Summer has arrived, and Phillip Island is buzzing with visitors enjoying the sun and sea. As you walk down Thompson Avenue and cross the lively Esplanade, you'll find a charming little yellow shack with green doors and a distinctive red bow roof tucked behind the Cowes Jetty Triangle: the Cowes Jetty Goods Shed.
It's hard to miss, this humble structure is the first building greeting passengers disembarking from the ferry.
Built in 1873, the Cowes Jetty Goods Shed was once the lifeblood of the island. Back when the sea was Phillip Island's only link to the mainland, it securely housed goods, materials, and maritime gear-everything from household essentials to supplies for local industries. For the residents, it was indispensable; for mariners, it was a safe haven for their tools and equipment.
Its distinctive bow roof and unassuming design have stood the test of time, making the building a rare gem of 19th-century industrial architecture. As the Phillip Island Historical Society notes, "Today, it is celebrated not only for its functionality but as a rare architectural piece, holding state and local heritage value as one of the last of its kind."
