Largs Bay Jetty
Largs Pier Hotel
Semaphore Palais
Waterslide Complex
Carousel
Tourist Train
Semaphore Jetty
War Memorial Clock
Timeball Tower
Semaphore Hotels
Semaphore Library
Churches
Odeon Star Cinemas
The Semaphore Jetty
Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio
The Semaphore Jetty
The Council first started building The Semaphore Jetty in 1859 and it was completed in1860. It was a very popular spot for young people. In 1873 the original jetty was extended to a length of 2138 feet long which passed the blue line (the blue line is where the water changes colour and gets deeper. Small craft launched from bigger ships moored at the anchorage could dock at the jetty.
A kiosk at the end of the jetty was a two storey building. The main floor was a restaurant divided in two sections. One side for males and the other side for females. The upper floor of the Kiosk was a splendid dance hall where many couples would mingle. The Kiosk was built in 1814. It was burned down on the 10th of April 1947, What was left of it was demolished in 1948.
At the end of the Jetty was a tide gauge which when the tide rose the gauge would rise and when the tide lowered the gauge would lower. There was a signal station where a signal man would watch the gauge through a telescope and change his signals accordingly.
The Jetty was built with many large wooden planks. The wood is different to other jetties because it lasts a lot longer than many other jetties. Over the years many violent storms have caused damage to the jetty. The length of the Jetty today is currently 1918 feet.
Functions that that are now held at the jetty are on Australia Day and on New Years Eve there are fireworks. Families gather and have dinner on the beach and celebrate a new year, and in the morning of the new year there are all games for the kids.
We think the council should extend the jetty and build some small kiosks at the end of the jetty because it would be a great attraction and lots of people from all around would come and visit Semaphore. Of course it would cost a lot to build.
Tim & Chris