Fishermans Bend, Victoria
Fishermans Bend (formerly Fishermen's Bend) is a locality within the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne. It is located on the south of the Yarra River near the suburb of Port Melbourne and opposite Coode Island. Fishermans Bend originally included the area now known as Garden City, which was renamed in 1929.
Early settlement
From the 1850s, the lower reaches of the Yarra River known as 'Humbug Reach' and 'Fishermen's Bend' were occupied by fishermen of European descent. Some thirty families lived on the 'Bend', frequently finding additional work in the docks and cargo ships and loading ballast for ships returning to Europe. Habitation was in rough shacks along the Bend, made from corrugated iron, flattened kerosene tins or wood. There were no roads, shops, or sewerage. Water was collected from hanging out sail canvases, and stored in iron tanks or casks milk came from a nearby farm. Fishing continues on the Bay, but today only two fishing licences belong to descendants of these early pioneer settlers. The last remaining shack on the Bend was demolished in 1970, to make way for Webb Dock. The new Surf Life Saving Club headquarters stand on the site.
