Carlo designs the Promenade Pier at Williamstown

In 1910, Carlo Catani submitted plans for  a Promenade Pier at Williamstown.  The Williamstown Chronicle of September 24, 1910 had the following plan of the design.

Williamstown Chronicle  September 24, 1910

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69687639

The paper also had this report - Mr Catani,  Chief Engineer for Public Works, has prepared for the approval of the Council a scheme providing for an elliptic promenade at the back beach, three quarters of a mile in length, half of which would be on a pier having a depth of twenty feet at its maximum. This scheme was submitted in substitution for one suggested locally and laid before the Treasurer, that would not, it is stated, be so effective in bringing in money for maintenance, and which would cost about the same-£14,000. A platform which is provided for giving entertainments could also be utilised for landing passengers from ferry boats from the other suburbs. The pier is to be supported at each end by a breakwater, which would create still water, and increase the amount of sandy beach for the public. The land within the range of the scheme would, according to the plan, be improved by plantations and reserves where sports and pastimes could be carried out. About 20 acres would be thus dealt with. There is a pier and promenade of the same description at Durban, South Africa. It would cost about £700 a year for the maintenance and upkeep of the pier. Under skilful management, it is estimated that in time more than this sum would be raised in revenue, especially if increased railway facilities were provided. (Williamstown Chronicle  September 24, 1910)

The pier was never built at Williamstown. The article refers to the pier and promenade at Durban in South Africa and we can see what this looked like, by this postcard, below.  It appears that Carlo knew about the Durban pier, when he designed the Williamstown pier. The Williamstown Chronicle of January 29, 1921 published a letter to the Editor from Mr S. Byrne, a past councillor of Williamstown. There had apparently been recent discussion about the pier and Mr Byrne writes -  When Mr. Watt and his retinue met the council on the beach, none of us had a thought of a circular pier. Then Mr. Catani placed the proposal before us, showing the plan of a similar structure at Durban, and said the site was super-eminently adapted for such a structure, and that it could be built for £14, 000.  Assuming that Mr Byrne is telling the truth and we have no reason to believe that he is not, this clearly shows that Carlo was well familiar with the Durban pier and this was his inspiration for Williamstown. Mr Byrne's letter is well worth reading, he describes the pier in detail and also said that the pier should incorporate a War Memorial in the shape of an arch. Read it, here

It wasn't only Carlo that knew of the Durban pier,  a letter to the Editor of the Williamstown Chronicle of September 13, 1913 talked about Carlo's proposal and  Such a resort would have many and incalculable advantages for Williamstown,.... A friend of mine who visited a similar recreation resort at Durban, S.A., states that the promenade pier, baths, kiosks, music, &c., &c., there, formed the most enjoyable pleasure resort he struck during extensive travels in Europe. 

Postcard of 'Bathing Enclosure, Durban' sent from 'Jim' to Miss G Glaskun, Durban Natal, 26 May 1910.  

AWM 41 1621 - [Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of Arthur G Butler:] [Personal letters and photographs sent to Sydney Morning Herald Editor] Australian War Memorial AWM2017.6.244

South Africa not only influenced the design of the proposed Promenade pier at Williamstown, but it was mentioned as an influence for a proposed paddling pool at St Kilda in 1910. There was an article in the Prahran Telegraph of  January 29, 1910, talking about the proposed St Kilda Foreshore improvements - Among the improvements mentioned above are Paddling Pools. This is an idea brought from South Africa, and should prove very acceptable to parents of small children, who on the open beach are in danger of getting beyond their depth, and possibly of an interview with a shark. The pool is an artificial construction in the shore through which the waters of the bay will circulate. On the Golden Sands, being regulated by sumpts, so that the rising and the falling of the tide will scour the pool. Here the children will be in perfect safety, and may play to their hearts' content. As a matter of interest - another Letter to the Editor to the Williamstown Chronicle of November 22, 1913, when talking about Williamstown's Promenade Pier said that-  St. Kilda and Brighton have £8604 on the estimates for extending their promenade piers; Williamstown, nil. Allowing that this information is correct, what ever happened to the St Kilda and Brighton Promenade piers?

We do have  a Promenade Pier in Victoria, at Eastern Beach at Geelong. I assume that like Williamstown, Geelong was also influenced by the Durban pier. The Geelong people (or those that read the Geelong Advertiser anyway) were familiar with the Durban Pier or bathing enclosure as the Advertiser had published this article on March 16, 1917 - When the transport carrying some of the last Geelong boys to the Front stopped at South Africa, Pte. Stott bought picture postcards of the Esplanade and the Beach. He enclosed two to his father, Mr. E. G. Stott, of Moorabool-street, with an intimation that "they might be shown to the Editor of the "Advertiser." Notice the children's paddling ponds and shelters. Something like this would suit Geelong." Indeed, it would. It is what the "Advertiser" has contended for. Let us have a shelly beach, by all means; but also, we should give the children a lake of clean water to paddle in. The postcard will be reproduced in the "News of the Week." and no doubt the Harbor Trust Commissioners will add it to their scrapbook of illustrations of Up-to-date Coastal Towns. (Geelong Advertiser, March 16, 1917)   "News of the Week" - was, I believe, separately published newspaper by the Geelong Advertiser. The Geelong Advertiser also published a similar article on December 18, 1918, when another returned soldier showed the editor some photos of Durban.

This was published in News of the Week on April 5, 1917, presumably the postcard sent  by Private Stott, to his father, Mr E.G. Stott of Moorabool Street, referred to above. 

Image courtesy of Dr David Rowe, Authentic Heritage Services http://www.ah-services.com.au

The Victorian Heritage Database (VHD) says the 'Eastern Beach Bathing Complex' was constructed between 1928 to 1935. Eastern Beach represents an innovative example of the work of structural engineer and architect, Harry Hare, whose design for the Eastern Beach foreshore redevelopment works won the competition in 1924-5. The baths, including timber promenade and concrete children's pool were constructed to a plan drawn up by City Surveyor Ian McDonald in 1937 and is unique within Victoria. You can read the full citation, here.

Eastern Beach Geelong, c. 1950, Valentine postcard.

State Library of Victoria Image H99.155/79

The VHD mentions the foreshore redevelopment works which include a landscaped reserve with curved sea walls, circular promenade (baths), circular concrete children's pool, symmetry of the landscaping and structures about the staircase, original buildings, shelters, fountain, lamp standards and extensive original planting forms an area of consistent and quite outstanding character and it is the only known example within Victoria.

The Eastern Beach works can be seen in this great aerial  taken by Charles Daniel Pratt in 1939, shortly after it was completed.
State Library of Victoria Image H93.35/1

Even though Carlo did not design the Eastern Beach complex, I am sure he would have felt at home with the palm trees, and there would have been a few palm trees had his Williamstown Promenade Pier been constructed. And, how fabulous is this Stork Fountain?  

Geelong, c. 1961.  Nucolorvue Productions.

State Library of Victoria Image H99.140/6

Before we leave Promenade Piers,  we have found other accounts of  proposed circular piers - Coogee Beach in 1923, South Melbourne in 1923, Newcastle in 1929 and Burleigh Heads in 1935.

I have created a list of newspaper articles Trove on Carlo Catani and the Williamstown Promenade Pier, you can access it, here. All the articles I have referred to here are on the list. The State Library of Victoria has a lot of other photos of Eastern Beach at Geelong - www.slv.vic.gov.au