Output from local oyster farms were initially shipped to market on the Illawarra & South Coast Steam Navigation Company (I & SCSN Co) ships, packed in hessian bags that had been pre-shrunk on an incoming tide.

 

With no direct link from local ports to Melbourne, oysters bound for the southern capital had to be transhipped via Sydney’s Darling Harbour, meaning a delay of several days before they reached their destination. However, provided that they were kept wet & cool, the hardy Sydney rock oyster easily survived the journey.

 

As motor vehicles became more reliable & widely available & roads improved, land based transport replaced the ocean routes for far south coast oysters.

​