Back in 1838, in the time when the Yarra River was a clear stream surrounded by a pristine environment of trees and grasses together with the song of birds and nature, for the new-comers, the river presented but an obstacle. Crossing it was only possible at ‘The Falls‘ or by boat if you could find one . . .
” . . . Among our State archives in the Public Library of Victoria is a letter written to Captain Lonsdale in March, 1838, by John Hodgson. Hodgson was a merchant of Melbourne, but he seems to be noticing a common grievance in having “for some time witnessed the inconvenience and serious losses the inhabitants of Melbourne and neighbourhood have suffered for want of a punt on the Yarrow Yarrow at Melbourne.”
He goes on to describe how “boats are taken possession of every day, by persons crossing, thereby frequently exposing owners to great trouble and annoyance” (his own had been taken from its moorings four times in the last week). His suggestion is to build a punt for drays, cattle, &c., and a boat for passengers, but he wants to know what facilities will be granted by the Government . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Much Toping on the Punt” – published 9th September 1950
As people descended upon this rapidly growing village, the streets of Melbourne’s famous ‘grid’ were yet barely identifiable. Full of pot holes, carriage ruts and sawn off trees, the hazards were many, exacerbated by rains which would convert the ‘streets’ into a muddy slush. Road gangs worked ” . . . so that they [the streets] may be rendered passable by the pedestrian without buring his leg in mud or water-holes . . . ”
” . . . Flinders Street was formed on the flat along the riverfront – in fact, the street was known as The Flat in the early days. The roadway, on its southern side, lapsed into a marsh which deepened to become the river proper. In winter and wet weather, Flinders Street – its western end, at least – was almost lost to the Yarra . . . “
” . . . Flinders Street ran along higher ground at its eastern end, with reeds and bushy scrub fringing its riverbank side. Early settler John Sutch recalled the non-view of the river in 1838: ‘At this time the river Yarra was not visible to a person standing in Swanston-street, about where St Paul’s Church now stands, owing to the dense tree-scrub . . . ‘
Source – Excerpts – ‘Bearbrass: Imagining Early Melbourne’ – by Robyn Annear – published 1995
As Flinders Street runs along the Yarra River, it developed various access points to cross the river by punt or ferry thereby providing passage to ‘Emerald Hill’, Port Melbourne (previously Sandridge), St Kilda, Brighton and beyond . . .
Melbourne’s First Punt Launched – 15 April 1838
Within three years of the founding of Melbourne in mid 1835, the Yarra River’s first punts enjoyed the monopoly, charging users as they saw fit. It is believed that during this time the punt owner could earn in a week what others would earn in an entire year !!!
However, as competition grew and later, bridges constructed, their reign would be short lived . . .
The first punt established its service on the ‘Yarra’ between Swanston and Russell Streets. It was sufficient in capability to carry a bullock dray together with its team, and was powered by horses pulling the punt from the opposite side of the river.
Murchison Advocate (WA) – Article “A Boy in 1839 – Melbourne in its Infancy” – 21 Oct 1909
” . . . The primitive European mode of crossing an Australian river was a contrivance at once simple and easy of execution. A dray without wheels, made water-tight by tarpaulin, was launched through the agency of a small rope looped round the main rope across the river, and the requisite quantum of haulage, the transit was accomplished. The first punts were not unlike a couple of huge bullock-drays fastened together. The first man to experimentalise with a punt over the Yarra at Melbourne was a Mr. William Watts, and the crossing place was about half-way between Swanston and Russell Streets. He did so under license, by which he was authorized to charge puntage rates. Watts launched his punt on the 15th April, 1838, and it was christened “The Melbourne” by his daughter breaking a bottle of champagne against one of its sides, after which there was a plentiful distribution of grog on the spot. In honour of so important an event, however, there was a stiff jollification at the town taverns in the evening, when no such nonsensical stuff as “Sham-pain,” but stiff fiery rum, and not the best of half-and-half, formed the bibations. Of all the merrymakers on that memorable though not very remote occasion, I know of but one now alive and well able to crack a bottle of champagne in Melbourne to-day, viz., the veteran Thomas Halfpenny, the Studley Park Ranger, whose good-humoured face has already peeped out in these CHRONICLES.
The first punt “spec.” seems to have succeeded with Watts, for in 1839 he established another over the Saltwater River near Footscray, where he also purposed opening a public-house ; but as a license would not be granted, he disbanded the punt, and the Saltwater remained unpunted for some time. The Melbourne punt continued at its work, and a second one was added; but on the formation of the Melbourne Bridge Company, the punts passed by purchase to that co-partnery, and remained in operation until superseded by a wooden bridge. Dr. (afterwards Sir J.) Palmer, who had early established himself at the now St. James’ Park, on the Yarra, was the first to place a punt over the river at Richmond.
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
Captain Lonsdale cancelled Thomas Watt’s licence to run a punt some twelve months later due to:
” . . . great deal of irregularity in the assembling a number of disorderly characters about his punt and making them drunk . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Much Toping on the Punt” – published 9th September 1950
Watson argued:
” . . . Having served the needs of the colonists by keeping his punt open for twelve months, he was concerned to see a rival punt established by a competitor. In a spirit of Pardonable rivalry, ” and to attract custom, he ordered his men to offer beer to any who crossed in his punt. Without his knowledge late at night, the brickmakers on the other side of the river (whose reputation at this time was very bad) availed themselves of the opportunity and had crossed and recrossed till they were drunk. Perhaps the offer of free beer was to tempt fate, but Watt had to pay for it with his licence . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Much Toping on the Punt” – published 9th September 1950
The competition that had lead to the incentive of free beer was due to another service running just upstream from ‘The Falls’:
” . . . Trans-riverine locomotion by boat was established contemporaneously with the punting. The first Charon that plied close to the “Falls,” was an ancient Irish Celt, known as Paddy Byrne, who lived close by the Southern terminus, with an only daughter named Polly. They were both in their way public favourites, and when the father would be asthmatically or rheumatically disposed, as occasionally happened, Polly officiated as “skipper” with skill and liveliness. This ferry continued until the erection of the recent Falls Bridge, after ” Paddy ” had gone to stretch his bones in the old cemetery, and ” Polly ” somewhere else to the chronicler unknown. The keeper of the second ferry was, in 1839, one John Matthews, by no means so much an identity as either Paddy or Polly Byrne, and during the great Christmas Eve flood of that year, he had a miraculous escape from drowning. His boat and himself were swept from their moorings, and he would certainly have come to grief, but for his gallant rescue by a couple of sailors . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
The ‘brickmakers’ that lead to the loss of Watson’s punt licence were an unruly bunch that would a few years later commit murder, but continue to walk free:
” . . . At the time when the Melbourne punt flourished there was a small settlement known as the Brickfields, south of the river on the flat, running from the Government House Reserve round by Emerald Hill, and this place was the resort of a drunken, bloodthirsty, thieving crew, by whom several nocturnal depredations were committed. One night in 1842, a policeman named Rody Monahan, whilst on duty near the place was set upon by some of the brickfielders, and pitched into the river, where his body was found after several days’ search. It was thought that he had interposed to quell a drunken row, and lost his life in consequence. Three men were apprehended on suspicion of the crime, but were released through want of evidence ; and though the Bridge Company offered a reward for information towards bringing the offenders to justice, nothing ever came of it . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
Though a profitable vocation in the early years of Melbourne, it could also be very trying as the poor old ‘punters’ could often fall prey to drunken exploits:
” . . . Demolishing the Corporation channel-bridges at the street corners was a prevalent diversion, and also visiting a wooden punt that did duty before the advent of a bridge over the river. The puntman (an irascible old fellow) resided in a hut at the southern side, and every night before retiring the punt would be hauled over and made fast round a tree-stump. The larkers would cross by the “Falls” or in a boat, and, creeping round, unwarp the punt quietly, pull across on it to the northern side, and then, by shouting and yelling, break the slumbers of the old punter, who would rush out to find himself powerless, with a large amount of insult added to the inconvenience, for he would have to get a boat next morning wherewith to cross, and take possession of his raft . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
The Punt at Punt Road, Melbourne
Punt services were established at many sites along the lower ‘Yarra’ until such time that bridges engulfed their trade.
Next time you venture along Punt Road in Melbourne, perhaps you could spare a thought as you cross the Yarra River – for how different the river and surrounds would have looked 180 years ago, and, for the early pioneers who carved a living out of the necessity of the growing population to cross that river. After all, it is the punt that once crossed the river at this location that furnishes the road its name . . .
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Early-Punt-on-the-Yarra-c-1843
