Historical information

Cross section of wharves and steel framed sheds built along the Yarra river between the 1920s and 1960s. The South Melbourne side of the Yarra River is reclaimed swamp land. Without a solid foundation for the construction of the wharves and transit sheds, extended piles were sunk into the mud to support the wharf and shed structures. An example of this design may be found at 5 South Wharf which was built in the 1930s. The transit sheds gave shelter for cargo while waiting to be loaded onto a ship or to be collected by truck after being unloaded from a ship. The transit shed became surplus to requirements with the introduction of containers.

Physical description

Wooden diagram of a transit shed featuring a shed sitting atop mud with some water. It shows the splices sitting in the mud to support the shed.

Inscriptions & markings

"Steel Frames Transit Shed/ 15 South Wharf/ Model of Typical wharf construction/ of 1940- made for the opening of/ the "new" 15 South wharf shed (1944),/ Note the deep piles and elevated/ rear of the shed to allow for the truck/ trays./ This shed feature disappeared/ from port construction with the/ coming of the container era/ reinforced wharf apron/ 3 ton travelling crane/ reinforced concrete shed floor/ concrete road/ water level/ concrete pile cap/ cradled piles/ timber pile splices/ mud/ mild steel pile splices/ 110 ft pile"

"On loan from Port of Melbourne Authority"