Beyond maritime trade, North Wharf has significant maritime heritage in relation to Antarctica. When the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) was established in 1947 to establish permanent Australian stations in the Antarctic for scientific research and exploratory work, ANARE chartered vessels from the Danish Lauritzen Line: the Kista Dan, later followed by the Thala Dan, the Magga Dan and the Nella Dan.

Multiple ANARE expeditions in these famous ‘Dan’ ships sailed back and forth from North Wharf until 1975 when the Charles Grimes Bridge closed that stretch of the Birrarung/Yarra to shipping. These well-loved ‘Dan’ ships provided construction materials for the Antarctic bases, scientific equipment for the research, food, and supplies for those ‘over-wintering’ at Australian stations in Antarctica.

At loading time before each ‘Dan’ departure, the area (which has become Seafarers Rest Park) was filled with helicopters, motorized sledges, crates of equipment and, most famously, a VW car painted red stand out against the white snow, aptly named the ‘Red Terror’.

When ANARE vessels could no longer travel upstream to North Wharf, Melbourne’s splendid and historic engagement with Antarctic exploration was at an end. The CSIRO Antarctic Division was re-located to Hobart in 1981.

FURTHER READING

• https://www.antarctic.tas.gov.au/why_is_tasmanias_antarctic_sector_important/history

IMAGE CREDIT
Magga Dan at Australia Wharf 1959, Public Record Office Victoria

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Good’s Shed on Berth No 5