• A map illustrating the piers and wharves that once ringed the harbour.

01_natural-small1. The Natural Harbour

The shoreline of Victoria’s harbour has changed over the years in response to the requirements of those who have gathered here. The 1853 Waddington map depicts the harbour’s natural irregularities and a number of islands studding both the Middle and Inner Harbours.

02_1940-small2. The Harbour in 1940

By 1940 the shoreline reflects the many industries that relied on the harbour. Many bays have been filled in to create real estate for factories, sawmills, and warehouses. The docks and piers to service those industries sprung up to serve the fleet of vessels that served Victoria’s shore side industry. A number of the islands had been blasted away to ease navigation.

03_today-small3. The Modern Harbour

The 2014 Google map shows how the harbour’s shoreline has sculpted after many of the docks that had served earlier industries had be dismantled and there had been a significant increase in the in-fill process, dramatically increasing the amount of real estate around the harbour.

04_reshaped-small4. Our Re-shaped Harbour

By comparing the natural shoreline as indicated in the 1853 Waddington map to the 2014 Google map it becomes obvious how profoundly Victorians have sculpted the harbour to meet their present needs.