There’s something about weathered timber and old things that really catch my attention. The Urangan Pier in Hervey Bay - what a beauty. The original 1107 (some say 1120) metre pier was built around 1913 as an extension of the Pialba railway line, transferring cargo between rail and ships. It was a deep water cargo-handling facility for exporting sugar, coal and timber. At the end of it were 2 large sheds, and could hold up to 2,000 tonnes of cargo.
Around 1985 the pier was in disrepair and the end was chopped off, leaving just over 860 metres. Over the years, locals rallied together and wanted the pier to be rebuilt with stronger pilons, replacing rotten timber and making the pier safe again.
Today, the pier is a majestic playground for fishing, walking, bird watching and I love it every time I visit Hervey Bay. Marine life such as dugongs, dolphins, stingrays and many varieties of fish have been spotted off the jetty. Prolific birdlife abounds: pelicans, brown boobies, seagulls, eastern osprey and crested pigeon, pied oystercatchers and other sea birds.
