Douglas Wharf (first generation) [????-1894]

Submitted by Klaus on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 21:29
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date closed / demolished

Update 2022-12-07

Douglas Wharf was a T-shaped pier that stood at the praya opposite Marine Lot 10. This is at (todays) Des Voeux Road between the junctions with Chiu Lung Street and Douglas Lane(sic!). Opposite the pier was the building on 28 Des Voeux Road Central, owned by Douglas Lapraik & Co shipping company.

Duke of Edinburgh at Pedder's Wharf
Duke of Edinburgh at Pedder's Wharf, by Klaus

 

The pier was destroyed during the 1874 typhoon .

Praya & Douglas Wharf destroyed by Typhoon 1874.jpg
Praya & Douglas Wharf destroyed by Typhoon 1874.jpg, by danielwettling

The pier was reconstructed after the typhoon.

Douglas Wharf 1880s
Douglas Wharf 1880s, by Klaus

 

It stood there until the 1890/1900 reclamation started. The Japan Daily Mail from 28 April 1894 refers:

On the 17th the last steamer left the old Douglas Wharf, and it is expected that a start will be made soon with the demolition of the P. & O. and Pedder's Wharves.

Tags

Photos that show this Place

1869
Damage caused by the 1874 typhoon, Praya, Hong Kong
1874
1. Destruction of HMS Flamer & 2. Destruction Amongst the Shipping
1874
See more photos of this place

Comments

Hi Klaus,

I'm not sure if the pier was connected with a shipyard. Do you know if the shipyard mentioned on Wikipedia was off Queen's Road in Central, or Queen's Road in Wanchai? I haven't seen any evidence one way or the other, but Wanchai seems more likely.

Regards, David

Lapraik's shipyard was at Burrow & Mallory Street. (they also bought a shipyard at westpoint on Queens Road by the gasworks in 1877.)

Douglas Lapraik bought the Whampoa Dock in Canton from Couper and set up the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd. (HKWDC) in 1863. When the Hope Dock began operation, the Lamont Property Limited was formed as a subsidiary company under the HKWDC. The whole Aberdeen Docks were in the hands of the HKWDC in 1864, which also owned a spar-yard in Wan Chai just next to Thomas Hunt & Co.[7] (Burrow Street and Mallory Street today).

Source

The sourced site has a very comprehensive history of early Hong Kong shipbuilding and the marine department in general.

You both are right. I was wondering when I read this Wiki entry and thought it must have been a yard off Queen's Road before the 1866 reclamation started. But even this might be incorrect and I misinterpreted the Wiki entry. I will delete this part.