The One Mile Jetty is located on Babbage Island in Carnarvon, Western Australia. Construction began in 1897 by contractors Atkins and Law and was completed in 1904.
The timber jetty is 1493 m long or 1.6km and is the longest jetty in the north-west of the State. It became the first port in Australia to transport livestock by sea and was used as a deep- seaport for shipment of local produce & wool to Perth. Originally, horses were used to pull cargo trucks and passenger carriages along the jetty to and from the ships and into town. The horses were later replaced by steam and diesel-powered wagons.
Between 1910-1916, Aboriginals who were diagnosed with leprosy were transported from the jetty to Dorre and Bernier Islands, where leper hospitals were located. By 1976 the jetty ceased operations after a new Small Boat Harbour was built.
Surprisingly the jetty is still in good condition, though the ‘sea sections’ and ‘head’ are starting to deteriorate. Since 1998 the jetty has been under restoration and you can sometimes see the maintenance train chugging along the line. The One Mile Jetty is now a popular fishing spot for the locals who catch Mulloway, Tailor and Brim all year round. You can walk the full length of the jetty or you can take a ride on the “Coffee Pot” train all the way to the end. One of the best times to take a stroll along this icon is when the sun is about to set. If you get down low you can see the train lines slightly warped.
Jetty Damaged
On the 27th of October 2011, a fire damaged a section of the jetty causing $40,000 worth of damage. The fire was spotted by an early morning jogger who alerted the caretaker. Police have not ruled out arson.
Jetty Closure
In late 2017 the historical Jetty was closed indefinitely following a structural investigation. The rot had well and truly set in! The original estimate for repairs was around $5 million but that figure has blown out to around $42 million. The community is hoping to raise enough to keep at least a portion of it open. Read more One Mile Jetty Closure Shock.
