Famous photo of pile light burning in 1976. 73318 Picture: Supplied by Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
By Vanessa Chircop
MEMBER for Western Metropolitan Region Bernie Finn has jumped on the Point Gellibrand pile light bandwagon, raising the issue in Parliament earlier this month.
The National Trust has decided to place the iconic lighthouse outside the Melbourne Convention Centre in South Yarra, despite strong objections from Hobsons Bay City Council and the Williamstown community.
The council has been in a battle with the National Trust for several years over the light, which was manufactured on Nelson Place in the 1860s.
It graced Williamstown’s skyline for almost 120 years until June 1976, when it was hit by the Melbourne Trader, a vessel of 7000 tonnes.
It was set alight on 23 June 1976 but not before the lantern and dome of the light were salvaged.
Mr Finn raised the matter in Parliament this month calling on the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy to “talk some sense” into the National Trust and have the pile light returned to Williamstown.
“I do not understand why the National Trust would want to take the Gellibrand pile light, which should be in Gellibrand, and place it outside the Melbourne Convention Centre, which is some considerable way from where historically the pile light should be,” he said. “I ask the Minister to take that appropriate action, to negotiate with the National Trust, with Heritage Victoria, and do what he must to ensure that the Gellibrand pile light is returned to where it belongs.”
