The revitalisation of Williamstown’s iconic Workshops Pier is a step closer, with the installation of 90 new steel piles now complete.
The much-loved community pier has undergone extensive works to strengthen its foundation, enabling it to once again accommodate tall ships and commercial vessels after a closure in 2021.
The installation of the piles, which total 1.7 kilometres of steel, form the strengthened foundation of the pier to ensure its safety, stability, and longevity for decades to come.
The longest pile measures 25 metres and was driven securely into the seabed through precise cut-outs in the existing concrete decking.
“Workshops Pier is a popular spot for events and it’s great to see works underway to improve safety and access on the pier,” Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said after inspecting the works on 10 December.
“I’m looking forward to unveiling this much-loved community asset once works are complete so residents and tourists can continue to enjoy this important part of our maritime history.”
Built in 1942, the Workshops Pier is a local landmark within Williamstown’s Seaworks maritime precinct and for decades served as the inner city’s only public port facility for large vessels.
In 2021, the pier was closed and fenced off after its structure was found to have deteriorated to the point where it was too dangerous to be used.
The repair work, funded as part of the state government’s $46 million upgrade program for piers and jetties across Victoria, commenced last month and is set to be complete in mid-2026.
