ɐ wˈɔːɹf hɐdbɪn bˈɪlt ɪnsˈaɪd ðə bɹˈeɪkwɔːɾɚɹ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt, nˌɑːt mˈɛnt fɔːɹ pˈʌblɪk jˈuːs, bˌʌt wˌɪtʃ ˈɛndᵻd ˌʌp jˈuːzd ɹˈɛɡjʊlɚli baɪ pˈæsɪndʒɚ ʃˈɪps wˌɪtʃ kʊd nˌɑːt nˈævɪɡˌeɪt ðə məklˈiːi ɹˈɪvɚ mˈaʊθ.
A wharf had been built inside the breakwater in 1898, not meant for public use, but which ended up used regularly by passenger ships which could not navigate the Macleay River mouth.