Cunningham Pier

Over the past few months the society has received a number of requests for information on the naming of Cunningham Pier. The most recent, from society member Stephen Yewdall, lists the possible “suspects” but asks members if they have any clues to help narrow down the list. Stephen suspects it is one of the Cheethams from the Cheetham Salt: He has been researching names and he suggests there are two: Trevor Russell Cunningham and Andrew Jackson Cunningham.

IStephen has been researching names on the WW1 Honour Board at All Saints Church Newtown in Noble Street (https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/6519) and listed there there are two possible Cunninghams candidates.

The first is Trevor Russell Cunningham and the second is Andrew Jackson Cunningham. Trevor was killed at Poziers in 1917 but at the time of enlistment in 1914 he was a Director or Secretary of Cheetham Salt (https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/161847).

Andrew Jackson Cunningham enlisted in 1914 and survived the war. He later become Managing Director of Cheetham Salt in 1921 (https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/202932).

The call went out to society members for any information to assist Stephen in solving the puzzle. We has had one offer of assistance which was appreciated. Now Stephen thinks he has sorted out the puzzle. He writes …

Upon review, I am quite convinced that the pier was so named after the Victorian MP and Town of Geelong Mayor, George Cunningham, and not the Cunninghams of Cheetham Salt fame.

Cunningham Street which runs north/ south between Brougham Street and Western Beach Road, already had its name when Railway Pier was rebuilt in 1929/30 and the pier I suggest assumed the of Cunningham Railway Pier and later just Cunningham Pier.

This is similar to the now defunct Yarra Street Pier gained its name which was assumed from the adjacent Yarra Street.

Within the Wikitree link below it shows that George Cunningham MP had 8 children with the sixth being William Cunningham: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cunningham-14914.

The financial backer of Richard Cheetham was Alexander William Cunningham (photos below supplied by Deb Firth the Marketing Manager of Cheetham Salt). It is unknown but unlikely if there is a link there between these Cunninghams. Thanks to the membership of the GHS for this information. I have now relayed our findings to Deb at Cheetham Salt.

The Cunningham family (not George) contributed significantly to the establishment of Cheetham Salt and I have suggested that they be formally recognised within the Cheetham history timeline on its website: (https://www.cheethamsalt.com.au/history-timeline). It is currently devoid of any mention of the Cunninghams. AW Cunningham (retired bank manager) was the financial backer of Richard Cheetham.

AW Cunningham was succeeded by his sons as principals of Cheetham Salt being Andrew Cunningham and Trevor Richard Cunningham (https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/161847) who was killed in France in 1916, aged 42. Later another brother Alexander Jackson Cunningham who also served in WWI in France after enlisting in 1914 (https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/202932) took over as Managing Director in 1920.

Trevor Richard and Alexader Jackson Cunningham are both recognised on the All Saints Newtown WW1 Honorary Board, (https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/6519)
which was the purpose of researching those persons.

Kind regards

Stephen Yewdall