A forgotten piece of Melbourne’s maritime history has been brought back to life thanks to a major remediation project led by Duratec.
The North Wharf Shipping Control Tower was once a hub for coordinating shipping and emergency services. The structure has now undergone a transformative restoration with heritage at the heart.
A Tower with a Story
Built in 1966 to replace an earlier timber structure, this 32-metre reinforced concrete tower used to house radar equipment, communication systems, and amenities for constant shipping operations. It was decommissioned in 1994 and the tower sat unstirring for decades until Development Victoria commissioned Duratec to restore it.
The tower has drawn increasing interest from Heritage Victoria, despite not being officially heritage listed.
This prompted swift action to preserve this structure before restrictions could complicate restoration efforts.
Towering challenges
To restore the tower, Duratec’s scope included:
- Removal of hazardous materials and asbestos
- Strip-out of internal rooms and outdated equipment
- Removal of existing render
- Removal of existing swing stage and track
- Concrete repairs and full re-rendering
- Replacement of windows and doors
- Waterproofing of roof and balconies
- Restoration of the iconic crow’s nest
- Installation of lightning protection systems
- Installation of new security fencing
Project Manager, Nicholas Duong, and Supervisor, Sean Hema, were key players in navigating the complex logistics and unexpected challenges. Such surprises included discovering severely corroded components and coordinating the removal of the old crow’s nest, requiring two 250-tonne cranes. High pressure engineering
The tower’s location on the wharf exposed it to high winds and harsh weather. Specialist scaffolding was installed to withstand gusts of up to 67 km/h. Wide bays and shade cloth mesh was added to the scaffolding to protect workers and to help maintain structural integrity.
“The reach of the cranes and the weight-bearing capacity of the dock were major concerns.” Nicholas raised. “We had to consult our engineers to ensure everything was safe and compliant.”
What’s next on the horizon?
The restoration was timed perfectly and was completed before the tower’s anticipated heritage listing. This allowed Duratec to use modern materials and finishes, such as a simplified render that would help to reduced maintenance costs.
While early ideas for the tower included converting the top deck into a café or an art gallery, budget and compliance constraints have paused such ambitions. Despite delayed dreams, the tower is now standing ready for anything, surrounded by new developments and poised to become a permanent resident in the Docklands community.
Safety and standards
Another surprise for the team was undergoing three major safety audits in six months, all passed without issue. “That’s rare (number of visits).” said Jeremy Foo, who oversaw the site’s safety compliance. “It speaks volumes about our team’s professionalism.”
Stakeholder collaboration
With many eyes on the docklands, the project involved extensive coordination with stakeholders including:
- Development Victoria
- Heritage Victoria
- Transurban (due to proximity to the Bolte Bridge)
- Hickory (a neighbouring builder)
- Local tenants and volunteers operating the Enterprize
The team even relocated its entire site setup to accommodate Hickory’s truck movements, showcasing flexibility and teamwork.
A client connection
Emma Dean, the client liaison, was deeply involved throughout the project. “She treated it like her baby,” Nicholas praised. “She was supportive, responsive, and proud of the outcome.”
Emma added “it was reassuring coming to site, knowing that I could speak openly to the team about the complexities of the project, what issues had arisen over the last 24- hours (and you could never predict what!) and that I could trust the explanations of the issues and recommendations that the Duratec team gave me.
“The team were always responsive, paid attention to the details and all worked to get the best outcome for the project.” shared Emma. “It really was a once in a generation opportunity to restore a mid-century piece of transport history.
Once in a generation
The team shared a number of highlights working on such an iconic piece of transport history.
Sean’s highlight was simply arriving at the site each morning: “The lights of the Bolte Bridge, the rowers on the river, it was a beautiful way to start the day.”
Jeremy added, “Being part of a project with such historical and visual significance, and working with a client who truly cared, made it special.”
A legacy preserved
This restoration was more than just a project, it was a celebration and commitment to Melbourne’s maritime depth; all made possible through a triumph of collaboration, dedication and support.
This Docklands icon is now safe, restored, and standing tall.
