Charles Yelverton O'Connor was born in Ireland on 11 January 1843. At the age of 16, he began training as an Engineer in Dublin, where his abilities as a surveyor and in the management of people quickly became apparent. He moved to New Zealand at the age of 21 to further his engineering career, and by 1873 had risen to the position of Under Secretary for Public Works. O'Connor accepted the position as Engineer in Chief for Western Australia in 1891 when the colony was planning a major programme of public works. O'Connor was able to convince the Government that a river mouth harbour was the best option for Fremantle, and the first stage of the Fremantle Harbour Works began with a ceremony in which the Governor's wife, Lady Robinson, tilted the first truck load of rubble for the North Mole in November, 1892. Less than five years later, on May 4 1897, the harbour was officially opened when the SS Sultan steered by Lady Forrest berthed at South Quay. The development of the harbour was an achievement of tremendous importance to the future prosperity of Western Australia. C.Y. O'Connor's other great and enduring contribution to Western Australia was the Goldfields Water Scheme.

The Works at Arthur Head were completed in 1899

Pictured from the Town Hall. Battye Library 53312P

On November 16th 1892 Lady Robinson, wife of the Governor, Sir William Robinson, officially started the construction of North Mole by tipping the first load of Rocky Bay stone at Rous Head. By mid 1894 the North Mole was providing sufficient protection to permit the South Mole and the dredging to commence. The North Mole reached it's originally planned length of 2,934 feet on January 31st 1895. In December 1902 further extensions were completed bringing the total length of North Mole to 4,800 feet.

Pile driving using steam hammer, South Quay. Battye Library 980P

The black ball on the top of the flagstaff is a steamer signal and indicates that a steamer has been sighted off Rottnest Island.

Work platforms erected enabled 120 to 160 men to drill with complete safety using hand drills and jumpers in water up to 22 feet deep. Holes were drilled at exact intervals from 15 to 18 feet below low water mark and from 8 to 10 feet apart depending on the rock hardness. Battye Library 76932P

SS Sultan steered by Lady Forrest entering the harbour. Battye Library 1257P

In the late 1800's construction work on North Quay changed the landscape view from Arthur Head

The Long Jetty was built in 1873 and ran in a south-westerly direction for a length of 750 feet into 12 feet of water. A number of extensions were made, the last being in 1896 to allow the accommodation of an extra 2 vessels, pending the opening of the Inner Harbour. The final length was 3294 feet into 22 feet of water. The major part of the jetty was demolished by 1913. Demolition of the remaining portion was carried out in 1921.