The last day

When the container ship the Southern Moana discharged her last cargo on Friday night September 28, Darling Harbour ceased to be a working berth

.

The area affectionately known as the Hungry Mile will no longer be host to working wharves.

"These working berths were constructed around 1811 when the congestion caused by the Wind Clippers and Wool Jammers in Sydney Cove prevented the efficient movement of cargo. It is the end of an historic era that stretches back almost 200 years in this place that lies at the centre of our maritime heritage and culture," said Warren Smith, Sydney Branch Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia.

"Many great battles were fought on this amazing part of Australia's industrial landscape. The gains made by workers in this area were enormous as were the battles that characterised the internationalism of Australia's wharfies and seafarers," he said.

Maritime workers resisted governments sending pig iron to Japan prior to World War II fought for Indonesian independence and opposed the war in Vietnam. The Hungry Mile outside the Darling Harbour wharves was the scene of huge community protests during the 1998 Patrick dispute.

The Hungry Mile will continue in a different form with an agreement with the NSW State Government recognising the historic significance of the area.

The MUA and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority will release details of the agreement about the Hungry Mile in the New Year.

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Another sad day in the history of the waterfront is on our doorstep. As of October 12 the Darling Harbour site has been devoid of any shipping and any waterside workers. It upset me that Labor governments were the ones to turn their back on over 100 years of stevedoring in this port.

Bob Carr as Premier once was quoted as saying he wanted Sydney (Darling Harbour) to be kept as a working harbour for the people to appreciate. He only seemed to change his mind when his party was cash strapped prior to the election.

His quick fix was selling it without consultation. It will now be a millionaires' row where the only acknowledgement of the blood, sweat and tears of the waterside workers is renaming Hickson Rd "The Hungry Mile".

The government is also moving the goal posts to fast track the closure of Glebe Is terminal to make way for fish markets (it originally had a contract till 2010 plus).

The movement of all cargo to Port Kembla will effect more than the workers at Darling Harbour. The cost now of transferring cars, cargo and heavy machinery back to Sydney will directly go to the added price we will all have to pay. Not to mention the wear and the tear on the trucks that will have to be updated to travel up Mt. Ousley Road, and the fact that workers will be asked to travel down to Port Kembla to work meaning again time less spent with family and friends.

The memories of the characters I have met - the good and let's say the indifferent - will stay with me forever. After 26 years on the waterfront it will be a very sad day.

Ian (The Kid) Phillips

Coogee