Pics from the Past | Shepparton wharf on the brink

By Geoff Allemand

Oct 24, 2024

The excerpts below are taken from a report to Greater Shepparton City Council about the Shepparton Wharf in 2014, which explored its significance and recommendations for its remedial works and restoration. Here is some of the history:

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“During the later 1870s, there was significant lobbying by local residents for wharfs to be provided at the towns on the Goulburn River. The Shepparton wharf appears to have been designed by the Shire of Echuca engineer, as reported in the Riverine Herald in June 1878.”

Wharf at Shepparton

*The wharf and bridge.* Photo by Contributed

Cr Leahy said that the engineer had prepared plans (which were produced) for a wharf at Shepparton, which is estimated to cost £600. Of this sum, £200 was placed on last year’s government estimates, and as the council was not in a position to vote the remainder, he desired that the government be asked to grant an additional £400 for the construction of the wharf; it was much required and the growing importance of the river trade of Shepparton justified its erection by government. In fact, before long the boats would go to Shepparton to discharge their cargoes instead of to Echuca, which was further from the metropolis. As money had been laid out in tens of thousands of pounds on building wharfs at Echuca, a little should be spent upon Shepparton in the same direction. Cr Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried.

The Shire of Shepparton was established on May 30, 1879 and took over the wharf project. It is interesting that Cr Leahy, a Shepparton resident, was instrumental in promoting the construction of the Shepparton Wharf and was also vocally supporting the building of the railway to Shepparton at the same time at a deputation to government ministers. “Mr Leahy remarked that the boat which had lately visited Seymour was a cockleshell that anyone present would almost be able to carry on his shoulders. To clear the Goulburn for ordinary steamboats would cost much more than the proposed railway. He had not any objection to seeing the Goulburn snagged, but would not like that work to impede the construction of the railway.”

The contractual arrangement for the construction of the wharf was unusual. Normally government contracts would be handled by Public Works Department staff, as happened with the construction of the wharf in Seymour in May 1879 (£280 contract sum, built by James Lyster), rather than devolved to the local shire to manage. The Government Gazette on November 28, 1879, recorded on page 2787, “Contract 1039 - Approved that a sum of £350 be paid to the Shire Council of Shepparton on completion of a wharf at that place (Div 67/1/10 Wharf at Shepparton)”. The works were put out to tender by the shire and tenders were opened on February 10, 1880. The contract was awarded to James H. Dainton. The wharf was built and opened on June 16, 1880, six months after the railway to Shepparton opened.

In conclusion, the report states:

“Shepparton Wharf is a remarkable survivor.

“The retention of such substantial parts of the original 1880 fabric is unusual but is directly related to the historic lack of use of the wharf. The wharf is now structurally in poor condition and substantial remedial work is required in the near future if the wharf is to remain standing. The substantial changes to the setting of the wharf, particularly the infilling of the river adjacent to the wharf and the construction of the adjacent road, make the structure difficult for visitors to understand.

“Shepparton Wharf is historically and technologically significant.

“It is recommended that the structure be repaired to conserve the remaining sound timber. Future public access to the deck is important, as is improved interpretation of the wharf. New access arrangements should be provided to allow universal access to the deck and the shelter rebuilt, possibly incorporating the majority of the interpretative material.”

Ten years have elapsed, and this important work has not been funded. The wharf is in a terribly dilapidated state and if not soon, the inevitable result would be demolition. This would be another lost opportunity to save our important heritage.