Constructed between 1912 and 1915.Until 1969 it was an arrival point for new migrants during the post-war period it was also the departure point for Australian soldiers off to both world wars,. On opening, the pier was linked by rail to the Port Melbourne line.

The pier fell into disuse with the onset of containerisation , it was closed to public access in the early 1990s, as the pier itself had begun to deteriorate. Squatters apparently caused a fire in the late 1990s that destroyed the store structures.

A refurbishment estimated to cost $14 million was announced by the State Government in April 2006, A full restoration was estimated at $60 million.

It is currently under construction and access to the pier is still denied, the pillars in the foreground of the shot are still without boards.