Port Gemein - Home of the Longest Wooden Jetty in South Australia

Port Germein is just 6km from the turn off from Port Gemein Gorge Road via the Augusta Highway. It's also the home of South Australia's longest wooden jetty.

Primly located right at the top of the Spencer Gulf, Port Germein was once a very busy port exporting grain to Europe. It was not uncommon to see 12 to 14 sailing ships at anchor 800 metres offshore waiting for a good tide or berth at the jetty.

The seemingly endless Port Germein Jetty

The jetty was constructed in 1881 and in 1883 it was extended another 400 feet to measure 5,459 feet or 1,680 metres. Making it reputedly the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.

Goods were carted via bullock dray through the Port Germein Gorge from the Willochra Plains and beyond.

With the introduction of steam-powered ships, large sailing vessels fell out of favour. The era of the Windjammer and Port Germein as a trade hub ended.

Over the past 137 years the jetty has seen some very rough weather which has caused severe damage at times. The jetty was restored in 1953, 1975 and 1981 after being almost demolished through storms and very high tides. The jetty today measures 1,532 metres, shorter now by 148 metres.

This rare maritime clock was originally located near the entrance to the Port Pirie shipping channel at Cockle Spit. What is it you say? It's a Clock Faced Tide Gauge.

A float was attached to a pully wheel that would rise and fall with the tide and operate the gauge on the face of the clock. A chain and wheel mechanism inside the main structure directed the clocks hand to the appropriate channel depth measurement.

Behind the perspex face was a gas light which enabled sailors to see the reading at night.

The clock was lovingly restored in 2013 and now sits proudly at the entrance to the Port Gemein Jetty.

The light house was erected at the end of the Port Germein Jetty in 1894. Up until then, a "Lightship" was anchored at it's end that had a fixed light at each end. Two white sectors and one red.

The lighthouse was manned until 1917, when it was replaced with a flashing AGA light. In 1956 the light was severely damaged and ships that relied on it were now at severe risk when navigating the channel.

During its life time it was a bit of a "lovers lane" with many couples beginning their friendships in the lighthouse.

The lighthouse retired when the jetty did and was relocated to its current location in 1975 and restored in 2014.