St Kilda Pier Development & Information

St Kilda Pier & Breakwater offers panoramic views of Melbourne’s skyline and Port Phillip. It is also a popular fishing destination. Enjoy a snack at the heritage kiosk while on the pier or look out for penguins, rakalis (native water rats), and other wildlife from the breakwater.

St Kilda Pier was built in the early 1800’s as a working jetty. Later, the breakwater was constructed as a safe harbor for sailing events at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The start tower is still used today at the end the Breakwater.

St Kilda Ferry departs at St Kilda Pier, near the beginning of the pier. The ferry runs between St Kilda Pier and Station Pier Port Melbourne, Gem Pier Williamstown, as well as Station Pier Williamstown. Reservations are highly recommended. The ferry timetable can be found at www.stkildaferry.com.au

You may encounter hazards as piers and jetties exist in a natural setting. To ensure your visit to St Kilda Pier and Breakwater will be safe and fun, follow our advice on water safety. Public safety is the reason why jumping and diving from the pier or other structures are prohibited. There are shallow areas, and sometimes unexpected submerged objects.

The iconic St Kilda Pier is being rebuilt. The new St Kilda Pier offers locals and tourists better open space, better swimming spots and will preserve the historic kiosk. The current pier will be replaced by a new, curved pier with enhanced features to boost tourism and preserve the destination for future generations.

Parks Victoria, in partnership with Department of Transport, is undertaking an exciting reconstruction of the iconic St Kilda Pier.

The new design of the pier, chosen by the community will improve recreational space and allow more people to use it. The new pier will provide improved access to the bay for both the community and tourists, as well as better views of St Kilda, the city skyline and Little Penguins. It will also feature a wider, disability-compliant walkway, new restrooms, tiered seats and preservation of heritage features. The pier is made of concrete and wood and will extend 450 meters with a design life of 50 years.

Project funding

The Victorian Government has invested $53 million in this project.

Project timeline

September 2023 Update

Visitors to the area can now clearly see the outline of the new 450m pier. The work has been progressing well during the winter. It involved demolishing outer sections of the old pier in order to build the outer headstocks of the decking structure and the new pier. Here is a video from September 2023 .

Watch a video of the progress filmed in September 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD8bvB8WLlU

The state government are working hard to ensure the safety and well being of the little penguins and are doing a lot of work to ensure that there is minimal disruptions to them and their habitat.

About The Architects

JCB, Site Office Landscape Architects and AW Maritime are delivering the new St Kilda Pier. Developed through extensive collaboration with Parks Victoria, numerous stakeholders and specialist consultants, the proposed redevelopment will include a new pier and boat landing, communal seating terrace and pavilion, Little Penguin viewing boardwalk and retention of the much-loved heritage kiosk.

Across a 600-metre length of crafted engineering, the proposal places emphasis on enhancing the visitor experience via expanded recreational opportunities and playful public spaces, environmental and ecological protection and careful heritage integration.

The design respectfully considers the heritage aspects of the existing pier, including the St Kilda Pier Kiosk. The new community pavilion offers an arrival point and gateway to the Little Penguin platform, with its subtle curves referencing the Kiosk architecture.

Interesting read for wheelchair users: Best Power Wheelchair Reviews For Outdoor Use

Materials have been carefully considered for purpose and longevity, while integrating with the heritage elements. Timber offers warmth and comfort for sitting and reclining, mesh is used at the platform so visitors can almost feel the action underfoot as waves crash against rocks, while concrete enables a more tactile experience for climbing.

The new pier will help reduce the impacts of climate change over the next 50 years. It imperceptibly rises in height as you travel its length, making it more resilient to rising sea levels, while the wave wall is designed to respond to wave and climate change modelling and seeks to protect visitors.

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