Station Pier Beach (Port Melbourne)

Station Pier Beach is a heavily modified beach surrounded by structures.

Wedged in between the Port Melbourne Yacht Club and the large Station Pier, and backed by busy Beach Street, is a 700 m long beach. The eastern end of Station Pier Beach narrows to an exposed seawall, while it broadens toward the pier. Due to the relatively protected nature of the beach it is fronted by irregular sand flats, which are exposed at low tide.

Station Pier Beach has a General Beach Hazard Rating of 1/10 (Least hazardous).

Access for Dogs:

1 April - 31 October: Dogs permitted at all times on the beach
1 November - 31 March: Dogs prohibited at all times on the beach

Review:

Overall the beach is wide and sandy with lots of broken sea-shells in the sand. It stretches from Station pier to the Port Melbourne Yacht Club. The beach is not patrolled.

On the west side of the beach, a path leads to a wooden pier with a line of seats which has a shelter at the end (without any seats). It is possible to get close up views of the Spirit of Tasmania when it is in port (which is quite often). Also at the west end of the beach was a drain leading into the water. This area was smelly and can be dangerous for kids. Best to avoid the area around the drain.

The beach is backed by low dunes which are fenced off. Running beside the beach is a pedestrian path and a separate bike path. There is limited free parking in the area, but a ticketed car park is beside the beach. Costs are $5.10 per hour and $12.30 all day.

Along the beach front is a water tap, toilets and some historical points of interest. The Liardet Memorial commemorates Wilbraham Liardet, the first European settler and founder of Port Melbourne (Sandridge) who arrived in 1839 with his family.

A brick memorial shelter with shaded seats was erected by the members of the Port Melbourne Women's Welcome Home Committee and presented to the citizens in honour of the gallant Australians who fought in the Great War 1914-1918.

At the west end is a single Centenary Bridge Pillar. This reinforced concrete pillar is the only remnant of the 305m long Centenary Bridge which once stood here.

There is ticketed parking near Station Pier and some fairly limited free parking in the surrounding streets. Tram 109 goes to Port Melbourne and the closest stop to Princes Pier is Stop 129 (Beacon Cove/Station Pier).