Fremantle Long Jetty
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.
[1] In July 1984 the Maritime Archaeology Department of the Western Australian Museum was notified of plans to construct a marina for the 1987 America's Cup that would be close to the remains of the Long Jetty.
[2]: 2 Evidence states that the original jetty was too shallow for most ocean-going vessels and lengthened multiple times, but never reached an adequate length.
[3] In the early 1890s, during the Australian gold rushes, Long Jetty reached a period of maximum use whereby ships where constantly coming and going.
[2] The opening of Fremantle Harbour eliminated the need for lightering and helped to make Long Jetty obsolete as an importing and exporting structure.
Other factors also played a role in the demise of the Fremantle Long Jetty including the weather, geographical issues, and problems with how the port operated.
In 1892 in a letter to the owners of the Saranac, Captain D. B. Shaw wrote:[2][4] Gentleman, I have been in a good many places in my time, but this is the worst damn hole I ever saw.
They are a dirty lot [...].One week later on 19 November 1892 he wrote again:[2][4] I was never so sick of a place in my life, and may the curse of Christ rest on Fremantle and every son of a bitch in it.
Bottle collectors had frequently visited the site since its use was discontinued, but it was noticed that storms would reveal new materials from under the sea bed.
[2] In 1984 plans for a new marina that would facilitate the 1987 America's Cup threatened to bury large sections of what remained of Long Jetty.
The Western Australian Maritime Museum was only given a four-week notice to record the site before construction on the new marina would commence.
The excavation was essentially a case of salvage archaeology; therefore, the museum instigated immediate assessment of the impact that a marina would have on the old jetty.
The aims for the excavation were described as "mapping the remaining jetty structure to ascertain the spread of material and to gauge the extent to which it could later be covered or disturbed by the [marina] development.
"[2] Archaeological work included plotting the jetty piles with the use of triangulation and photography in order to create a map of the site.
[2] Artefacts recovered included buttons, buckles, fasteners, rings, toys, pipes, munitions, shoes, fishing equipment, and other materials.
[2] Soon after the excavation was completed, the Western Australian Maritime Museum opened an exhibition pertaining to the Long Jetty in an effort to educate the public about its history.
[2] The jetty is a tangible link to the past and represents a valuable historic resource which can help to look at the economic and social evolution of the city of Fremantle.
[2] Joan Campbell created illustrated ceramic plaques detailing the work of the museum as well as the history of the Fremantle Long Jetty that were placed at the beach end of the structure.
