Lauderdale’s most prominent feature is Ralphs Bay Canal, an unfinished canal that today is largely ornamental.

Proposals for the canal were made between 1911 and 1913, with the aim of connecting Ralphs Bay to the west with Frederick Henry Bay to the east.

The idea was that it would assist in the servicing of farms that existed in the Lauderdale area at the time. Shortly before the beginning of World War One, the state government passed a law to allow construction of the canal to commence.

The project was plagued with problems from the start. Workers encountered clay just over two metres down when they started the dredging process, and the equipment they had could not remove it all. This, coupled with the outbreak of World War One, led to the project being abandoned.

Construction re-started in 1924 with a contract being let for a canal 3 metres deep and 10 metres wide at water level. Again, issues arose. Excavation was difficult, the cost of all the work broke the budget, sand filled the canal whenever a storm blew in, and anticipated breakwaters in Frederick Henry Bay to prevent silting were too expensive to be realised.

In 1927, the state government threw up its hands in defeat and declared that the canal was just going to be too expensive to build. On 27 July that year an official statement read:

“that in view of the evidence submitted, the Committee does not feel at present justified in recommending any further expenditure on the Ralph’s Bay Neck Canal.”

The Tasmanian government subsequently passed a law that suspended construction.

In 2004, a proposal by the Walker Corporation to construct a $200 million residential canal estate development in Ralph’s Bay became known to the public. Despite strong opposition, the proposal went through the required checks and approvals at the state and federal levels. The state government eventually scrapped the proposal in 2012.

Drainage under the South Arm Highway allows tidal movement from Ralphs Bay to flush the canal. It is a good spot for watching waterbirds and there are walking tracks and seats along both the northern and southern sides.

Ralphs Bay Canal (c.1924-27).


Tas That Was is a column that includes:

  • anecdotes of life in Tasmania in the past;
  • historical photographs of locations in Tasmania; and/or
  • documentaries about locations in Tasmania.

If you have an anecdote or photograph you’d like to share with us, please send it to [email protected].


Callum J. Jones studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania. He has written fiction and non-fiction for Tasmanian Times since 2018. He can be traced by the smell of fresh coffee.

Follow him on Twitter (@Callum_Jones_10) and Facebook (@callum.j.jones.creative).