Princes Pier

Port Melbourne’s historic Princes Pier was closed to public access in the early 1990s due to the poor deck and timber condition.

Initiated by Major Projects Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government, the Princes Pier restoration project saw the replacement of the first 196 metres of the pier’s deck, as well as refurbishment of its heritage listed gatehouse.

Head Contractor Fitzgerald Constructions Australia appointed A.G. Coombs to undertake mechanical works on the gatehouse, including the installation and commissioning of new exhaust systems and specialist air conditioning units that are cooled by the surrounding sea water.

The option of a sea water condenser system provided a more sustainable system by utilising a renewable energy source, yet installation proved particularly challenging. Many components had to be carefully sourced and tailor-made to suit the very specific design requirements, with the system having to pump, treat and filter the sea water.

The pier and its gatehouse reopened to the public in December 2011.