BLUNTS BOATYARD AND SLIPWAY

Williamstown was the site of concentrated boat building activity from the 1850s on. There were at various times a number of large scale boat builders and repairers, both government and private, and the infrastructure to support this activity. The foreshore along Nelson Place was particularly suited to small boat building and repair activities. Williamstown was right on the bay but at the same time sheltered, and slipways for small vessels could operate in all weathers. A large number of small boat builders have operated from a variety of premises along the foreshore over the last 150 years.

The Blunt family's business has been operating in the area since the 1880s. The family began boat-building in Geelong in 1858. The business moved to Williamstown c1880 and operated from a yard with shed, pier and slipway on the waterfront between Ann Street and Thompson Street. Many 'finely build' craft were constructed there including 24 sailing vessels. In 1925 their lease was resumed by the government for land reclamation. The current boat-yard site on Nelson Place was taken up in 1926. The site had been used from 1858 till at least 1877 for steam sawmill operations, and from 1913 to 1926 by motor engineers.

The timber shed, and two adjacent sheds of similar design on the Commonwealht owned naval cadet site adjacent to the west, date fom around 1913. The slipway system occupies most of the yard. The orignial slipway was reputedbly constructed using elements form the first floating dock to be used in Port Phillip, though there is no above water evidence of this. The slip leads to a three rail traverser system which is operated by a hand winch and which allows access to six storage/work bays. Another set of rails leadds into the shed. The trusses of the seaward end of the shed have been modified to allow sheltered work on larger vessels. There are a number of cradles of various ages and materials in the yard. The main slipway winch is of a type likely to have come from a ship. An older main winch is still located nearby. The long timber pier has a number of moorings and is of a height suited to small vessels.

How is it significant?

Blunts Boatyard and Slipway is of historical significance to the state of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Blunts Boatyard and Slipway is of historical significance as a rare operating example of the many small scale boat-building and replairing businesses which have operated on the Williamstown foreshore from the 1850s on. The use, equipment and layout of the yard remain similar to that of earlier in the twentieth century, while many of the other yards have disappeared or have been changed more substantially. The Blunt family boat building business has operated continuously in Willimastown since the 1880s, and in Victoria since the 1850s.

Group

Maritime Industry

Category

Boat Building