The Unicorn Gate

The Unicorn Gate is a portsea town gate that later served as an entrance to the naval dockyard. It was originally built in 1779 by Patterson and was demolished and re-erected as the dockyard entrance in 1865 by Lloyd. The gate is constructed of ashlar stone and features a central carriage archway flanked by pedestrian archways, all of which are round-arched. The structure has a vermiculated plinth and a rusticated centerpiece that projects forward. The archway includes a dropped keystone and voussoirs that are aligned with the stone courses. Paired pilasters on either side support an entablature with a cornice and pediment, which displays a unicorn couchant holding a standard. The pedestrian archways are framed by architraves and are set within walls that feature cornices that rise to the center, terminating in square piers topped with cornices and ball on cushion finials. Originally, the Unicorn Gate was located on Anchor Gate Road, just east of the current Anchor Gate, and is now positioned on the alignment of the dockyard extension wall.