The Pumping Station – The Beazley Family Connection

For many years the Beazley family were fisherfolk, working the Bay and selling their catch from the garage next to their home in Dow Street. Leonard ‘Dugga’ Beazley was the last of the fishermen retiring in 2016 after participating in the buy-out of the Port Phillip Bay commercial fishing licences.

But the Beazley family also had a close association with the Pumping Station in Esplanade West. Dugga’s grandfather, George, would start the engines when it rained to prevent flooding.

Karen Perry has created the following videos of Dugga, relating his memories of the Pumping Station and explaining his grandfather’s unique alarm system to make sure he woke up to start the engines.

From late 2024 through a lot of 2025 the latest iteration of engines are being installed ensuring that the Pumping Station will continue its vital function for many years to come.

You can also read about Dugga’s life as a fisherman in Port Melbourne on the Port Phillip website.