Marine Kebab: Urangan Jetty pierces the sandbank

Nice picture of that long jetty Ian. Greetings Berend

Thanks Berend. When I was a child I used to watch sugar being exported from this pier. In those days the trains brought the bagged sugar from the Maryborough mill and many men then handled each bag. Today it is only used for recreational fishing and by tourists strolling to the end and back looking at sea turtles and sting rays and schools of fish swimming by.

What is the lenght of this jetty Ian? I remember the very long jetty of Busselton WA. Greetings Berend

Your question a very interesting one, Berend. Today it is 868M.

But there isn't a single answer.

When it was built in 1913-17, it extended 1.1km to reach the deep channel, as it was intended to serve as an export wharf for coal and sugar. When it was built a railway delivered cargo to the wharf.

Raw sugar was the principal export though most of the economic life of this pier, but when a bulk sugar terminal was built at Bundaderg, to the north, bagged sugar exports ceased here. Caltex began to use the pier to import petroleum products (1960-1985) and all other commercial use ceased then.

In 1985, when it was no longer used commercially by Caltex, it was in need of repairs and so the State Government began demolition of the pier. As it was such a local icon, a public protest movement resulted in the ownership being transferred to the local authority.

Lights, sleepers, pylons and rails were repaired and it was restored to its present length of 868 metres.

It is now a must do for local walkers, recreational fishermen, especially children, and tourists.

The Busselton Jetty is much longer at 1841M and it too has been restored recently. Its story is a similar one, but with a fire added, and locals struggling to find the money for its restoration.

Ian

Thanks for the explanation Ian. We ware at the Busselton jetty in 2006 and the last part was demolest by a storm. Greetings Berend

Hi Ian* from the group (A1-Unique Australia)*An other of your great aerial shots.L You seem to have lots of opportunities to make this kind of photos. Port Germeine in SA claims to have the longest jetty in South Australia, but only 950mtr. are still remaining, it was once 1.2 KM. Regards Ebi

Thanks for your encouragement and interest Ebi. The Port Germeine pier would be SA's longest, Urangan is Q's longest and Busselton was/is Australia's longest, I think. And about opportunity: I get some occasional flights with my pilot son.

Regards,

Ian