Wednesday 4 September 2013

FAIRFIELD BOATHOUSE

Fairfield boathouse was established in 1908 by John St Clair as a picnic, camping and refreshment room area. John St Clair was a piano tuner from Smith street Fitzroy, with a vision. He firstly wrote a letter to the Premier suggesting that he open a refreshment room and boat shed area, with motor boats at Fairfield Park.The Premier had to seek the approval form Yarra Bend Hospital of the Insane because the proposal for the boat shed was actually on the hospital grounds. The Premier gave his permission for the boat shed project to go ahead.

Mr St Clair built the boat shed and six years later Fairfield Park was set aside from the same grounds. However, Mr St Clair had seven troubled years with Crown Bailiffs over building permits. Eventually in 1915 the Heidelberg council bought him out.In 1923 the boathouse was raised by 12 feet to help minimise flood damage, a frequent threat to boathouses along the Yarra.

Boat and canoe carnivals and open air carnivals were common sights at Fairfield until the 1950’s. Boating popularity declined until finally the Fairfield boathouse was closed in 1980 as it was declared unfit for human habitation.In 1985 the boathouse was restored and re-opened. The derelict building had recently housed squatters and possums. The project took 30,000 hours of restoration work. Meticulous work and an eye for detail was required for rebuilding. Even the gardens have been restored to encourage native birds.

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,

and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme.






5 comments:

  1. Nice, I loved seeing this slice of your world...the boat is a nice focus and colorful

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  2. A building is so stylish. It looks like a grand retreat by the river. Lovely views.

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  3. Looks like a nice place to spend the day.

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  4. Will love the ride for sure as long as no gators around hehehe.

    Thank you for joining Water World Wednesday
    Kim,USA

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