The Piers Festival will be held on Saturday 28th January in Port Melbourne to highlight multiculturalism and migration as part of Victoria's 2012 Australia Day Celebrations.
Having grown up close to the piers, I saw many newly-arrived migrants disembark at Station Pier in the 1960s and '70s to begin a new life in Melbourne. Italian passenger ships such as the bright blue
MS Achille Lauro (hijacked off Egypt in 1985) and the
SS Guglielmo Marconi were regular visitors to Station Pier, following their four week journeys from Europe.
Princes Pier. Photo: Dashers
To celebrate this momentous period, a range of activities will take place on both Princes and Station Piers.
Station Pier is Melbourne's passenger terminal for cruise ships and ferries and will be holding a Cruise Terminal Open Day. There will also be an historic photographic exhibition held by the Immigration Museum as well as the screening of a rare 1920s film accompanied by live music.
Princes Pier, which was primarily used to service cargo ships, outlived its usefulness in the 1990s with the advent of container ships and improvements to newer docks and channels on the Yarra River. In addition, the railway used to transport freight from the pier became redundant and the pier was eventually closed down due to deterioration caused by shipworm and fire. For the past two years it has undergone extensive restoration work.
MS Achille Lauro. Photo: D.R. Walker
Princes Pier will host a multicultural food and craft market and provide roving entertainers for all ages. A concert will be held from 4.00pm and will include Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Arte Kanela, Sol Nation, the Victoria Police Pipe Band and dance troupes, among the highlights. You can also see a tall ship docked at the pier and enjoy a spectacular fireworks display at the conclusion of the celebrations.
And if the weather is warm, bring along your bathers as both piers have delightful, small beaches adjoining them.To avoid the hassle of parking, take the light rail - Tram 109 - to Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.
