Visit the Old Pipeworks by Boat

Maribyrnong River Jetty, Melbourne — pipe makers jetty, Maribyrnong River

Pipemakers Park is situated on the Maribrynong River approximately 1hr and 10 mins by boat from Docklands and accessible by a wharf that has been built so you can berth and go ashore and venture through the park. Take either a skippered cruise or a self-drive hire cruise on the Maribyrnong River, to this delightful attraction. Combine the trip with a Yarra River boat cruise, for a fantastic extended trip on Melbourne’s waterways.

Pipemakers Park is one of Melbourne’s oldest industrial sites with a rich history as a meat packing and preservation site and later as the name suggests pipe making.

From the 1840’s up until 1886 the site was home to Australia’s largest meat cannery. The large bluestone buildings which still exist today were used for making packing tins, cooking and packing the meat into tins, cooling and labeling ready for shipment down the Maribrynong River to the port for export overseas, mainly to the United Kingdom.

In 1912 Walter Hume (Hume Pipes) took over the bluestone buildings, establishing a concrete pipe factory. Between 1920 -1940 additional sheds were added and Hume Pipes became the largest concrete pipe manufacturing firm in the Southern Hemisphere, exporting its revolutionary pipe making technology across the world.

In 1978 Hume Pipes moved from the site to Laverton and in 1980 the site was purchased by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works and named Pipemakers Park and is now the home of the Living Museum of the West.

What to do

Stroll through the park
Visit the Living Museum of the West
Visit one of the regular exhibitions
Check out the historical bluestone buildings
Have a BBQ with free electric BBQ’s provided in the park
Watch the birdlife in the wetlands
Toilet facilities are located in the park

How to get there by boat

Book one of our self-drive hire boats and go on an adventure yourself, pack a picnic or BBQ lunch and make a day out to explore Melbourne’s history. Alternatively book a private cruise up the Maribrynong River and our expect staff will ensure your day out is a memorable one.

meat works information board, outlining the history and evolution of the building on the banks of the Maribyrnong River

old pipeworks factory, one of the sights on the Maribyrnong river boat cruise — pipeworks as seen on Maribyrnong river cruises, Melbourne

pipemakers factory door, an attraction you can visit by boat on the Maribyrnong river

day visitor picnic facility, on the maribyrnong river cruise, melbourne

an insight into historical information on the old Maribyrnong River Hume Pipeworks factory

We accept the following online payment methods

Melbourne Boat Hire respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters we operate on, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundejeri Woi Wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pays respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.