Swanson Dock

Swanson Dock is an international shipping facility in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was constructed between 1966 and 1972 by the Melbourne Harbour Trust, on the north bank of the Yarra River to alleviate congestion in the port and provide the first container shipping terminal in Melbourne.^[1] It is located about 2 km downstream from the Melbourne CBD and was named after Victor Swanson, Chairman of the Melbourne Harbour Trust between 1960 and 1972.^[2]

History

Melbourne docks showing extent of Swanson Dock in 1972

The construction of Spencer Street bridge over the Yarra River in 1929 reduced the capacity of the river wharves, and led to expansion downstream of port facilities initially with Appleton Dock. Swanson Dock was constructed in 1968 on the former Coode Island as Melbourne's first all-container shipping terminal, reflecting the rapid world-wide change at the beginning of the 1960s, from unit cargo where each product was loaded in different forms of packaging, to shipping cargo in uniform sized containers.^[3]

Swanson Dock was officially opened on 7 March 1969, by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe, during the 6th biennial conference of the International Association of Ports and Harbors, which was hosted by the Melbourne Harbor Trust in Melbourne. The first international ship to dock (at No 1 West Berth) was the Encounter Bay.^[4]

Operation

Swanson Dock East has a berth length of 884 metres serviced by six container cranes with 40 hectares of container storage and roadways and rail siding. Swanson Dock West has 944 metres of wharves with seven container cranes and 34 hectares with the potential to expand as trade grows. Swanson Dock East and West can accommodate the largest container ships trading with Australia.^[5] Railway goods sidings serve both Swanson Dock East and West, permitting the transfer of shipping containers between sea and rail transport. Originally provided in the 1960s with the development of the port, they were later removed.^[6] Rail facilities were restored between 2002 and 2003 with a new 1500 metre long siding and overpasses to separate road traffic.^[7][8]

Picket line at Swanston Dock, Melbourne

Swanson Dock was one site of the bitter 1998 Australian waterfront dispute when dockworkers were locked out by Patrick Stevedores, and replaced with non-union labour. The Maritime Union of Australia workers picketing East Swanson dock invited Wendy Lowenstein to record them "making history" which was incorporated into a revised and updated 2nd edition of "Under the Hook".

"On the night of 7 April 1998, Patrick Stevedores boss Chris Corrigan sacked his entire workforce, locked them out and set up new companies to employ a non-unionised workforce, trained in Dubai. After a protracted and bitter 14-day lockout .... Justice Tony North ordered the reinstatement of rights for the 1,400 sacked Maritime Union of Australia waterside workers." The making of this history of working on the Melbourne waterfront was featured in an episode of ABC Big Country called Lowenstein and Hills. To view this episode

Image gallery

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  Container crane and ship at Swanson Dock East

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  Container Straddle carriers at Swanson Dock

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  Three container ships berthed at Swanson Dock West

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  Train loaded with containers at Swanson Dock East

See also

• Port of Melbourne
• History of Melbourne Docklands

References

Further reading

• Kim Dovey: Fluid City: Transforming Melbourne's Urban Waterfront, London: Routledge, 2005

Coordinates: 37°48′56″S 144°55′25″E / 37.815548°S 144.923658°E / -37.815548; 144.923658