shipping_cargo

Shipping cargo into Melbourne via the Yarra   The port of Melbourne is one of busiest cargo ports in Australia. In Melbourne, in the early days, ships weren't able to navigate the Yarra river. The main port was Hobsons Bay which is now Williamstown. In 1887, to make it easier for ships to come down the Yarra they decided to change its course. For more information on changing the course of the Yarra visit this page : Changing the course of the Yarra. For the goods on the ship to be unloaded they had to anchor in what was called Hobsons bay. Then the people or the goods of the ship had to be taken by another ship further down the river. These smaller ships cost a lot of money and had a long waiting period. In 1858 you had to wait an average of three weeks to access the goods of the ship.
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Today shipping into Melbourne is extremely busy. There are 3200 ships making trips into Melbourne dropping off containers each year. This is a huge change compared to when settlers where just arriving into Melbourne. Eporting things from Melbourne is also a large job, they supply reasources to 3 ports over seas. Nation wide Melbourne;s main shipping port is the largest in Australia. It covers about 37% of Australia's container's and trade system. Overall there are more than 40 shipping lines.

When the Gold Rush hit in 1853 there was an average of nearly 4000 people each week getting off the ships. There was a total of 138 ships. During this time the population increased by a factor of 6.

By the 1960s, after The Great Depression and World War 2 the expansions to the Yarra continued. Appelton dock (1956), Webb dock (1960) and Swanston dock, which was the first container terminal, were all built.




 * Victoria Dock** The same person who suggested the project that widened the area of the Yarra River had the idea for Victoria Dock. His name was John Coode. The plan was followed through and the dock was opened in 1893. By 1908 it was used for 90% of Victoria's imports. During World War 1 and World War 2 the dock became very useful and trade became more and more important.

The Queens Wharf is located near Whilliams street and the Queen street bridge. This wharf is located where the Enterprize landed in 1935. It is also the firt area that the founders of Melbourne saw. This wharf was used to bring in reasources from Tasmania or other countries to build the city of Melbourne. This was not the main port in Melbourne though. Victoria dock was mainly used.
 * Queens Wharf**

