The Entrance c 1889 – Lakes Entrance, Gippsland, VIC

Before the formation of the man-made channel which would permanently open Bass Strait to the Gippsland lakes and river systems, natural entrances occurred in various locations, generally in the dunes towards the end of Cunninghame Arm (previously Reeves River).

The currents of Bass Strait would wash the sand into the dunes and seal the entrances.  Meanwhile the water level of the lakes would gradually rise to such a height that the water pressure would break through the dunes; the water level in the lakes would equalise to sea level; and the cycle would begin again.

 

The erratic natural opening between the Gippsland Lakes system and Bass Strait prevented regular transport via the much more efficient route of the water highways of the Gippsland Lakes for many decades.  The tremendously difficult and tortuous land journey from Omeo to Port Albert took many days whilst by steamship would take less than a day.  Topped with the fact that the merchants of Port Albert had become uncontrollably greedy, resulting in the cost of transport becoming prohibitive, until 1858 when a ray of hope arose when Malcolm Campbell steered his schooner the ‘Georgina Smith’, through the natural entrance in order to deliver his cargo of mainly flour, salt and building materials to the Omeo diggings via the Tambo River.  He had proven that under favourable conditions, the entrance could be navigated and that enormous transport savings could be effected.

The consideration of an artificial entrance at Jemmy’s Point was debated, consulted and attempted from the March of 1866 until its completion in 1889.  An Engineering TriumphThe Entrance with much of the original structure is still in use today . . .

 

View other important events in the history of Gippsland’s Steamers . . .

View other important events in this Region’s History . . .

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