VPRS 16723 Estray Harbour Works Plans

This series consists of a collection of 38 plans that were originally maintained by the Melbourne Harbour Trust and created by it and predecessor agencies. A variety of functions are documented, including proposals for Harbour works, construction of bay lighthouses or lighthouse quarters, dredging works, shipping channels and items of lighthouse or channel infrastructure. Most plans pertain to Port Phillip Bay although some refer to locations outside it including Portland, Port Fairy, Westernport Bay and King Island. These plans were part of a recordkeeping system maintained by the Trust which during the 1960s or early 1970s were deemed to be surplus to requirements. The plans were saved from destruction at this time by a member of the public who passed them on to maritime architect and scholar Mr Donald Walker who transferred them to PROV. Mr Walker assisted in the compilation of the listing of this series. Additional notes about specific plans in the P1 consignment of this series. - unit 1 is a design proposal for Portland Harbour signed by Sir John Coode which shows the township (including some buildings) and proposed works marked in red. - unit 2 is also signed by Coode and shows a proposed East Pier and East Jetty, a sea wall and a portable steam crane to be used during construction. - unit 5 shows the design for the South Channel lighthouse which, as of May 2011, is located on land near Frankston. - unit 7 shows the design for probably a leading light to the West Channel of Corio Bay. - unit 8 shows a floating gas buoy with a light on top. - unit 9 unclear whether this structure was ever constructed. - units 15, 16, 20 and 21 are all standard drawings originally produced by the firm Chance Brothers in Great Brittan for ordering purposes. - unit 17 relates to the upgrading of lights at Port Phillip Heads. - unit 24 shows a structure built on King Island, Tasmania by the Victorian Public Works Department. - unit 26 contains pencil markings possibly showing areas to be dredged. Red markings identify rockeries of mutton birds around Phillip Island and appears to rank them according to size. - unit 27 contains boring details drawn onto the chart possibly for the purposes of dredging work, construction of pile lighthouses or the placement of buoys. - unit 30 accompanied a plan drafted by the Engineer in Charge of the Ports and Harbours Branch titled Report on the Navigation of the River Yarra submitted on 12 April 1875. The markings on it show a plan for what became Coode Canal as well as previous proposals identified as "Royal Commission 1872", "Williamstown Docks 1863" and "Captain Paisley's plan of 1855". - unit 31 contains markings showing schemes of works proposed by Mr Ferguson 1908, Sir W. Matthews, undated and Mr T.H Smith, undated. - unit 37 is a chart produced for the first attempt at laying the submarine cable by a private company. The cable frayed during laying near Cape Wickham, King Island.