Shipping Control Tower…or???
The abandoned 1960’s Shipping Control Tower in Melbourne’s Docklands approaches decision time.
Now, I’m the first to accept that you can’t save everything. This applies just as much to buildings as it does to boats. The worthiness of saving a wooden craft has filled many column inches in this publication over the last few years. Have a look at THIS and the COMMENTS IT SPAWNED. When it comes to this waterside building, I personally would be sad to see it go. Perhaps because it meets so many of the same necessary criteria outlined in these articles about boats.
Opened in 1966, (the same year MERCEDES III was launched, if we are looking for cultural parallels) the Shipping Control Tower, which replaced an earlier timber octagonal watch tower of 1934, was designed by architect C J Smith. It’s constructed of reinforced concrete, with a lift and stairs, and comprises two decks – one for observation duties containing radar and communication equipment, the other being for amenities for its 24-hour a day operation. Our resident SWS architecture critic writes… “the tower has really good 1960’s functionalist bones. The double stack control rooms are almost cantilevered from the lift core, only braced and laced by one slim leg and a zig-zag stair. The verticality is extended with a flag staff, cross-tree and crows nest for old fashioned signals, perhaps when the electronics fail”.
The tower at the end of North Wharf Rd in Docklands, when operational, was manned by five operators, 24 hours a day, to coordinate ship movements in the harbour and also to provide an automated telephone service, giving shipping information to the public, a service that proved immensely popular with 116,995 calls taken in the first year.
There is an interesting 360 degree display of the towers current state, accessible by clicking on the image below.
So let’s pretend for a moment, that somebody in the State Government (who are the owners of the building) recognises the potential to create some meaningful from this piece of our working history and looks to the good folk of Melbourne for ideas.
What should the building become?
Here at SWS we think ithe tower should be transformed into a centre that teaches Secondary School students the intrinsic historical links between our city and its maritime background. It should also provide opportunities to study first hand the impact of modern day shipping upon the planet, the realities of moving goods around the world, and encourage design and innovation on issues such as climate change and consumerism. So much of the Metropolis has turned its back on the water, in the process forgetting about the stories and connections that have made and continue to make, our current lives possible. If you have a different idea then let us know and perhaps we can create some momentum!
Thanks to the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network, for alerting us to the plight of the old Shipping Control Tower. If you are interested in finding out more about the tower and its future, consider joining in with the Maritime Network’s On-site visit and discussion session coming up on Saturday 20 April at 10.30am. MMHN will share what they know of the history and regrettable disregard for its cultural value.
(Take the Collins St tram to the last stop walk towards Docklands library, continue walking along the North Wharf Road in towards the Bolte Bridge.)
SWS acknowledges Lovell Chen Architects and Melbourne historian Rohan Storey @tallstorey for background information.