Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah

Values

• The place’s association with the Fisheries Department reflects the importance of this government authority in regulating the fishing industry in the Mandurah Estuary and Peel Inlet area and other waterways of Western Australia, and the subsequent development of a long term internationally successful Western Australian industry.
• The place reflects the importance of the fishing industry in the development of the Mandurah region throughout the twentieth century.
• The place, in association with other locally important places and waterways including the Peel Harvey Estuarine System, P9087 Creey Welands, P9019 Goegrup Lakes System, P9017 Barragup Fish Munga (Trap) - Site of, and P24859 Fish Cannery, demonstrates the importance of the maritime environment and fishing industry to local people, including Noongar people before colonial settlement, an importance and connection that has continued into the present.
• The place contributes to the community's sense of place through its connection to the fishing industry which contributed to the development of Mandurah and the surrounding community.

Physical Description

Former WA Fisheries Department boat shed built on the foresore at the foot of Winjan Place, Mandurah. The shed is constructed of double brick on a concrete slab with a corrugated iron roof. A steel roller door faces the street and a heavy wooden sliding door faces the river. Adjacent is a wooden jetty and a concrete ram (slipway).

History

In 1910 the Public Works Department constructed the existing timber jetty within the site of Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah for the Fisheries Department, at the cost of £40. A slipway was constructed in 1916 by the fisheries inspector to prevent damage to the Fisheries Dingy, but is no longer extant.
In 1937 a timber boatshed was constructed on the site of Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah to store equipment and confiscated goods. However due to its construction below the high-water mark, the structure flooded and was relocated in 1956. Throughout the period 1945 to 1949 two additional jetties were constructed on the site of Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah, including a private jetty for the use of the Fisheries inspector. The existing slipway was constructed in 1946, built on granite and limestone foundations, which are still extant under the cement ramp located adjacent to the existing boatshed and jetty in Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah.
In 1969 the existing brick boatshed was constructed adjacent to the existing jetty. The PWD plans for the new building, dated December 1968, indicate that existing cement retaining wall fronting and extending the foreshore into the inlet, had already been constructed at this time. The existing jetty, slipway and ramp were also present.
In 1984, a fence was erected around the landside of the place and additional security adjustments added.
In 2006, the City of Mandurah handed the Fisheries Boatshed, Mandurah site over to the Mandurah Museum when the new Fisheries Offices were relocated to Dolphin Quay near the new Marina. From 2007 to 2012 the boatshed was used by construction workers as a docking point to facilitate works on the estuary and from 2012 it was open to the public. However by 2014 it was closed due to the lack of toilets. In 2021, the place is used by the Maritime Annex of the Museum for the preservation and restoration of Mandurah's heritage fishing industry.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.