24 January 2024:
Finally got to see the new Brook(e)s Jetty at St Kilda Beach, near Luna Park, completed early 2022. It’s a nice idea, a 20m circular platform, with seating, and a floor largely of grating, with water sloshing below. Don’t know what it’s coated with, but it wasn’t hot on this hot day. The parts are very clunky concrete and stainless steel, all low maintenance long lasting I guess, but we’re lucky to have anything at all ! It’s only there due to a vigorous campaign by locals as Bring Back Brooks Jetty, formed when the old narrow timber original was suddenly demolished in 2015 by Parks Victoria, due to ‘safety issues’ (or just cost / maintenance issues). The jetty had been built in about 1910, named after fisherman Fred Brookes who had a boat shed on the beach, taking advantage of a timber lined main drain which poked out into the bay. It had been well used since then, for fishing, swimming and general delight. In 2019 Melbourne Water decided to rebuild the drain too, and was eventually persuaded to add a new jetty, and all stakeholders agreed on the circular platform idea. Just a pity it doesn’t have a bit more character. Last 4 pics from Bring Back Brooks Jetty Facebook page, B& W aerial is from c1920.
Storey of Melbourne 