Duke & Orr Dry Dock Pump House
The dry docks on the South Bank of the Yarra River in the vicinity of Normanby Road were a key part of the infrastructure to support the shipping industry in Melbourne from their establishment in 1868 until closure in 1975. Important historical events were associated with these dry docks including major shipping accidents, two World Wars and rise to power of the Melbourne Harbour Trust.
The work carried out in these docks was characterised by being dangerous, dirty and often carried out under considerable pressure from ship owners who wanted their ship back in the water as soon as possible. The men (they were all men) who worked in these docks were a tough bunch. They got up early on freezing winter mornings and walked or cycled to the dock. They worked down in the docks, often in cold, filthy sea water for long hours scraping, cleaning, painting and repairing ships. They worked in the confined space under the keels of the ships amongst the keel blocks or on makeshift planking high up on the sides of the ships without any safety equipment except their own know-how. They handled massive baulks of timber with their bare hands.
The men developed relationships which were extremely close amongst themselves, almost always loyal to their employers who treated their skills with respect. They became, however, somewhat notorious to those outside the world of the docks. They formed themselves into the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union (Painters & Dockers) in 1900 and by the time Duke’s & Orr’s dry dock closed in 1975 they were much feared within the criminal world. The Costigan Royal Commission connected them with 15 murders and 23 attempted murders.
What we do know is that they were loyal to one another, supported one another’s families in hard times and worked beyond the normal “call of duty” for their employers. They were strong, tough, cohesive, had a limited respect for “authority” (with good cause) and they kept the wheels of the shipping industry turning in a world which depended on shipping for almost everything. Today none of us would want to do the work which these men did cheerfully year-in and year-out.
The Pump House is owned by the Victorian Government which has been very supportive of the restoration and maintenance of the Pump House.
The dock itself is under National Trust of Australia (Victoria) control and it is unlikely that Engineering Heritage Australia would be able to obtain National Trust approval to include the dock in the Heritage Recognition Program.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
| Award Date | November 2014 |
| Heritage Significance | Duke and Orr's Dry Dock is of scientific (technical) significance as the last timber walled dry dock to operate in Australia and because of its unique steam plant which includes the oldest known surviving installation of Victorian-built under-fired tubular boilers in the metropolitan area, and the only extant pair of Victorian-built tandem compound vertical steam pumping engines. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Not Available. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | Panel A available here. Panel C available here. |
