OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Mornington Yacht Club 1990

DATE1990

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society

REG NO.1280.3

HISTORY

In mid 1964, the Council decided to reclaim 3 and a half acres of backwater beach adjacent to Mornington pier. Although it was sandy, the water was only inches deep and usually covered with unpleasant scum. The Mornington Yacht Club urgently wanted a place near the harbour where its members could slip boats, store them in a yard, build a clubroom and be near the the safe harbour. At the time they were housed in a boat house at Shire Hall Beach and an old army hut at the jetty. The council resolved that they should have 1 and a half acres of the reclaim and the rest would be be car parking. A launching ramp would be provided for trailed boats. Considerable delay was experienced getting approval from government departments and during that time a scale model was built and displayed in Carter’s Pharmacy in Main Street. Finally in 1966 the work was done, and documents were presented to the Council for the Yacht Club lease. There was some objection to this, and talk of “privilege” among a handful of people. Cr. Wilson said he had understood the reclaim was for everyone, he did not understand why a handful of yachties should have occupation of this valuable piece of foreshore. Leake accused Wilson of jumping on a bandwagon because it was election year. The Yacht Club got the land, but enmity remained.

DESCRIPTION

This shows a view of the Yacht Club from the water on the left of the photo. It is a two storey building with a lookout tower on the right at the end. There are verandas on both levels. On the top level there is a banner stretched across the entire length of the building. It says “Welcome to the Mornington Yacht Club”. The building has a brick coloured colourbond roof. In the centre of the photo is the little blue restaurant which has a distinctive roof It has four pitched sections. In the foreground there are several small boats. Some of the boats are sailing and some motor boats. Across the centre of the photo is the rock retaining wall. There is a man working on a yacht on the quayside. There are a couple of flag poles in view too. The sky is a deep blue. There is a glimpse of the obelisk on the hill on the right.

SUBJECTS

Clubs and associations, Yacht clubs

KEYWORDS

Clubs and associations, Leake, Peter, Mornington, Mornington Shire, Mornington Yacht Club, Shire Hall Beach, Wilson, C B, Yacht clubs