Canals in Australia are particularly rare although there are a few navigable waterways or other types of canals in the country. The following list provides a summary of known navigable waterways and other types of constructed or artificial waterways in Australia.
Hawthorne Canal is an artificial waterway on a southern tributary of the Parramatta River, west of Sydney Harbour. It was constructed from January 1890 to improve drainage and provide ferry access operated by the Drummoyne – Leichhardt Ferry Company.
Berry's Canal
Berry's Canal was Australia's first transport canal. In June 1822, Alexander Berry sailed his 15-tonne cutter Blanche from Sydney 150 km down the south coast to the Shoalhaven loaded with tools and provisions. Hamilton Hume, who later became a well-known explorer, was also on board. On 21 June 1822, the entrance to Shoalhaven Heads appeared dangerous and four men volunteered to test it in the cutter's boat. The boat capsized drowning two of the men. Berry then sailed up the Crookhaven River but was stopped by a sand spit. Undaunted, the crew hauled the Blanche across the spit. Four days later Hamilton Hume was left with three men at the isthmus to cut a passage using only hand tools. The canal, which was 191 m long, was completed in 12 days. This was the first transport canal to be cut in Australia. The river has since cut the passage wider and deeper to its present dimensions, making it now the real entrance to the Shoalhaven River.
The Sale Canal was commenced in the 1880s, to a design of Sir John Coode linking the town via the Thomson River and the Gippsland Lakes to the open sea. It was completed in 1890, with the Sale Swing Bridge built in 1883 across the canal along with a high wharf, and a launching ramp. It is longest true canal in Australia at about 5 km long.
The Coal Canal was constructed in the 1870s and 80s, initially as part of the drainage works for reclaiming the West Melbourne Swamp, and was enlarged to allow coal barges to unload imported coal for the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot.
Elwood Canal
The Elwood Canal began construction in May 1889 under the supervision of municipal engineer Carlo Catani. The Elwood area was originally low-lying wetlands surrounding Elster Creek until the canal was constructed to drain the wetlands and make it a habitable area. Construction commenced in May 1889, with the contractors, Messrs Hendon, Clarke & Anderson, engaging sixty workmen at a cost of £14,000.
Maribyrnong Explosives Magazine Canal
The Marbyrnong Explosives Magazine Canal was constructed in 1875-76 and opened in 1878, as part of the large Victorian government explosives reserve, known as Jack's Magazine. The magazine was intended for bonded storage of all gunpowder coming into the colony, and was used for both military and industry, in particular the growing hard rock mining industry. Barges transferred explosives from ships in Hobsons Bay up the Maribyrnong River and into the 400m long canal then, offload at the canal dock just outside the magazine walls. A tramway also ran along the length of the canal, with another section going from the loading dock into the magazine proper.
Burswood Canal was constructed in the 1830s across a meander bend of the Swan River at Burswood. It was made to shorten the journey on the Swan river, between Fremantle and Guildford. It is bridged by the south western railway. and a road bridge was built as well.
