Schnapper Point (Mornington)

Then history of Schnapper Point dates back to 1802 when explorer Matthew Flinders landed there. The area includes Mornington Pier, Mornington Yacht Club, the Rocks Mornington restaurant, Schnapper kiosk/cafe, jetties and boat launching ramps.

From the headland there are extensive views of Port Philip Bay with walks providing views along the coast towards The Heads.

Review:

An interesting area to wander around with lots to look at including yachts and fishing boats. Walk to the end of Mornington Pier and check out the people trying to catch an elusive fish, probably schnapper, given that they are fishing at Schnapper Point.

If you would prefer to fish from a boat rather than the pier, a number of companies operate daily fishing trips from the pier including Bay Fish N Trips and Relax, Go Fishing!.

Steps lead up to Schnapper Point where there is a lookout with great views on a clear day. You might be able to see Mount Macedon or the You Yangs. To help get your bearings there is a circular plaque which celebrates the bi-centenary of the birth of Captain Matthew Flinders on 17/3/1974 with directions and distances to different locations. There is a monument to Matthew Flinders surrounded by four tables.

A boardwalk follows the coast to a view point and then descends down to the rocky shore (no beach) with a picnic table.

Close by is a playground at Mornington Park which is known as the Pirate ship park.

Photos:

Mornington Pier

Mornington Pier has had a colourful past, and over its 150 years has, like the rest of Mornington, been through almost as many rebirths as the tides that ebb and flow past those wooden piles.

The township of Snapper Point, renamed Mornington in 1861 after the second Earl of Mornington, was mapped out in 1854. It soon became apparent to the small community that in order to thrive without rail or adequate roads to Melbourne a faster mode of. transportation needed to be achieved, and what better way then, or for that matter now, than by the natural sea road.

A proactive group of inhabitants and land owners in the districts of Mount Eliza, Snapper Point and Mount Martha formed to write a petition, signed by over seventy persons, to Major General MacArthur to obtain permission to build a pier for the landing and shipment of produce. They also wrote 'In addition, we would respectfully call your attention to the fact, that Snapper Point presents considerable temptations to the Tourist or invalid, who would readily avail themselves of its advantages except for the difficulty of approach.' These progressive individuals could clearly see benefits in this for the Mornington Peninsula.

The report of the colonial government's survey is dated June 1856 and signed by R. Adams of the Railway Department in Melbourne. It details a jetty's exposure to -destructive winds and waves, and recommends as a cost saving the use of local materials such as ironstone from the site. Adams recommended the use of colonial timber. It was supplied by Benjamin Benton from forests at Moorooduc.

Drawings of the proposed jetty show it's length was 46 metres and an estimate of costings totalled the grand sum of 8,761.25 pounds. According to Parks Victoria Heritage Information of Pier and Jetties of Port Phillip it had, '... Three distinct zones - the inner rock abutment and wharf, inner timber pier structure intersecting via a ramp with a wider outer timber pier.' It was completed in 1858.

The jetty at the end of Schnapper Point Drive, for a time, existed at the social and economic heart of the Mornington Peninsula. Up to fifteen fishing boats with local owners had permanent moorings there. Other boats were regulars transporting mail, fish, timber and firewood, and the return of supplies to Mornington. By 1865 ferries arrived twice a week with visitors who had discovered that Mornington was a wonderful haven for their summer holidays, something that still holds true to-day. One could imagine that travelling by sea road from Melbourne to Mornington would be just as popular now, or conversely travelling to work in the city on a Hovercraft or similar vessel. However, as the pier stands today it would require extensive work before that could be achieved.

The words 'jetty' and 'pier' describe similar structures. Both may be long or short, of solid design or light and airy. It is usage that defines whether or not it is a jetty or a pier. Mid-nineteenth century Mornington had a jetty whose main purpose was to service boats carrying cargo and passengers. But in the 189os cargo and passengers switched to faster modes of transport, first the railway and then to motorised transport. Slowly, the jetty trans-formed into a pier providing a pleasant place to stroll in the cool of the evening, to set up an artist's easel or dangle a fishing line. It was the point of transfer for holiday-makers onto and off excursion steamers, and the great paddle wheelers, but before 'Ozone', Hygeia' and 'Weeroona' could berth an extension called the North Arm was added, giving the pier an L-shape.

Ozone for instance, was 80 metres in length by 8.6 metres in width with a draught of 2.4 metres. It had a speed of 20 knots. Built near Glasgow, it was fitted out with a dining room and bars. Often a band played on board providing a relaxing entertaining trip of approximately one and half hours around the bay. The paddle steamers of yesterday have gradually disappeared. 'Ozone' was sunk in 1925 to form a breakwater off St Leonard's, and 'Hygeia' was dismantled in 1932 and now lies on the seabed somewhere outside the Heads, whilst 'Weeroona' was dismantled at Berrys Bay N.S.W.

During World War II, Mornington pier became an outstation for the Australian Water Transport Unit, the sea-going element of the Royal Australian Engineers. The unit was officially based at Balcombe Army Camp, but the men spent most of their time at their outstation. It comprised four tents on Mother's Beach, a picnic shelter with latticed sides high on the rocky outcrop now occupied by the Mathew Flinders memorial, was their signals room and they had a cookhouse on Schnapper Point Drive. They trained in small vessels taking them up into Hobson's Bay and out into Bass Strait.

The pier has undergone various alterations during its 150-year history due to changing needs as we have seen with the paddle steamers, or to storms, which necessitated repairs or part reconstruction. The harbour is dangerously exposed during northerly and northwesterly weather. In 2003 storm damage repairs included the replacement of piles and the installation of additional steel bracings. It is no longer the jetty of a bygone era where paddle steamers could pull in and off-load tourists, however, there are still a few fishing trawlers moored there, alongside yachts for pleasure, or racing yachts like 98-foot super-maxi Skandia Wild Thing, which won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race in 2003.

All year round the Mornington pier is used for recreational fishing and many a youngster has cast their first hopeful line into the water from its deck. People can be seen strolling along its length eating ice-cream, pushing babies in strollers, or reading a book to the sound of the waves lapping around the piles. On each Australia Day it is also the place where thousands gather to watch a magnificent fireworks display down at 'Our Pier'. Its 150- year history helps us reflect on the pier's active past and how this vital construction has contributed to shaping Mornington's development and, if we have the foresight of our forebears, our future too.

By ANDREA FORD

Location

Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington 3931 Map

Web Links

→ Around Mornington Walk (Walking Maps)

→ Mornington Yacht Club

→ The Rocks Mornington