Proposed Breakwater at Victor Harbour

Rare c.19th map of the proposed breakwater for Victor Harbour, South Australia.

The construction of the Causeway, breakwater and cutting at Granite Island was required once Victor Harbor was established as the main seaport for River Murray trade. A jetty, including the Victoria Pier spur and its structures, was constructed and officially opened in 1864 where cranes loaded cargo onto ships. As trade intensified and larger ships required anchorage, there was an increasing demand for the Victoria Pier to be extended to Granite Island and a new wharf built in deeper water. The pier was extended to Granite Island in 1875 and became known as the “Causeway” and a railway was laid on it, providing access to the newly constructed wharf or “Working Jetty”. By the time of its completion, ships were even larger and the Working Jetty and wharf proved to be in water too shallow. Plans for the deep-water Screwpile Jetty commenced in 1878 along with the breakwater. The Cutting through the granite along the north-east coast of Granite Island was completed in 1879 in order to extend the road/tramway to the new Screwpile jetty which opened in 1881, followed by the completion of the breakwater in 1882.

1872  Work begins on extending the Victoria Pier to Granite Island in July
1875  Work on the extension to Granite Island (Causeway) and Working Jetty is completed
1878  Contracts are let for construction of Screw pile Jetty and breakwater on Granite Island on 13 August
1881  Screw pile jetty is used for the first time on 3 November
1882  Breakwater is completed on Granite Island