Building the Lagoon Between Auckland and Barney Point

In 1968 a major achievement was attained when the retaining wall between Auckland Point and Barney Point was completed by Evans Deakin & Co Pty Ltd. A prestressed concrete bridge was also built.

At Golding’s suggestion, the roadway traversing the retaining wall was named Macfarlan Drive. This was after Colin Macfarlan, the former editor of the Gladstone Observer and member of the board. By 1969, some of the reclaimed area from Auckland Point to Barney Point was filled. This was from the Dolphin, which was dredging the harbour, and the rest from the board’s quarries. This filled a section of the area and a large lake remained inside.