A major expansion at the Kangaroo Point site when the Frank Nicklin Dry Dock was constructed costing of which was contributed by the Queensland Government . The dock was long , wide and deep and could handle vessels up to 60,000 tons . The dock could be filled in 6 hours and emptied in 23 hours . The dock was officially opened in July 1967 by Queensland Premier Frank Nicklin after whom the dock was named . In his speech , Nicklin said it was important that Australian developed greater shipbuilding capabilities as Australia had been isolated from large shipbuilding countries during the two world wars , which was compounded by Britain 's withdrawal from the Far East . Nicklin then pressed a button allowing the water from the Brisbane River to flow into the dock . The company built the largest ship ever made on the Brisbane River , the oil tanker '' Robert Miller '' . Its construction was nearly complete when it broke free of its mooring during the 1974 Brisbane flood . The final vessel constructed at Kangaroo Point was the oil rig , '' Southern Cross '' in 1976
1974 Brisbane flood
1974 Brisbane flood
Evans Deakin and Company