Little remains of the Cattle Jetty, nor the associated stock quarantine station, that was added to the quarantine facilities at Point Nepean in 1879. This facility was dedicated to confining new stock arrivals until they had been declared free of disease. Prior to the completion of this new stock quarantine area for animals, they had all been landed via the main quarantine jetty, which had had a special chute added, and had been taken care of at the facilities just up the road.
” . . . The completion of the stock quarantine station, now practically accomplished, is a fact of considerable importance with respect to not only the owners of stock in Victoria, but also those of the other colonies, who largely depend upon us for the means of keeping up or improving their breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ – Article “The Victorian Stock Quarantine Station” – published 19th May 1879
” . . . The new stock quarantine station at Point Nepean (about three miles beyond Portsea) is near completion. Already some 24 head of cattle, including those imported by the Cambrian Prince, are doing their time there, and they get on remarkably well. The station will, when finished, consist of a double-fenced block of 40 acres, 20 acres of which are cleared for the buildings, which comprise four stables – one 20-stalled, two 10-stalled, two four-stalled, and two two-stalled – and two two-roomed verandah cottages, with separate kitchen and forage store for the accommodation of the manager and the men in charge of cattle. A new pier will shortly be erected just opposite the station site ; but for the present the cattle to be quarantined will be landed at the quarantine jetty, where, in order to facilitate the operation, a shoot has recently been erected. The whole of the work appears to have been creditably carried out. The contract for the buildings is let to J. Cain and Co. for £1,440, and the same firm will put up the second line of fencing round the 40 acres. The first line of fencing was done by Alex. Watson for about £350. The contract for the new pier, including the shoot at the old pier, is let to Moat and Turnbull for £452. This is a small price ; but 18 ft. of water can be reached very near the shore . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ – published 7th April 1879
” . . . The location of the various stables has been studiously managed with the view of keeping them as distant and distinct from each other as possible, in order that contagion shall have no chance. Of course the station will often contain – as it does now – cattle brought in at different dates, and if there were the slightest contact between them – if only the attendant in charge of one lot were to visit the the stable containing another lot – the quarantine of both would have to be nearly all done over again. The cattle now doing their 90 days arrived by the Syria (March 11) and by the Cambrian Prince (April 1), and although neither of the two shipments present the smallest sign of disease, they are jealously guarded from each other, as well as from the world outside . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ – Article “The Victorian Stock Quarantine Station” – published 19th May 1879
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The costs of quarantining the animals may well have been quite prohibitive:
” . . . Thus the animals’ feed costs about . . . 16s. 4d. per head per week. This expense is now on the increase, not only beause such things as rock salt, &c., are to be added to the bill of fare, but also because as the cattle recover from their voyage their appetite increases . . . “
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” . . . Many ships, especially passenger ones, carry store stock, such as milch cows, or a few pigs or sheep, which of course, must not be allowed to land except at the quarantine station, from whence they can be reclaimed when the ship to which they belong commences her return voyage. It is anticipated, however, that most ship captains will prefer to either kill their stock on arrival in port, or else hand the animals over to some outgoing vessel . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ – Article “The Victorian Stock Quarantine Station” – published 19th May 1879
The Animal Quarantine Station later moved to ‘Melbourne Zoo’, then ‘Coode Island‘. The facility is currently located at ‘Spotswood’.
Helpful Hints:
– Located approximately 3.9 km from the Portsea Town Centre – obtain Directions here
– Accessed from Coles Track
– Located within Point Nepean National Park
– Parking at Gunners Cottage Car Park
– Other Historical POI’s Nearby
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