Ships And Shores And Trading Ports

Sydney Harbour

What are the things that have shaped Sydney Harbour - apart from its idyllic natural setting? Serendipitous timing encouraged changes at critical stages of Australia's development. The settlement was born at the beginning of the industrial revolution; the colony's childhood witnessed the transport revolution. As an adolescent the colony gained political independence; it emerged as the adult state of New South Wales in the new Australian nation, its maturity paralleled with twentieth century mechanisation and technology.

Wharves multiplied and seawalls were built - from Sydney Cove round into Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and beyond. Ships changed from sail to steam to diesel, from wooden to steel and grew larger. Bulk-loading replaced hand-loading and major port activity spread to Botany Bay.

Forts and batteries, naval facilities, stores and docks and two major world wars shaped the harbour. The harbour islands were sculptured and shanghaied into serving the port workforce. Waterfront industries came and went. Close to the shores, coal-burning power stations that once were new are now gone. Trains, bridges, roads and the air took away Sydney's absolute dependence on shipping to connect with the world.

The 1900 waterfront outbreak of plague emphasised the need for port control and the Sydney Harbour Trust was appointed in 1901. It was replaced by a state-wide organisation, the Maritime Services Board in 1936. Today the Sydney Ports Corporation has responsibility the ports of Sydney and Botany Bay. T Waterways Authority owns the bed of Sydney Harbour, and is responsible for commercial and recreational moorings, as well as jetties, wharves and foreshore development.

From 1788 Sydney Harbour was the first arrival point for many newcomers to Australia and the first home landing for returning travellers. Sydney Harbour is enclosed by a large modern city, and more than ever it has become a place for its people - a beautiful recreational area - though it is still a working port for some overseas shipping and a large fleet of ferries and commercial craft. Historic marks left by Sydney's past history as a port remain, while bushland, sandstone and beaches from ancient times fringe much natural foreshore. We should treasure all this remaining heritage and ensure that future changes are in the common interest.

I went to sea in 1931 and after I came back I worked on dredges and tugs, and then with Sydney Ferries as an engineer. With the Sydney Maritime Museum I skippered the old tug Waratah. There's history all round the harbour. I know every inch of it.

As the ships entered the harbour, or as they were sighted coming up the coast, they'd put the house flags up on South Head, stating that a ship from whatever company was coming from south or north or east, and also those flags were shown on Garden Island on the way up and at Observatory Hill, * In 1927 8000 ships entered and left Sydney Harbour. You had factories all round the harbour, shipyards, boatyards and shipping company workshops, chandlers, sailmakers, engineers, the MSB depot, everything. – Arthur Hocroft, former merchant seaman.