History

Sydney Ports Corporation was established in 1995 after a series of reforms to the former Maritime Services Board (MSB) aimed at taking a greater commercial and customer focused approach to the management of international shipping.

A History of the Ports of Sydney

From the time Sydney was established as a penal settlement in 1788, the appeal of the location was the harbour and its water supply from the Tank Stream. Those features drew Britain's Captain Arthur Phillip to disembark his mostly convict First Fleet party of 1,500 at Sydney Cove. Over the ensuing two centuries, the beauty and potential of Sydney Harbour, also known as Port Jackson, attracted settlers, traders, visitors and business people whose energy, innovation and vision contributed to the city's growth.

The history of port management in New South Wales dates back as far as 1811 when the first harbour master was appointed to control the Port of Sydney.

In 1901 the Sydney Harbour Trust was formed to take over and develop the privately owned wharves of Sydney following a period of ramshackle development that contributed to the outbreak of bubonic plague the previous year.

These arrangements continued until 1936 when the MSB was established to coordinate under one authority all port and navigation services for NSW, with the exception of Port Kembla, eventually transferred in 1948.

1960s and 1970s

During the 1960s, the MSB embarked on a ten-year plan to redevelop Darling Harbour. With the growth of container trade making increasing demands on wharf space and facilities, the MSB commenced feasibility studies on the development of Botany Bay.

Construction of Port Botany began in 1971 and opened in December 1979. Port Botany is now the site of Sydney's two major stevedoring facilities and bulk liquid facilities.

Formation of Sydney Ports Corporation

From 30 June 1995, the Maritime Services Board was abolished under the Port Corporations and Waterways Management Act 1995, now known as the Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995, bringing an end to a chapter in the history of Sydney Harbour and the ports of New South Wales.

The change resulted in independent port corporations being formed for Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney.

Sydney Ports Corporation now operates as a State-owned Corporation.

Celebrating 100 Years

Sydney Ports Corporation published a book in 2002 entitled First Port Future Port Celebrating 100 Years. It salutes the evolution of what is now Sydney Ports Corporation and is a valuable contribution to the maritime history of the city and the state.

Note: this publication is currently out of print