Stothert & Pitt cranes

The place where the re-furbished crane will be erected is being prepared. Of course, that is not the original location which is illustrated in the photograph below

image courtesy of Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

The cranes look like giant industrial giraffes. The heritage architects, as required by Heritage Victoria, have photographed the cranes where they lay in a paddock prior to their re-assembly - abandoned, rusted and evocative. What a task to restore them! But once restored, they will probably look better than they did in 1980.
The cranes are represented in the Jan Senbergs paintings currently on exhibition in the gallery space at the Port Melbourne Town Hall. Sendbergs had a studio in Bay St in the 1980s where he painted this series - known as the Port Liardet Limner. He was intrigued by Liardet's story and his paintings. Like Liardet, and so many others, he began his Australian journey here.

Jan Senbergs Port Liardet Limner 

Be quick if you want to see them because they will make way for the Society's exhibition to accompany the soon to be released The Borough and its People - Port Melbourne 1839 to 1939. 

4 April 2013
Work has begun on the the installation of the Stothert & Pitt crane at the finger pier, Station Pier.