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The article surveys the growth of the Government Dockyard at Port Adelaide from its establishment in 1858. It reports that the yard now employs 300 men, has three iron furnaces,and a pipe moulding facility serviced with overhead cranes. A dredge and a barge are in the process of being overhauled.

The Government Dockyard was established as an initiative of Captain Bloomfield Douglas, Harbormaster and Governor Sir Henry Fox Young. This was forward planning as at this time the government had only the one harbour boat and some buoys to maintain.

The Dockyard expanded rapidly under the capable management of William Taylor. The need for dredging in the Port River and elsewhere around the colony, such as at Ports Pirie and Augusta, led to the construction of dredgers and barges. A description of the yard follows: manager's office with charts of the coasts and plans for vessels under construction or in the planning stages; the brass foundry where taps and fittings are manufactured for the waterworks; in another foundry pipes are manufactured also for the waterworks. There is a smith's shop and a workshop for carpenters. Dredgers are being overhauled, the steam launch Victoria awaits a new boiler.

Taylor, William, d.1884

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. Wooden Walls and Iron Sides August 2004-