Station Pier has reopened its doors to the public seven days a week, giving Melburnians and visitors more time to wander one of Port Melbourne’s most historic waterfront landmarks.
The pier is now open from 7am to 5pm daily, except when ship operations are taking place, following the completion of a major program of maintenance and preservation works.
The Victorian Government announced the expanded public access on Monday, with Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne saying the change would give people more opportunities to experience the pier.
“We have increased public access at Station Pier—giving locals, tourists and recreational fishers more time to enjoy what this iconic pier has to offer,” Horne said.
A bigger window onto Port Phillip Bay
For anyone who remembers Station Pier’s long closure, the return of regular public access marks another step in bringing the landmark back into everyday Melbourne life.
The pier first reopened to limited public access in October 2025, when people could visit on weekends and public holidays, subject to cruise operations. Now, weekday access means visitors can make the most of the waterfront throughout the week.
The southern end of the pier can be reached via the central access way, while vehicles displaying accessible parking permits can enter via a designated access point. Limited accessible parking is available at the southern end.
A piece of Melbourne maritime history
Station Pier has been part of Melbourne’s waterfront since 1854, when it became an important gateway for ships, passengers and new arrivals.
Its story stretches from the great ocean liners and postwar arrivals to today’s cruise ships, making the pier one of the city’s most evocative links with its maritime past.
The latest works have helped preserve that history while keeping the pier operating as a modern port facility. They included refurbishment of the Gatehouse, work on structural pylons and electrical systems, corrosion protection and repairs to the wharf deck.
Horne said the completion of the essential works would allow the public to spend more time at the landmark. “Now that essential works are now completed, we are looking forward to having Victorians visit and enjoy Station Pier seven days a week,” she said.
Cruise ships will still shape access
Station Pier remains a working cruise and shipping terminal, so public access will continue to depend on ship movements.
Demand for the pier remains strong, with 63 vessel visits currently scheduled for the 2026/27 cruise season. An increasing number of cruise ships are also choosing to home port in Melbourne.
That means the pier will continue to have moments when the public cannot enter, but on open days visitors can once again experience the end of Port Melbourne’s waterfront for themselves.
For Nina Taylor, Member for Albert Park, expanding weekday access should also bring more people into the area. “Station Pier is a great asset for locals and tourists, and weekday public access will help attract even more visitors to the area,” Taylor said.
What to know before you go
Station Pier is now open 7am–5pm, seven days a week, when no ship operations are taking place.
Visitors can walk to the southern end via the central access way, while accessible vehicle entry and limited parking are available for people with the appropriate permits.
The reopening offers a simple way to spend time by the bay by taking a walk along the historic pier, watching vessels move through Port Phillip, or lingering for the views back towards Melbourne.
For a landmark that has spent years behind closed gates, Station Pier is once again part of the city’s everyday waterfront with considerably more time to explore it.
