Historical information

The port facilities in Warrnambool Bay were in constant use from the first years of Warrnambool’s settlement but there were also difficulties for the shipping trade – a small and unsafe anchorage, the lack of loading facilities and little natural protection from the southerly gales. From the 1870s on there was local agitation for some sort of Breakwater to be built and an Andrew Kerr design was approved by the Warrnambool Council but no funds were made available from the Victorian Government. Throughout the 1870s the building of a Breakwater was a major political issue in the district with preliminary work being funded and started in 1874. In 1879 the Government agreed to a further inspection of the area and an official report. Sir John Coode (1816-1892) was commissioned to make this report. He had come to Australia in 1872 to advise on harbour construction. Coode recommended a 1800 feet long Breakwater and wharf connected to the shore and it was this proposal that the plan described herein and drawn up in 1879 was to accompany. The original plan was eventually modified because of the cost and a Breakwater was completed in 1890 under the direction of the engineer, Arthur Dudley Dobson, with extensions early in the 20th century.

Significance

This plan is of great interest as it shows in simple graphic form the original plans proposed by Sir John Coode for the Warrnambool Breakwater. It is therefore of great historical importance. The Breakwater was not the maritime success that it was hoped it would be but it is today a significant feature of our foreshore.

Physical description

This is a Plan drawn up in 1879 by Victorian Harbours to accompany Sir John Coode’s Report on the proposed Warrnambool Breakwater. The chart detail is hand-drawn and hand-tinted on canvas with the names of places, geographical and marine features and local points of interest added in print. The edges of the chart are rubbed and the chart is somewhat faded and dirty but the main colours of red, green and brown are still clearly discernible. The title of the plan is printed in an oval inset at the top of the chart. The plan shows two possible Breakwater designs, one from the Borough Surveyor (Andrew Kerr?) and one from Sir John Coode.

Inscriptions & markings

Victorian Harbours
Warrnambool
Plan to accompany Sir John Coode’s report
Dated 28th Feby 1879