Jetties
The reader is referred to the excellent book: "The Jetties of South Australia - Past and Present", by Neville Collins, 2010. pp. 211-227.
KANGAROO ISLAND JETTIES.
[1883] At the meeting of the Marine Board on Thursday, July 12, the President furnished the following draft report on this subject:— "Emu Bay—The best site for a jetty lies 300 feet to the north of the present landing-place, where, in a north-by-east direction, and 250 feet from high water mark, a depth of 10 feet was obtained. Only two families were located there. Hog Bay.—The Board recommend the northern site on plan prepared by Mr. Gardner, of the Public Works Department, where, on his line of bearings, and at a distance of 500 feet from high-water mark, a depth of 10 feet was obtained. Sapphire Town, American River.—The best position lies off the point a little to the north-east of the township, where, at 320 feet from high-water mark a depth of 9 ft. 6 in. was obtained at half - tide. The bank was very steep, and shorewards it nearly dried at low-water springs. There was no habitation here. Kingscote.—Two sites were given as being the best. One was off Bean [sic] Point, running out in east-south-east direction from the point, and at 400 feet distant a depth of 10 feet was obtained at low water. That started from the Telegraph Reserve. The next lies a short distance to the south-west, and runs off from the private township of Queenscliffe, just out of the Government reserve boundary. At 500 feet from high-water mark, in a south-east direction, 10 feet would be found at low water. Brownlow.—At this Government township there is a sandbank dry out to a considerable distance. A jetty at least half a mile long would have to be constructed before six feet of water could be obtained. At three quarters of a mile north of Brownlow, where at present a storekeeper is located, a depth of six feet of water would be found at low water; but to get there a jetty of 1,100 or 1,200 feet in length would be required to be carried out in a south-easterly direction.
The Board recommend that a jetty at one of the two sites at Kingscote be constructed, which would serve the whole district, including Emu Bay, for some time to come. If overtures were made, the owners of Queenscliffe would possibly construct a jetty to answer all the purposes, and it need not cost the Government anything. Of course the charges should be subject to Government approval. The Board is also of opinion that a jetty at Hog Bay would for many a day meet all the requirements.
Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 14 July 1883, page 32KANGAROO ISLAND JETTIES.
The Commissioner of Public Works (Hon. T. Price) was waited upon on Thursday, June 20, by a deputation, consisting of Messrs. C. J. Penny, R. Woolnough, and H E. Fuller (Directors), and A. Le Messurier (secretary), representing the Gulf Steam ship Company. They pointed out the disabilities under which Kangaroo Island suffered in respect to landing facilities at Hog Bay and Kingscote, and asked that immediate steps should be taken to provide more adequate jetty accommodation. Mr. Penny said that the s.s. Kooringa recently arrived at Hog Bay with 36 tons of cargo half an hour before her scheduled time, and because of the single rail system the goods could not be landed before 7 p.m., so that when the boat arrived at Kingscote she could not get within 100 yards of the jetty at the latter port for lowness of water, and it was 10 p.m. before the 75 passengers and mails could be put ashore. Many of the islanders, who had driven for miles inland for their letters, had to return home without them, as at 10.45 the mails had not been delivered.
He had pointed out to a meeting at Kingscote, which blamed the Steamship Company, that the delay was wholly attributable to the poor jetty facilities, and that they should arouse their members and the Government on the question. The Hog Bay Jetty was so short that often only one-third of the steamer could overlap it. Frequently the vessels on return from Kingscote could not land supplies and bread at Hog Bay. Kingscote needed consideration, as it was fast developing as a popular holiday resort, and also as a port of discharge for the produce of a large area.
The Premier said he recognised that jetty extension at Kingscote would pay interest on its cost, and could be under taken as a national work. At Hog Bay it was otherwise, and as the construction of an extension and L end to the jetty there would cost £6,000 he had told the local district council that if it guaranteed the interest he would proceed with the work at once. The council had refused to do that, which showed that the people did not believe in their own importance. [sic] The Hog Bay Jetty ought not to have been built where it was. It was erected to satisfy a clamour by members of Parliament, and he had always seen the folly and the waste of it, and expressed his disapproval of the project from the first. Though the china clay industry had gone down, the Government was still willing to make the jetty "a rattling good one" if some one would help. The L end would strengthen the structure, and allow for two lines of rails.
Mr. Penny—Our new steamer will require 9 ft. of water at low tide at Kingscote. It will not be able to go to Hog Bay at all unless the jetty is lengthened and turned out.
Mr. Woolnough asked, if the Hog Bay people would not supply the guarantee, would the Government be prepared to consider the erection of a jetty at American Beach, where landing could always be effected in safety, and a suitable structure could be built for much less than £6,000? Even if the Hog Bay Jetty were extended no company would risk its boats and passengers there in a north-east gale. The Gulf Company's new steamer would be 48 ft. longer than the Kooringa, which now overlapped the Kingscote Jetty 35 ft. He understood the Government intended to erect an iron jetty at Kingscote, the procuring of which would mean great delay. Would it not be as well to proceed with a timber one, which would be quite as strong and stable?
The Premier said definitely that the Government would not undertake the Hog Bay Jetty as a national work, as there was not sufficient development there to pay for it. On the question of iron or wood for Kingscote Jetty he would consult the Assistant Engineer (Mr. Labatt), and would accede to the request of the deputation that he should make enquiries as to the cost of a jetty at American Beach. Laughingly, he added—"Your company is spending £40,000 on new steamers, and we as a State will be expected to spend £250,000 in deepening and jetties at our outports to accommodate them."
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 29 June 1907, page 46