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<p>In 1907, the Public Works Department of South Australia formulated plans for a breakwater to protect pleasure craft and small steamers moored at Glenelg, facing the waters of Gulf St Vincent. 
It was to describe an arc 1200 feet long, about 1500 feet from the beach, out from the existing jetty. 
The cost of a solid breakwater was considered unjustifiable, so the PWD proposed to drive a line of piles (like slender columns) vertically into the sea bed, to reduce the magnitude of the waves passing through. 
The tops of the piles would be connected by a cross-beam, and behind every third pile there would be a sloping pile acting as a prop.
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The opening ceremony was conducted on 13 March 1909 by the then Governor General of Australia - the Earl of Dudley.</div>
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State Government Photographer</div>
The History Trust of South Australian,  South Australian Government <br> Photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://data.history.sa.gov.au/sagpc/media/preview/6738?maxsize=1000">[1]</a> <br> Object record <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://data.history.sa.gov.au/sagpc/getitem/6738">[2]</a>