Rapid Bay Jetty

Paul Macdonald · Issue 83, Mar/Apr 2015 · pp. 65–67

Products mentioned: Nikon D700, Nikon D200, Sigma 15mm fisheye, Nikkor 12-24mm, Nikkor 105mm, Nikkor 17-35mm, Sea & Sea Housing, YS-110 Strobes

Rapid Bay was the first landing point on the South Australian mainland by the Surveyor General, Colonel William Light in September 1836. The town was named after Light’s ship, the Rapid. The original Rapid Bay jetty was completed in 1942 to enable the shipment of limestone that Broken Hill Propriety Ltd (BHP) had commenced mining in the vicinity of the town. The limestone was shipped to BHP’s steelworks at Whyalla, Newcastle and Port Kembla where it was used as flux in the production of steel. The completed jetty built of steel and timber consisted of an approach jetty of 448m length connecting to a T-Head of 198m length. The T-Head consisted of a main deck, 6 dolphins and connecting walkways. The dolphins served as fenders for docking ships and as mooring points for ships being loaded. Further work was completed in 1949 to enclose the approach piles with concrete collars to guard agains…