Port infrastructure

The port handles a diverse range of containerised, general and bulk cargo at over 30 commercial berths.

Terminals

It is primarily a container port. Swanson Dock (established in 1969) is the leading international container terminal in Australasia. It handles around 36% of Australia’s container trade.

Australia’s largest automotive trade terminal is at the port and typically handles up to 1000 new motor vehicles per day.

Multipurpose terminals handle a variety of non-containerised pack types. These include farm equipment and machinery, and breakbulk commodities like timber, paper, iron and steel.

Port precinct

Overall, Port of Melbourne manages around 500 hectares of port land.

The port precinct, with most of its related infrastructure:

• extends west from the Bolte Bridge to the west bank of the Maribyrnong River
• south of the West Gate Freeway (M1) around Webb Dock.

Earlier locations

Earlier riverside quays for unloading and loading cargo moved downstream along the Yarra River for over a century as the city grew. This process got faster with the development of former port areas into today’s Docklands precinct.