The jetty at Portland Roads was built in about 1938/39 to service the gold mining activities at Batavia Goldfield (later called Wenlock) and the Iron Range area. It was 810 feet long to reach the deep water. A tramline ran out to the wharf (60 ft x 30 ft) at the end of the jetty. There was a shed located on the wharf.
“the jetty is now complete” announced The Cairns Post, on Friday 25 November 1938. It seems that this was according to a report of the Queensland Department of Harbours and Marine for the year ended June 30, 1938, so presumably the jetty was actually completed before the end of the financial year 1938.
On 27 September 1938 it was reported that the jetty was used for the first time by the steamer Wandana.
In August 1937, the Mines Department requested a jetty be designed and built to service the Batavia (later called the Wenlock) Goldfields and the Iron Range area.
Jetty plans were submitted to the Mines Department on October 29, 1937 with an estimated costing of £5778. The Minister approved the project with a maximum budget of £6000; tenders were called for on November 15th and accepted on December 15th.
It was reported on 24 Jan 1938 that “Work is proceeding on the construction of a jetty at Portland Roads, the Peninsular port for the Bartavia and Iron Range goldfields”.
The dimensions of the jetty were as follows, according to the Cairns Post on Fri 25th November 1938: “The jetty is 813 feet 9 inches over all length, with a T-head 60ft by 30ft, and a stem 10ft wide, with a 20ft by 15ft shed on the T-head, and a 3ft 6in tramway along the jetty. There is 15ft 6in at low water at the jetty berth.
Regulations for the control of the jetty have been gazetted.”
(CITE: Article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42152478)
