Harvey Beach jetty reopens in time for summer

The popular Harvey Beach jetty in North Fremantle has been reopened to the public following repairs by the City of Fremantle.

The timber jetty has long been a popular spot for fishing and swimming, with bombies off the jetty into the Swan River something of a North Fremantle tradition.

The jetty was closed to the public in July 2019 after an assessment of the supporting piles found them to be badly degraded, leaving the jetty structurally unsound and a risk to public safety.

The repairs included strengthening and protecting the jetty piles from further degradation, replacing worn and damaged deck boards and replacing the jarrah handrail.

Surplus timber from the jetty was donated to the Fremantle Men’s Community Shed to be used in future woodwork projects.

Men’s Shed Treasurer Garvin Crozier said they were delighted to get the chance to re-use the timber.

“We’re always on the lookout for materials we can salvage, and the Harvey Beach jetty is an important part of Fremantle’s heritage,” Mr Crozier said.

“It’s always nice to be able to repurpose timber that comes from a special source because it gives the new work a bit of a back story and makes it more meaningful.

“I’m sure some of the creative people at the Men’s Shed will be able to find a use for the timber that will be a fitting tribute to the jetty and all the people that have enjoyed it over the years.”

Harvey Beach has always been a popular swimming spot for the locals, where North Fremantle children have traditionally gathered in the hot summer for a swim after school.

There has been a jetty at the beach for more than 100 years, although the original structure was demolished in the 1980s to make way for the WA Water Police base.