This former boat shed was constructed in 1905
to a standard design developed for the Geelong Harbour Trust by Seeley and King,
Geelong architects. The standard design resulted from a need to improve the type
and quality of boat shed on the Barwon Heads foreshore. The Geelong Advertiser
reported in 1906 that until the Geelong Harbour Trust had decided to bring the sheds
up to a 'proper standard', there were a 'nondescript class of boat sheds ...
erected at Barwon Heads', being 'built from packing cases and the lining of packing
cases.' These sheds measured 30 feet by 12 feet, and 'had a comfortable living room
in front and bedrooms behind, but contained no sanitary facilities of any kind, nor
were they constructed in accordance with the building regulations of the township. Nevertheless, many of the sheds were elaborately furnished and had electric light installed.' By 1925 around 60 licences had been granted at £5 per annum to residents of Geelong, Ballarat, Melbourne and other localities, with the line of sheds stretching from near the present jetties and Fishermens' Co-operative sheds to Ozone Road.
This shed appears to have been constructed for W. Sadler in 1905. Sadler had two boat sheds on the foreshore, numbering 39 and 40
The Harbour Trust's leasing
of the foreshore allotments for the boat sheds was carried out without first obtaining the
consent of the Governor-in-Council as required by the Act. With the increase of
licensees of the sheds staying for longer periods and more sheds being constructed,
the local people became alarmed that their beach was being overtaken. The fact that the
sheds were in breach of the Act was used by the residentsto bring about their
removal. From 1920 until 1935, controversy raged between the local residents, Harbour
Trust, Health Commission, the Government and the licensees of the sheds as to the validity
of the structures on the foreshore. Finally, in 1935-36 financial year, the Lands
Department renewed the boatsheds' licenses for the last time, as Cabinet had bowed
to public pressure and stopped the further leasing of the foreshore land. The first boatshed to leave the Barwon Heads foreshore occurred on 5 June, 1936, owned by Mrs Waiter Kernot. Over half of the 56 boatsheds were later relocated to Ocean Grove.
This 'Barwon Heads example later formed the basis for a uniform policy on private occupation of foreshore throughout the State.' This boat shed was therefore removed in 1936.