Station Pier: Gateway to a new life was an exhibition held at Immigration Museum from 2004 to 2010. It provided a historical overview of Station Pier, including its early days as Railway Pier in the 1850s and its upgrade in the 1920s, which was a response to the growing needs of the city and port of Melbourne. It included personal stories, anecdotes, mementos and objects that told of immigrants’ journeys to Australia and represented Station Pier as an ongoing symbol for those who arrived there.
This online version captures a selection of the exhibition content, as well as exploring other Museum Victoria collection objects and images that reveal the history of Station Pier.
I went back two years ago and I stood on the actual spot where we got off the ship, and I was starting to shake because I could remember when we got off. I had hold of the children’s hands, and I was shaking, thinking where are we going, and no idea what we were going to do.Maureen Hallam migrated from England in 1964.
An Orient Line ship docks at Station Pier, 1929.
Source: Museo Italiano Historical Society
An Important Arrival Point
Station Pier was Melbourne’s most important arrival point for migrants. Since 1854, the site has welcomed and processed millions of anxious and excited new arrivals.
Today the pier represents the hopes, fears, joys and sorrows of all whose first memory of Melbourne was stepping onto its boards.
Crowds on Station Pier during public inspection of visiting British warships, Port Melbourne, Victoria, c 1925.
Image: Mrs Ryan
Source: Museum Victoria
Troops of the 18th & 28th Army Service Corps embarking for Egypt, Melbourne, Victoria, November 1916.
Source: Museum Victoria
Crowds waiting to board the USS Nevada at Station Pier during a visit to Melbourne by the American fleet, 1925.
Source: Museum Victoria