About the port

Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest capital city container and general cargo port, handling more than one-third of the nation’s container trade. We operate as a landlord port and are responsible for planning, operating and maintaining port land and shipping channels. We ensure the port has the capacity and capability needed to handle cargo, and that facilities and infrastructure are developed and maintained as needed.

Located in the heart of Melbourne, among growing communities, vital industrial precincts and transport corridors, we are the cornerstone of Victoria’s port freight transport network, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Melbourne has continued to develop and evolve closely around the port, supporting the prosperity of thousands of businesses and the daily lives of many people across south-eastern Australia.

With the necessary port facilities and transport connections to handle each of the major trades, the Port of Melbourne serves as a vital freight hub for Australia, including southern New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

For general facts and figures about the port, click here.

For trade data, click here.

Who we are
The port was previously operated by Port of Melbourne Corporation, a Victorian Government entity. In 2016, Port of Melbourne Operations Pty Ltd was awarded a 50-year lease of the Port of Melbourne by the Victorian Government. The Port of Melbourne Group is owned by a consortium of shareholders with local and global expertise in delivering world-class port and infrastructure facilities and services.

Stevedore operations are undertaken by our tenants, who are not employees of Port of Melbourne.

The Port of Melbourne’s footprint does not include Station Pier, or cruise ship operations.

Ports Victoria
Ports Victoria (formerly known as Victorian Ports Corporation Melbourne) is a statutory authority created by the Victorian Government in 2016 following the successful completion of the lease of the commercial operations of the Port of Melbourne.

Ports Victoria’s responsibilities include the management of commercial shipping in Port Phillip, safe navigation in the port waters of the port of Melbourne, waterside emergency and marine pollution response, and the management of Station Pier as Victoria’s premier cruise shipping facility.

The critical work of the Harbour Master also resides with Ports Victoria. More details can be found on their website.