Fremantle Long Jetty

The Fremantle Long Jetty was constructed in 1873 to replace the smaller South Jetty which had become too small for the large amounts of vessels entering the colony in Western Australia. The jetty lies in Bather's Bay which has been an occupation site since the Swan River Colony was established in 1829. It was a center of trade and communications that served Fremantle and Perth until Fremantle Harbor was opened. An increased amount of shipping made it necessary to improve the harbouring facilities by the late 1860s. Long Jetty was built as a less expensive alternative to building a harbour at the mouth of the Swan River due to a lack of funds and technological shortcomings.In July 1984 the Maritime Archaeology Department of the Western Australian Museum was notified of plans to construct a marina for the America’s Cup that would be close to the remains of the Long Jetty in Bather’s Bay in Fremantle. This prompted an archaeological excavation to ascertain the importance of the site.HistoryConstruction on the Long Jetty in Fremantle was finished in 1873. This new jetty replaced the original South Jetty that was built in 1857. The Long Jetty was originally known as the Ocean Jetty and the original section was built out of Jarrah by Mason, Bird and Co., who owned the Canning Saw Mills. The jetty extended south west from Anglesea Point. From the 1870s to the 1920s the Long Jetty in Bathers Bay was an important maritime centre for the colony of Western Australia. It served as the region’s point of access for trade and communication until it was replaced by the opening of Fremantle Harbour in 1897. The original jetty construction was 15 feet wide and extended to a length of 750 feet. At its original size vessels weighing up to 700 tons could be accommodated, but larger vessels were forced to anchor offshore and have their cargo ferried in on smaller boats.