Former Standard Brickworks - Heritage · 2017-05-18 · Former Standard Brickworks CMP bryce...

Former Standard Brickworks 14 Federation Street, Box Hill

Conservation Management Plan July 2015

bryce raworth • conservation urban design 19 Victoria Street St Kilda Vic 3182

Former Standard Brickworks CMP

bryce raworth conservation • urban design 2

CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE NO

CONSULTANTS 4

CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Background and Brief 5 1.2 Methodology 5 1.3 Terminology 6

CHAPTER 2.0 CURRENT LISTINGS AND CONTROLS 7 2.1 Heritage Victoria 7 2.2 City of Whitehorse 7 2.3 Australian Heritage Register 8 2.4 National Trust of Australia (Victoria) 8

CHAPTER 3.0 HISTORY 9 3.1 Early Brickmaking in Victoria 9 3.2 The Box Hill Brickworks 9 3.3 The Standard Brick and Tile Company 11 3.4 From clay to bricks 14 3.5 The Standard Brickworks 15 3.6 The recent past (2000-2015) 17

CHAPTER 4. THE PHYSICAL FABRIC 19 4.1 The site 19 4 .2 The K i ln (1913) 21 4.3 The Clay Mill (c. 1913 with later additions) 23 4.3.1 Western addition (c.1960) 24 4.3.2 Southern addition (c.1970s) 24 4.3.3 Eastern addition (c.1975) 25 4.4 The early Shed 25 4.5 The Store (c.1920) 25 4.6 Toilets (c.1952) 26 4.7 The gatehouse (c.1920) 26 4.8 Plant and Machinery 26

CHAPTER 5.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS 28 5.1 Introduction 28 5.2 Other Metropolitan Brickworks 28 5.3 Analysis 36



CHAPTER 6.0 SIGNIFICANCE 38 6.1 The Concept of Cultural Significance 38 6.2 Statements of Significance 38 6.2.1 Heritage Victoria 38 6.2.2 National Trust of Australia (Vic) 39 6.2.3 City of Box Hill 39 6.2.4 City of Whitehorse 40

CHAPT ER 7.0 CONSERVATION POLICY 41 7.1 Introduction 41 7.2 Fabric and Setting 41 7.3 Use 45 7.4 Interpretation 47 7.5 Management 48 7.6 Control of Physical Intervention in the Fabric 49 7.7 Future Developments 51 7.8 Adoption and Review 52 7.9 Maintenance and Repair 53 7.10 Conservation Works 54

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX A AUSTRALIAN ICOMOS (BURRA) CHARTER



CONSULTANTS

This Conservation Management Plan was undertaken by:

Bryce Raworth Pty Ltd

Conservation Consultants/Architectural Historians

Text and illustrations were prepared by Bryce Raworth and John Statham.

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Alfred Sung, Courtney Sung and Michael

Taylor in the preparation of this document.



CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Brief

This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) was commissioned by Mr Alfred Sung on behalf of

Phileo Australia, the current owner of the former Standard Brickworks site in Federation Street, Box Hill.

The brief for this CMP called for a review of the Former Standard Brickworks Conservation and Management

Plan (Bryce Raworth Pty Ltd, 2002). The purpose of this CMP is to identify the extent of change that

has occurred on site over the intervening years and to assess any impacts on the character and

significance of the place. While general in nature, the CMP has had some regard to the

redevelopment of the site that is likely to occur in the future. The assessment has been limited to the

area described in the extent of the Heritage Victoria registration. It provides no detailed assessment of

equipment surviving in the clay mill building.

This CMP draws upon work carried out in 2002. The earlier document acknowledged the earlier

work, Former Standard (Box Hill) Brickworks, Proposed Demolition, 1994 undertaken by Timothy

Hubbard Pty Ltd and built on the submission by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) to the

Historic Buildings Council, concerning The former Standard Brickworks, Federation Street Box Hill, 1988.

The study team has also had regard to allied work undertaken by Helen Lardner, in relation to the

Brickworks (Brunswick). It sets out to achieve a succinct summary history, description, analysis of

significance and policy for future management. To that end it has not fully reproduced the

information found in these earlier reports, but has drawn selectively from them. The earlier reports

should remain valued reference documents for the purposes of future study of this place.

1.2 Methodology

Assessment of the site and preparation of a policy for the protection of its cultural significance have

been undertaken in accordance with the processes and criteria outlined in the Australia ICOMOS

(Burra) Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (see Appendix A) and

associated guidelines.

A detailed inspection of the external and internal fabric of the various buildings on the former

brickworks site was undertaken to assist in the preparation of this document. This analysis has also



been informed by some additional research from various primary and secondary historical sources,

which are listed in the bibliography.

This report relates specifically to that section of the former brickworks site listed in the Heritage Victoria

registration, with special emphasis on the remaining building stock. It does not deal, in any detail, with the

former clayholes, located to the east and southeast of the surviving buildings, and now filled, nor does it deal

with any aspect of the any rezoning, subdivision or development proposals currently under consideration for

the broader site.

The study identifies the nature, extent and level of cultural significance of the place and the consequential

conservation constraints that might apply in regard to the future development of the site. Assessment of the

site and preparation of a policy for the protection of its cultural significance have been undertaken in

accordance with the processes and criteria outlined in the Australia ICOMOS (Burra) Charter for the

Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance and its associated guidelines (Appendix A). It concludes with

recommendations for remediation and conservation works.

1.3 Terminology The terminology in this report relating to conservation actions and interventions is of a specific nature

and is defined in the Burra Charter (see Appendix A for definitions of the relevant terms). All other

terminology should be understood in the context of its plain English interpretation, unless otherwise

stated.



CHAPTER 2.0 CURRENT LISTINGS AND CONTROLS 2.1 Heritage Victoria

The former Standard Brickworks at 14 Federation Street, Box Hill is included on the Victorian Heritage

Register (H0720). The extent of registration encompasses all of the key buildings on the site including

the clay mill and kiln. A site plan showing the extent of registration is reproduced below.

Figure 1 Site plan of the former Standard Brickworks showing extent of registration.

2.2 City of Whitehorse

The site is subject to a Heritage Overlay under the Whitehorse Planning Scheme. HO3 is identified as

‘Former Standard Brickworks, 14 Federation Street, Box Hill.’

1 2

3

4



Figure 2 City of Whitehorse Heritage Overlay Map HO1 shows the former Brickworks site (HO3) and the adjacent

ornamental lake formerly known as the ‘Surrey Dive’ (HO217). 2.3 Australian Heritage Register

The former Standard Brickworks was not listed by the Australian Heritage Commission on the

Register of the National Estate. The Register was closed in 2006 and is now used only as an

archive.

2.4 National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

The site is included on the Register of the National Trust (File No. B0981). The National Trust is an

advisory body with no statutory powers although it might play an advisory role with regard to any

proposed works to sites on its Register.



CHAPTER 3.0 HISTORY 3.1 Early Brickmaking in Victoria

The first Victorian bricks appear to have been burnt on the South bank of the River Yarra near Princes Bridge

in Melbourne.1 From the 1850s, Victoria's brickmaking focus moved eastwards and Prahran briefly became

the centre of the industry in Victoria. Brick production was fuelled by the growth of the City, with the industry

drawing upon two large brickfields, one stretching from Brunswick through Northcote to Preston and another

extending from Tooronga to Nunawading. By 1860, fifty brickyards existed in Melbourne with many more in

outlying areas, producing bricks in simple clamp burnt kilns, and open updraught and downdraught kilns.

The first company to industrialise the brick making process in Australia was the Patent Brick and Tile

Company, established by Jenkin Collier, David Mackenzie and Barry and William Owen, in 1870.2 The firm,

at its Brunswick site, is thought to have been the first to introduce mechanised, continuous brick making

processes to Australia. This was achieved by the use of high output kilns, which operated on the principle of

continuous burning around a circular tunnel, with waste heat being used to dry the green bricks. These kilns

were first used in Europe, in 1859, where they revolutionised the brick making process. The first kiln

constructed at the works of the Patent Brick and Tile Co utilised a design based on a circular plan, but by 1872,

production capacity had been augmented through the construction of a new elliptical kiln. The works was

among the first to use steam powered Bradley and Craven brick presses which had not been economical in

earlier, small-scale production situations due to the high costs of generating steam power.

Through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, kilns proliferated throughout Victoria, and the nation at

large, with kilns constructed in Brunswick (c.1870), Tooronga (1909), Ballarat (c. 1890), Nunawading (c.1910),

Preston (unknown), Box Hill (1913) and many other locations. Two kilns were constructed in Bulleen as recently

as the late 1930s.

3.2 The Box Hill Brickworks

The Box Hill Brickworks was founded in 1884, when a prospectus for the Haughton Park Brick Company, Box

Hill, was issued, offering 30,000, £1 shares.3 The new company proposed to produce machine and hand-made

1 Timothy Hubbard Ply Ltd, Former Standard (Box Hill) Brickworks, Proposed Demolition, Unpublished report for the

Historic Buildings Council, April 1994, p.6 2 Allom Lovell & Associates, The former Brickworks, 72-106 Dawson Street, Brunswick, Conservation Management

Plan, prepared for the City of Moreland, November 1997, p.15. 3 Prospectus of the Haughton Park Brick Company, 1884, copy held on Heritage Victoria file.



bricks, tiles and earthenware on a thirty acre site on the corner of Elgar and Canterbury Roads, using techniques

already proven at the Patent Brick and Tile Company. One of the directors, Peter Behrendt, was a civil

engineer and architect. He was said to be adept in the manufacture of Dresden and other high-class

terracotta and porcelain works. Other directors included, architect, WH Ellerker, William

Houghton, who would become the company manager and Henry Emery of the Springfield Pottery.

Figure 3 Clay mill and kiln building, c.1970s. An access platform visible at the south end of the mill is no longer extant.

Figure 4 Brick Press, 2015

The company first appeared in the directories in 1885. At its first general meeting in March of

that year, it was decided that further capital would be required to allow the company to invest in

labour saving machinery. Some land was sold to allow a number of improvements including the

construction of a mile long railway siding which was completed in 1888. In 1886, the Company

changed its name to the Box Hill Brick Co Ltd, which heralded a period of commercial success.

The brickmaking industry reached a peak in 1889 and the Box Hill Brickworks, declared its first

dividend in the following year. Following the boom years of the 1880s, the industry fell into

decline during the 1890s and the Company, along with many similar enterprises throughout the

region, brought its operations to a halt. The company suspended production in 1892.

In 1891, the Box Hill Brick Company site passed to the Mercantile Bank of Australia then, in

1899, to Henry F Young (of Young and Jackson's Hotel) and John Pigdon who leased the land to

the Co-operative Brick Company. The Co-operative brick company was, in fact, an association

of large brick producers, including the Patent Brick and Tile Company of Brunswick, charged in

the local newspaper with leasing the land to prevent the works from re-opening and providing



competition. The Co-operative Brick Co purchased the land in 1904, selling it to the Shire of

Nunawading in the following year on the condition that the site was not used for brickmaking.

The site was redeveloped as an early swimming hole. The Surrey Dive, as it became known, was

the site of numerous local swimming events during the early years of the century. After the

closure of the brickworks, it was used for landfill and was later redeveloped as an ornamental

lake.

It appears likely that site of these early works was some distance to the south and east of the buildings

found on site today. In their submission to the Historic Buildings Council in support of the inclusion

of the site on the Victorian Heritage Register, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) noted:

Rate books show that while the 1880s brickworks were located on part of Crown Portion 7, the present

brickworks occupy Crown Portion 6 ... In 1891, the Box Hill Brick Co Ltd became proprietors in fee

simple of the land on the corner of Canterbury and Elgar Roads (Crown Allotment 7) …

Further evidence to supports the view that the original brickworks were located on the opposite

side of the Surrey Dive to the existing works. The National Trust noted,

… A faded family photographs (sic) dated 'approx 1891' shows a large plant, including what might

be a kiln, further to the east of the existing works. A MMBW plan of 1928 (refer figure 7) shows

a railway siding connecting to the Standard plant, and other embankments, clearly associated with a

former railway leading to a location on the south east of the Surrey Dive.

Figure 5 Employees at the works. Source: http://bpadula.tripod.com/montalbert/id14.html. Figure 6 Brickworks train to Box Hill, c.1920s. Source: http://bpadula.tripod.com/montalbert/id14.html.

3.3 The Standard Brick and Tile Company

Around 1911, brick production began again on a site to the north of the dive, which became the

Standard Brick and Tile Co Ltd. In 1913, the company improved its plant, building an 18

chamber patent kiln, announcing plans to install four brick presses and employing forty men.



The later clay hole, to the north of the Surrey Dive, is likely to have been established c.1910s.

By that time, the lands had passed into the possession of John Hunter Patterson, a large

pastoralist landholder and mining investor with substantial interests in the new project. By July

1914, the works were idle and, by early 1916, the company had gone into liquidation.

With the liquidation, the works passed entirely into Patterson's possession. Over the next two

years, a milling plant was constructed and modern machinery was installed. In February

1918, the works commenced operations and the plant was subsequently described by valuers

as being in exceptional working condition. In addition to the large kiln, which produced high

quality bricks, the plant included a down-draft kiln for handmade, fancy bricks, two, modern,

semi-dry double brick machines and one nine foot grinding pan.

By 1920, the brickworks were again experiencing financial difficulties. Its comparative

isolation from both its suppliers and its markets combined to force its costs above those of the

Melbourne-based, Co-operative Brick Co. As a consequence, the plant experienced

intermittent shutdowns in 1918 and 1921, despite relatively buoyant economic conditions. As

early as 1914, the company had seen the construction of a dedicated tramway connection to the

Box Hill railway siding as a way to reduce costs and lower prices, while providing access to

country markets. However, its efforts were thwarted by the objections of local residents and the

efforts of the Co-operative Brick Co. The land required for the proposed tramway comprised

part of the parcel of land, sold to the Council in 1905, on condition that it is used only for

recreational purposes. Legal representations were made by Co-operative Brick Co to the

council to ensure that the parcel was not sold to its rival. Without the rail connection, the

brickworks were unable to trade profitably and Patterson eventually decided to offer the land

and business to his competitors at valuation.

In July 1920, Patterson's Standard Brick and Tile Works was sold, becoming Standard

Brickworks Ply Ltd. Patterson and other members of his family retained substantial interests in

the new company. A rail link via Thurston Street to the Box Hill rail yards was constructed

shortly afterwards.4

4 The rail link is visible on MMBW Plan No 177, June 1928.



Figure 7 MMBW Detail Plan No 3102, 1947.

On completion of the rail connection, the site reached its mature state, visible in early surviving

photographs (Illustration 10) and the MMBW Plan of 1928 (Illustration 13) and largely unchanged on

similar plans from almost two decade later (Illustration 7). The kiln, the gatehouse and the clay mill

building are clearly visible as is the simple arrangement of sheds associated with the clay mill building.

An early down-draft kiln used for handmade bricks is also visible on the early photograph. This had

been largely demolished by 1928, (although the last vestiges of the structure were not removed until

the 1990s). A two-storey timber building appears on the photograph to the east of the kiln. It is

believed to be an early railway structure.



3.4 From clay to bricks

The process of brick manufacture is evident from early photographs and plans. Unrefined clay was

extracted from the clay hole and loaded onto an inclined tramway which transported it to hoppers

located in the upper section of the mill building. From here, clay fell to primary crushers where it was

reduced to pieces about half a litre in volume. At this point, a variety of clays and additives were

combined to achieve the desired properties in the final bricks. The clay was then transported, possibly

by conveyor, to a grinding pan to reduce its lineal particle size. After screening to remove oversized

pieces, the clay was pressed and the resulting green bricks, loaded onto a small locomotive for

transportation to the kiln and firing.

Figure 8 Green brick production.

Raw clay in Conveyors to grinding Pans

Grinding pans

Southern addition

Western addition

Eastern addition

Early shed

Verandah

Clay bins

Brick presses

Fine clay to bins

Green bricks to Kiln for firing

Clay to brick presses



Figure 9 Brick firing in the Hoffman kiln

3.5 The Standard Brickworks

Despite its financial interest in the business, the Co-operative Brick Co did not take over until

1938, when it became the Standard Brick Works (Box Hill). The site was closed during the latter

part of the war, to open again in 1946 when it enjoyed a period of prosperity and prudent

expansion. A third brick press was added in 1946 and a new grinding pan in 1954 and, in

response to complaints about soot emanating from the plant, the plant was converted to

electricity in 1952. In anticipation of electrification, a locomotive shed which had existed in an

elevated position at the north eastern end of the kiln building was converted to an electricity

substation around 1950. The associated railway track, which ran around the kiln building in a

shallow cutting (to allow equal elevation of the kiln and rail car floors) was removed, and the

cutting filled, around the same time. It had not been used since the wartime closure of the plant.

Firing commences

Loading/firing process progresses

Cooling/unloading process progresses

Chimney

Typical wicket

Exhaust chamber

Doors to wicket are opened And fired bricks are unloaded

Fired bricks cool

Doors to wicket are opened And green bricks are loaded



The wickets were raised to allow fork lift access to the chambers around 1964.5 The Co-

operative brick company was taken over by The Brick and Pipe Co in 1966 and that company

operated the brickworks until it was closed in 1988.

Figure 10 Standard Brickworks, c.1920s. Original held on Heritage Victoria file.

The Box Hill brickworks were still owned by Brick and Pipe Co (by then known as, Clay and Pipe

Industries Pty Lid) in 1989, when the building was added to the Victorian Heritage Register. 6

The same company owned the Brunswick brickworks, which were also registered around that

time. At that time, the complex comprised the kiln, clay mill building, quarry, relics of the

downdraft kiln stack, gatehouse/office and former locomotive shed. The site was subsequently

offered for sale by tender by Clay and Pipe Industries and, notwithstanding an offer made by the

City of Box Hill, sold to 57th Lass Nominees Ltd for landfill. After several years of operation it

was sold to Box Hill Landfill Ply Ltd. The site has been owned by Phileo Australia Pty Ltd since

1997.

5 National Trust (Vic), Submission to the HBC, September 1988. p.9.

6 Victoria Government Gazette No G37 20 September 1989 p.2427.



Figure 11 Last bricks, 1988. Source : http://bpadula.tripod.com/montalbert/id14.html Figure 12 Clay hole, 1981. Source: http://bpadula.tripod.com/montalbert/id14.html

Between its closure in 1988 and the preparation of the earlier CMP in 2002, a number of works had

taken place on the site. In addition to the landfill operations, Heritage Victoria has issued permits for

numerous minor works including,

Capping and strapping of the chimney

Repairs to the kiln roof including drainage Stabilisation of rock infill panels at the upper kiln level

Repairs to kiln doors Sundry repairs to localised brick failure of kiln Propping of columns in ancillary structure. Removal of electrical substation (former locomotive shed)

Removal of specified items of plant Demolition of minor structures including a brick retaining wall and the remnants of the down-draft kiln

The circumstances under which the blacksmith shop and elements of the rail system were removed

from site are unclear. Three of the four brick presses on site were dismantled without permits in

19987. The rear of the clay mill building was demolished without a permit around the same time.

3.6 The recent past (2000-2015)

Despite some efforts by the owners, over the past two decades, the site has fallen further into disrepair.

Early fabric has been subject to vandalism and neglect. Movement sensors and security cameras have

been installed throughout the site but illegal entry remains an issue.

Heritage Victoria has one further permit during this time, namely:

Demolition of CIG Store in the northern sections of the site

7 Helen Lardner Conservation and Design, Brickworks, Brunswick, Additional research, 1999, p.50.



The owners’ efforts to prevent access to the kiln building have largely been successful. All external

openings have been clad in steel decking and the area is monitored by security cameras.

Consequently, unauthorised entry is uncommon. However, a tall cyclone fence around the site more

broadly has proved largely ineffective and the site is subject to regular trespass. Once inside this

perimeter, access to the open Clay mill building or into the gatehouse through its lightweight door and

window joinery is straightforward.

A scheme for the adaptive reuse of the site was developed in 2001. Heritage Victoria issued a permit

for works including repair, restoration and reconstruction works to the mill, kiln and gatehouse and

the construction of one new building. The proposal included the transformation of the kiln into a

place of worship for the Evangelical Community Church. Permit P7473 (superseded P5926) was

granted. However, it required, as a permit condition, that a number of additional reports were

submitted. These may have generated further constraints on the development. The City of

Whitehorse, likewise, issued a permit with a number of conditions. The works did not proceed.

In an attempt to prevent access and associated vandalism, the owners sought a permit to remove all of

the brick and lightweight structures around the clay mill building in 2014. An application was made

to Heritage Victoria to remove: the western addition; the eastern addition; the southern addition; the

early shed; the lunchrooms and the toilets and to fix steel sheet cladding to openings in the exterior

brickwork of the clay mill building. It was hoped that by reducing the number of habitable accretions

around the clay mill, the site would become less attractive to taggers and vandals. It was further

hoped that by reducing the number of points of entry, security could to the mill could be greatly

improved without the loss of any key fabric. Heritage Victoria issued a permit (P21250) for the

introduction of steel sheet cladding but did not support the demolition works. The works did not

proceed.

In February 2015, The City of Whitehorse issued a Building Order (485/2014/FIRE) requiring that

the buildings are upgraded to comply with the Building Code of Australia with respect to fire services,

electrical services, ingress of water, structural stability and other matters. In effect the buildings were

to meet the requirements of habitable structures. The works are to be undertaken by the end of 2015.

As yet none of these works have been undertaken.



CHAPTER 4. THE PHYSICAL FABRIC 4.1 The site The former Standard Brickworks is located at the eastern end of Federation Street in Box Hill. The

brickwork site is surrounded by the largely interwar residential areas of Brougham and Standard

Streets to the north and west, and the manicured landscapes of Surrey Park to the south and east.

Key buildings on the site, most notable the kiln, mill and gatehouse buildings, were constructed

c.1913.

It is noted that the site is subject to an environmental audit overlay. This extends over the curtilage

covered by the Heritage Victoria Registration as well as areas to its north and east which constitute

the balance of the land described in the title. The purpose of the Environment Audit Overlay is to

ensure that potentially contaminated land is suitable for a use which could be significantly adversely

affected by any contamination. Applicants for works on sites subject to an environmental Overlay will

be required to provide adequate information on the potential for contamination to have adverse

effects on the future land use, where the subject land is known to have been used for industry, mining

or the storage of chemicals, gas, wastes or liquid fuel.

As discussed above, the complex developed over a lengthy period from the 1870s. The 1928 MMBW

Plan below shows the site in its mature state.

Figure 13 Detail, MMBW Plan, 1928.

shelter 1ered

Early shed

clay mill

Kiln

Inclined railway

blacksmith’s shop

lunchrooms

gatehouse

water tanks verandah



Much of the early infrastructure present in 1928 has been removed in recent decades. The

original clay hole, located directly to the east of the clay mill was filled during the 1990s. No traces

of the inclined tramway or rail lines survive. The blacksmith’s shop and the locomotive shed

described in earlier citations and/or visible on early plans of the complex have been removed. A

shelter in the southernmost sections of the complex was replaced in its entirety c.1970s. In essence

only five of the structures present in 1928 survive. These are: the kiln; the clay mill building (with

modern additions); an early but rudimentary shed to its southwest, a brick lunchroom further to

the west; and the gatehouse. A toilet block constructed c.1952 survives in the western sections of

the site in an area formerly occupied by water tanks. A relatively modern CIG compound in the

north of the site was present in 2002 but was demolished c.2010. Today the site takes the

following form.

Figure 14 Brickworks site plan (not to scale).

N

FEDERATION STREET

1

1. Kiln (1913) 2. Clay Mill Building (c1913) 3. Western Addition (c1960) 4. Southern Addition (c1970s) 5. Eastern Additions (c1975) 6. Early Shed 7. Store/lunchroom (c1920) 8. Toilets (c1952) 9. Gatehouse (c1920)

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

2



4 .2 The K i ln (1913) As discussed in Section 7, the Kiln is of primary significance The Hoffmann kiln is a massive, red brick building over two levels constructed on a ‘racecourse’

plan with parallel sides and semicircular ends. Internally, the ground floor level comprises a

firing chamber constructed around an exhaust chamber, which is connected to a brick chimney.

The uninterrupted space of the firing floor is located above. The kiln is surmounted by a large,

low-pitched hipped roof with wide eaves. The chimney rises 40m from the centre of the

structure.

At ground floor level, the firing chamber takes the form of a continuous vaulted space, with

eighteen external openings or wickets, providing access to the individual kiln compartments.

Movable steel partitions, used to isolate the compartments, internally, are no longer present.

Many of the wickets have been bricked up or otherwise sealed since the closure of the plant in

1988. The external walls are buttressed, providing support to the openings between each of the

kiln compartments. Since the closure of the plant the entire lower floor has been clad in steel to

prevent access and vandalism.

At first floor level, external walls were partly open to facilitate access, ventilation and delivery of

coal to the firing floor. Elsewhere, walls comprised simple brick balustrades to waist height

between the brick piers supporting the roof. Many of these openings have subsequently been

infilled with timber framing or brick. Access to the upper level was probably by way of fixed

ladders or stairs. A remnant steel ladder survives at first floor level which may have provided

access from the north side of the building. However, a c.1970s photograph (refer figure 3) of the

site appears to show an external access stair to the western end of the building. This is no longer

extant. The roof framing consists a heavy timber trusses, supporting the corrugated steel roof.

The kiln is in fair condition and is almost completely intact. However, brickwork within the

firing chamber has been extensively damaged by heat and to a lesser degree by vandalism. Stone

floors survive in poor condition in some areas. Externally, some cracking around individual

wickets has occurred.



Figure 15 Chimney to brick kiln. Figure 16 Modern steel cladding prevents access to the kiln wickets.

The kiln generally and chimney in particular fell into poor condition c.1990s. The building was

stabilised at that time. No subsequent investigation to the stability of the structure has been

undertaken.

Figure 17 Penetrations in the kiln wall allowed smoke to exit to exhaust chamber and chimney. Figure 18 Brick floor to kiln survives in poor condition. This is likely to date from c.1960s.



Figure 19 Chimney to brick kiln. Figure 20 Roof trusses to clay mill building.

4.3 The Clay Mill (c. 1913 with later additions) As discussed in Section 7, the clay mill building is of primary significance.

The Clay mill is housed in a substantial industrial processing building constructed in brick and

corrugated steel. It is a sprawling structure covering almost 2000m2 and is over five storeys tall

at its highest point. The building employs an arrangement of ascending, gabled roof forms to

accommodate the elevated hoppers and other machinery, that were formerly housed in the

upper sections of the building. These form an unusual, picturesque arrangement that have

attracted comparisons to the pointed buildings of Gothic Architecture.9

The MMBW detail reproduced above shows the footprint of the building in 1928. It has been

substantially altered since that time both through alterations and additions to the original brick

structure and through lightweight structures constructed along three of its four sides during the

postwar period.

A substantial brick wing in the northeast sections of the building was demolished in the postwar

period, presumably to alter the processing arrangements and allow the delivery of clay through

the eastern addition discussed below. Brick additions have been made to the northwestern and

southwestern corners of the building. The upper level above these elements is likely to date

from the same construction. A downdraft kiln and chimney, formerly located at the

northwestern corner of the building (refer figure 10) has been removed. A small verandah to

the western elevation, visible in the 1928 MMBW Plan above (figure 13) survives. However,

this element has been incorporated into the western addition and its form is no longer legible.

A number of single storey structures have been constructed in areas abutting or adjacent to the

mill building. It should be noted that although the clay mill building has been extended on three



of its four facades, the original, multi storey, brick sections of the building still dominate the

composition. These additions include:

Figure 22 Clay mill from the northeast. A brick wing has been demolished in the postwar period. Figure 23 Northern elevation of clay mill building.

4.3.1 Western addition (c.1960) As discussed in Section 7, the western addition is of little or no significance.

This structure was constructed during the post war period, 10 possibly as part of the expansion

program carried out during the 1950s and early 1960s. It abuts the western facade and verandah

of the clay mill building. It has a roof constructed of trusses built up from steel angles, timber

purlins mid corrugated steel cladding. The floor is concrete. As discussed below, this element has

absorbed a modest early verandah to the western side of the clay mill building, which is visible in

the MMBW Plans of 1928 and 1947.

4.3.2 Southern addition (c.1970s) As discussed in Section 7, the southern addition is of little or no significance.

As noted above, a shelter is visible in this area on the MMBW plans of 1928 and 1947. However,

no fabric from this early structure survives. A structure found in this area today dates from

c.1970s. It is constructed of light steel trusses with corrugated steel cladding and an unmade floor.

It survives in good condition.



Figure 23 Clay mill building (1913) from the northeast showing raking skillion roof of the eastern addition, 2015. Figure 24 The early shed (c.1920s) in 2015.

4.3.3 Eastern addition (c.1975) As discussed in Section 7, the eastern addition is of little or no significance.

The eastern addition is another post-war addition, possibly constructed as recently as the 1970s or

1980s. It is a broad-span skillion roofed structure supported on steel columns and trusses. It survives

in fair but somewhat damaged condition.

.

4.4 The early Shed As discussed in Section 7, the early shed is of secondary significance.

The early shed is visible as a freestanding element to the southeast of the clay mill building in MMBW

Plans of 1928 and 1947. Remnant fabric suggests that this adopted a monitor form with skillion roofs

to either side of a raised central hipped roof incorporating windows and ventilators to either side.

Remnant weatherboard cladding survives to the southern and western walls suggesting that the shed

was originally constructed as an enclosed space.

4.5 The Store (c.1920)

As discussed in Section 7, the store/lunchrooms are of secondary significance.

The store, occasionally described as ‘the lunchrooms’ appears on the MMBW plans of 1928 and

1947. It is a simple red brick building with a cream brick treatment to the primary facade that is

uncommon elsewhere due to the prohibitive cost of cream bricks. Internally, the building comprises

two principal spaces with concrete floors and steel window framing. The building is in good

condition.



4.6 Toilets (c.1952) As discussed in Section 7, the toilets are of little or no significance.

MMBW works for the construction of the toilet block were approved in January of 1952 and

completed in November of the same year.11 The single-storey building is constructed of red brick with

a modern steel roof. It comprises five cubicles and a number of storage and wash areas. Many of the

internal fittings have been removed.

Figure 25 Toilets (1952) in the foreground and store (c.1920) to the rear in 2015. Figure 26 The gatehouse (c.1920) in 2015.

4.7 The gatehouse (c.1920) As discussed in Section 7, the gatehouse is of primary significance.

The gatehouse/office is evident on MMBW plans dating from 1928 and 1947. It is a simple single-

storey structure which appears to date from the early twentieth century. Exterior walls are finished in

red brick and rise to parapets on three sides of the building. On the front facade, the simple skillion

roof projects to form a verandah. Serious cracking of exterior brickwork has occurred and the

windows have been subject to vandalism and graffiti attack but the building remains in poor

condition.

4.8 Plant and Machinery As discussed in Section 7, elements of plant and machinery may be of primary significance.

Original or early machinery including brick presses, crushers and conveyors survives within the

complex. Assessment of these items requires specialist skills that fall outside fall outside of the scope of

the present CMP. A number of sites where comparable machinery survives are noted in Section 6 of

this report. These items should be assessed and any constraints arising from the presence of these

elements identified prior to undertaking detailed design for the redevelopment of the site.



Figure 27 Brick press in 2015. Figure 28 Clay grinding machinery in 2015.



CHAPTER 5.0 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

5.1 Introduction

The City of Box Hill Heritage and Conservation Study notes:

The Haughton Park Brick Company was one of a number to establish in the vicinity of the Lilydale

railway. Others were the Australian Brick and Tesselated Tile Co. Ltd in Mitcham of 1887, the

Metropolitan Brick Co. of Mitcham and Blackburn (1888), the East Mitcham Brick Co. Ltd of 1888,

and the Mont Albert Brickworks, Canterbury of 1891.

Transport of bricks over large distances was rarely undertaken because of the high cost. Brickworks

tended to supply local catchments. In addition to the Box Hill Brickworks and those located in

neighbouring suburbs, noted above, brickworks proliferated through Melbourne’s suburbs during

the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

5.2 Other Metropolitan Brickworks

The following list does not purport to include every brickworks to operate in Victoria. However, it

was compiled after a thorough review of the available literature, notably, Gary Vines’, Bricks in Victoria,

much of which is quoted verbatim below. Telephone conversations with key figures within the brick

manufacturing industry were also undertaken. The following identifies the majority of the surviving

Kilns.

Clay and P ip e I ndu s t r i e s , Dawson S t r e e t , B run sw i c k

The Patent Brick and Tile Co was established in 1870 on the north side of Albert Street,

Brunswick. It was responsible for the industrialisation of the brick making process in Victoria

and was possibly the first company in Australia to use European-designed kilns and Bradley

Craven brick presses. Through the last two decades of the nineteenth century, the company

underwent a period of intense expansion, building three kilns on a nearby site in Dawson Street,

Brunswick. By the late 1880s, it had become the largest brick manufacturer in Victoria and was

rivalled in size only by the Northcote Brick Company. Through the second decade of this

century, the Patent Brick and Tile Co became a hostile and aggressive competitor to the Box Hill

brickworks, eventually, through its dominant role in The Co-operative brick company, absorbing

its suburban rival.



None of the buildings or clayholes on the original, Albert Street site remain. The current site

comprises the main production area of the previously much larger, Dawson Street site. The

extant buildings form two distinct groups. To the west are two kilns built in 1888 and 1908. A

third kiln dating from 1884 was demolished apart from its chimney c.2005. A large complex of

corrugated iron and brick sheds housing the clay preparation and brick pressing areas and several

sheds and workshops survives in the western sections of the site. To the east are the remnants of

the pottery works, including a pottery moulding and kiln building, the base of two circular kilns

and several stores and other buildings. An early gatehouse was demolished c.2010. A number of

town houses and apartment buildings have been constructed on the site over the last decade

Ord i s h F i r e B r i c k Co

The Ordish Fire Brick company was established in Dandenong by W P Ordish in about 1890. Ordish

sold the business in 1922 and died in 1930, but the works appears to have continued production to

about 1975, the company having merged with Newbold from Lithgow NSW in 1960.

As fire bricks were destined to be used for complex shapes such as kilns, flues, boiler settings, furnaces,

they would weaken if cut or shaped after firing, they tended to be made in very diverse shapes such as

arch voussoirs, key stones, chamfered edge, etc. As firebricks were a higher value product with less

competition than normal bricks, they tended to be transported greater distances. Ordish bricks have

been found in Tasmania.

S e l k i r k B r i c k s P t y L t d , 630 How i t t S t r e e t , Ba l l a r a t

In 1854 The Selkirk family arrived in Victoria, Australia, from Scotland. In 1883 Robert Selkirk

began producing bricks by hand at Allendale, in response to the building boom created by the Ballarat

gold rush. A decade later Selkirk invested in his first brickmaking machinery. In 1900 Selkirk moved

to the current manufacturing facility in Howitt Street Ballarat. In 1905 The first continuous kiln was

introduced, enabling Selkirk to produce six million bricks per year. Founder Robert Selkirk died in

1921 aged 81. Selkirk’s son, James, took over the business and the enterprise remains a family owned

and operated business today.

A kiln, constructed on the site in the early part of the century but was almost completely demolished

c.1959. Only the early chimney remains on site. None of the early processing buildings have

survived.8 Although a history of the plant was produced by Robert Selkirk and is available through

his son, lain Selkirk.

8 Bob Jenkins, Group sales and marketing manager, Selkirk Bricks, telephone conversation with researcher, John Statham, 17

April 2000.



Danie l Robe r t s on ( f o rme r Tuns ta l l ) b r i ckwork s , S ta t i on S t r e e t , Nunawad ing

The Tunstall Brickworks was established in the 1880s and a kiln was established in the early part

of the century. The plant was purchased by the Robertson family during the 1920s who

immediately began the conversion of the site to a tile production facility. The kiln was

demolished and intermittent downdraught kilns installed, immediately prior to, or shortly after,

WWII. Only the chimney survives on site today. None of the early production buildings

remain.9

Fo rme r Oak l e i g h B r i c k Company

John and Henry Goding commenced brick making on a site in Stamford Road, Oakleigh, on the 27th

April 1885, but the works seems to have operated sporadically, closing down for an extended period in

1910. The enterprise was also known as the Oakleigh Brick and Tile Company

In 1917 a revamped company commenced operations with HF Young, formerly of the Northcote

Brick Company, as Managing Director - an indication of the close associations between the various

brick companies. Shares in the new Oakleigh Brick Co were held by a number of other brickworks

including Hoffman Brick and Potteries Ltd, Augustus Henry Holzer, Co-operative Brick Company

Limited, City Brickworks Company Pty Ltd, Northcote Brick Company, and the New Northcote

Brick Company Ltd.

In March 1957, the company purchased land in Bolinda Road Campbellfield, for a brick pit whose

clays produced cream colour bricks favoured in the 1950s and 60s. In 1965, Clifton Brick Holdings

took control of the Oakleigh Brick Company Pty Ltd. By the late 1970s, the works ceased production

although the Company itself was not wound up until 1985.

The former Oakleigh Brick Company site has been redeveloped in recent years as Brickmaker's Park.

Two early kilns have been demolished although some of the early brickmaking equipment has been

preserved as public sculpture within the park.

Dar l e y F i r e b r i c k Co

A brick works was established at Bacchus Marsh in 1893 by a partnership between Thomas Akers and

William Wittick. In 1898, builder David Mitchell, joined the consortium. The local clays were found

to be suitable for high quality firebricks and so with additional money for expansion in 1902, the

Darley Firebrick Company Pty Ltd was formed on the 9th May, with David Mitchell the majority

shareholder.

9 Laurie Daley, export manager, Daniel Robertson Australia Pty Ltd, telephone conversation with researcher, John Statham,

17 April 2000.



The company changed its name to Darley Refractories Pty. Ltd. in 1982 after it purchased the South

Yarra Firebrick Company, leaving Darley the only producer of firebricks in Victoria. Over 100

different shapes were made, including tongue and groove shapes for gas-tight seals.

Eas t Mi t c ham Br i c k Co .

It is somewhat difficult unraveling the Mitcham brick undertakings. Edgar E Walker founded and

later owned the Australasian Brick, Pipe and Tessellated Tile Company in Mitcham in 1885,

(renamed the Australian Tessellated Tile Co. in 1895) which began operations south-west of the

Mitcham railway station in 1886. The Mitcham Brick and Pottery Co was established in 1886 (also

known as Staples brick), while the East Mitcham Brick Company advertised its prospectus on 27

August 1888, and was operating by 1889 from another site near the railway line. The East Mitcham

Company had difficulty in getting shareholders to pay their calls, and went to court in 1890, possibly

winding up shortly after.

Oak l e i g h B r i c k Co

John and Henry Goding commenced brick making on a site in Stamford road Oakleigh, on the 27th

of April 1885, but the works seems to have operated spasmodically, closing down for an extended

period in 1910. In 1917, a revamped company recommenced operations with HF Young, formerly of

the Northcote Brick Company, as Managing Director. As an indication of the close associations

between the various brick companies, shares in the new Oakleigh brick company were held by a

number of other brickworks including Hoffman Brick and Potteries Ltd, Augustus Henry Holzer, Co-

operative Brick Company Limited, City Brickworks Company Pty Ltd, Northcote Brick Company

and the New Northcote Brick Company Ltd.

In March 1957 the company purchased land in Bolinda Road Campbellfield, for a brick pit from

whose clays burnt to the cream brick colour, favoured in Melbourne through the 1950s and 60s. In

1965, Clifton Brick Holdings took control of the Oakleigh Brick Company Pty Ltd, but by the late

1970s, the works ceased production although the Company itself was not wound up until 1985.

Cl i f t o n B r i c k

The Clifton Brick Company took its name from its owner David Clifton, and had a quarry in St.

Georges Road Preston, now the Ray Bramham Gardens. It was formed in 1890, but closed down for

several years during the depression before being bought by W and AH Angliss and restarted in 1907.

James A Gamble was manager of the Clifton brickworks in 1913, probably brother of Joseph Gamble

of the South Preston Brickworks. The Preston pit closed in about 1943, but Clifton had other

brickmaking interest. In 1952 they took over Hoffman brickworks, and in 1965 acquired a controlling

interest in the Oakleigh Brick Company Pty Ltd although the individual brick stamps continued to be

used on their bricks. Subsequent mergers saw Clifton and Nubrick form the Austral Brick Company.



Br i c k and P ip e I ndu s t r i e s

Brick and Pipe Industries were formed in 1963. By the 1970s it was the largest brick maker in

Australia. Its main brick pit and factory was and still is in Craigieburn Road, Wollert, while its head

office in Melbourne was Nubrick House in William Street.

Pr e s t on B r i c k & T i l e

The Preston Brick and Tile Co. Ltd. was established in 1886 by James Holden, Phipps, Jelfries and

Thorburn. The works were located on Raglan Street, between Hotham and Collier Street and

operated until at least 1935.

Wil smo r e B r i c kwo rk s

Robert Wilsmore, and his brother J B Wilsmore were described as brick manufacturers in 1887. A

prospectus was issued in for the company in 1888 and the works was erected adjacent to Cornwell's

Pottery on Albert Street West Brunswick. However, the company appears to have foundered and in

1893, it was put in the hands of liquidators. The works seems to have ceased altogether by 1894.

Sp ea r

Frederick Spear Senior commenced brickmaking in Victoria Road, Camberwell in 1857 and was

manager of the Hawthorn Brickworks in Camberwell Road until his death in 1884. Frederick jnr

managed the works to at least 1915, although in 1904 the City Brickworks Co was described as 'Late

A Spear & Sons'.

Fred Spear and Harold Spear both seem to have been associated with the Co-operative Brick

Company, Toorak Road, and City Brick Company, which built and owned cottages they occupied in

1909-10. Frederick W Spear is also recorded as Manager of the Adelaide Brickworks in about 1915.

Aubu rn B r i c k s

There was an Auburn Brickworks in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and America, but they do not seem to

have been related in any way. The Auburn Brick, Tile & Pottery Company was set up in Princes

Road, Auburn, a Sydney Suburb, in 1905, taking over the business of the Duck River Brickworks.

The Melbourne Auburn Brickworks was established in Auburn Road Hawthorn in 1909. The pit is

now John Gardiner Reserve. Like Glen Iris, the company was hindered by Council bylaws

preventing blasting, but continued to operate into the 1950s.

The G l en I r i s B r i c k T i l e and Te r r a Co t t a Co P t y L td

The Glen Iris Brick Tile and Terra Cotta Co Pty Ltd purchased a site straddling Gardiners Creek in

Malvern and Camberwell on 5 March 1912, but a combination of the council and the brick cartel

blocking access, they instead leased land in Watt St Thornbury of St Georges Road for a brick pit.



The Glen Iris company also obtained a brick pit and works in Oakleigh, to the east of Stamford Road

(opposite the Oakleigh Brickworks site) in the 1930s, and later in Templestowe. The Company issued

a number of commemorative or dated bricks including a 1954 Royal Tour brick and 1956 Olympic

Games brick.

It is understood that the Glen Iris Brickworks Company constructed two kilns on unspecified

Victorian sites but that these kilns have since been demolished.17

The Glen Iris Company was bought by Boral in 1970. Northcote council and the state government

transferred the Thornbury site to Aboriginal Advancement League by 1982.

Former Tooronga Brickworks (City Brick)

The site at the comer of Tooronga and Toorak Roads was established in 1909. It appears to have

been known for some time as the Auburn Brickworks before becoming the City Brick Company. The

company appears to have been associated with the Malvern Brickworks. The Manager of the works

in 1905-7 was Frederick Spear, who appears to have gone on to establish his own brickworks. The

Tooronga quarry was closed in 1983 with the company relocating to Scoresby from 1963. The firm

was taken over by Boral in 1985, and the Tooronga site subsequently redeveloped. The site was an

important tile-making and pottery works until its closure. It is understood that two kilns existed on the

site but both have since been demolished.15

Blackburn Brick Co.

The Blackburn Brick Co. was established off Whitehorse Road and Alfred Street Blackburn near the

railway in about 1890, but soon closed due to the impact of the depression. It re-commenced

operation in 1892, possibly when it was renamed the Blackburn Brick & Tile Co) and operated

sporadically over the next year. In 1893 the company contracted to supply 4,000,000 for construction

of the Hobsons Bay main sewer.

It became associated (like many Melbourne Brickworks) with the Co-operative Brick Co Pty Ltd. in

about 1926. The Co-op was taken over by Brick and Pipe Industries Pty. Ltd in 1966.

Brickworks Lane exists of Whitehorse Road Blackburn indicating the location of the former

brickworks.

Barkly Brick Co.

The Barkly Brick Company was established by at least 1909, and erected presses and kilns in started a

clay pit on Weston Street Brunswick, extending to Barkly St. This may have taken over the site of



William Grey's Barkly Brickyard of about 1859. John Grant was manager. Graeme R Ferry (of

Ferry's Pottery) and Frederick Thomas Hickford were among the directors.

The works was also known later as the New Brunswick Brick and Pottery Co Pty Ltd in about 1957-9.

Operations continued until about 1962, when the quarry hole was filled (with rubbish as usual).

Subsequently the Barkly Square shopping centre was built on the brickworks site, and the land over

the clay pit became car parking.

Gamble Brick and Tar Paving

Joseph A Gamble originally started his brickmaking career with his Gamble Brick and Tar Paving

Works in Glenlyon Road, South Preston, which was operating by at least 1886. This works was still in

operation in 1889, but was almost completely destroyed by a fire on 14 July 1892. Gamble does not

appear to have recovered from this and in 1893 he was made insolvent. An auction was held on the

premises on 22 February 1896.

Gamble eventually recovered from the loss of the Preston works to form a new company in

1912, known as, The New Gamble Brick and Quarrying Co Pty Ltd, and despite the commencement

of World War Two, he purchased a property in Ferntree Gully Oakleigh in 1914 with the intention of

commencing brickmaking. The works was operating by January 1916.

It is understood that Gamble constructed two kilns on unspecified Victorian sites and that these kilns

have since been demolished.17

The New Gamble Company went into liquidation in March 1955, and in 1960 it was bought-out by

Brick Industries Ltd. Under the new management the company was prosperous for a while, selling

over 10,000,000 bricks in 1975. Production ceased in 1982 and the works were demolished, with the

site was converted to warehousing and the brick pit, which had been used as a council waste tip, was

redeveloped into a public park, Reg Harris Reserve. In the 1980s, brickmaking machinery from

Gamble's Ferntree Gully Road works was installed as a sculptural feature in Brickmakers Park on the

site of the Oakleigh Brick Company quarry hole in Stamford Road.

John Glew

John Glew learned the brickmaking trade from Thomas Manallack at his brickworks in Phillipstown

(Brunswick) from 1849. He soon set up his own brickmaking business in Hodgson Street Phillipstown

and then moved to Barkly Street East when the clay pit was worked out in 1860. He

purchased Poheman's Paddock Brickmaking Company in 1866, and in 1871 opened another

brickworks in Essendon. Each of these appears to have produced bricks of quite different character

and colour. Glew retired in 1884, but his Weston Street brickworks continued to operate to at least



1906. Glew played an important role in enabling the development of the polychrome brick

architectural style in Melbourne having been the first to produce 'fancy white bricks' in the colony.

Arndt's South Preston Brickworks

In the 1850s, Gottleib Arndt was among the earliest brick makers in the northern suburbs of

Melbourne. He operated clay pits near Hotham and Raglan Streets with Henry Walkerden as

Manager. Walkerden and his brother were also associated with brickworks in Oakover Road, Preston

in the 1880s.

In 1888 Arndt's works was taken over by the Melbourne and Suburban Property and Agency

Company Ltd., and in July 1889 by the South Preston Patent Brick and Tile Company, which did not

survive long after the collapse of the land and building boom.

The Raglan St. site appears to have been acquired by the Glen Iris Brick Company as councilor and

Mayor James Adams, the General Manager of the Company, donated the site to Preston Council.

The clay pit was filled as a tip and became the Florence Adams Playground.

Fritsch Holzer

The name, Fritsch Holzer, comes from Augustus Fritsch and the Holzer brothers (Martin and

Aloysius Anton Holzer), who formed the Upper Hawthorn Brick Company in 1883. The brickworks

closed and the site was bought by the Hawthorn Council in 1972 and used it as a tip until 1986,

turning it into a park in 1996.

Austral Brick Co

The Austral Brick Company was founded in 1908 in Sydney NSW, by a group of investors and

builders and became a major brick maker by the outbreak of World War I in 1914. The company

expended in the later 20th century to take in Nubrick and Clifton, and still operates in several states,

with its Scoresby works the largest brick manufacturer in Victoria. Most Austral bricks in Victoria are

likely to have come from the post 1970s.

South Yarra Brick Co

The South Yarra Fire Brick Company was founded by Robert ‘Daddy’ Davies. It was the last of a

number of brickworks to operate either side of Chapel Street near the Yarra river. It appears to have

been the successor to the Australian Gas Retort and Fire Brick Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd

established in 1869, and operated in Chapel Street South Yarra until the late 1930s, which

manufactured fire clay goods, supplying to such companies as the Metropolitan Gas Co Ltd and

Victorian Railways and Government.



The South Yarra Fire Brick Co Pty Ltd operated in Chapel Street South Yarra from around 1940,

manufacturing and selling a wide range of medium and high duty fireclay products and a range of

refractory, airsetting and heatsetting cements, castables and mouldables. The site was redeveloped for

residential purposes c.1990s and no traces of the early brickmaking role survive.

Former Bulleen Brickworks

The Bulleen Brickworks was established in 1935 and was operated for over half a century by the Boral

company. One kiln was constructed immediately and another some years later. Four downdraught

kilns were also constructed. The plant was closed in 1990 and the kilns and associated process

buildings were demolished shortly afterwards.14

Former Preston Brickworks

Clifton Brick operated the Preston Brickworks for some years. It is believed that two kilns existed

on the site. The brickworks has since been closed and the kilns are presumed to have been

demolished.16

5.3 Analysis

Victoria, more than any other state in Australia was built in brick. Here, the lack of easily

worked building stone and the availability of good brick clay, have combined to produce an

architectural heritage with an extraordinary debt to brickwork. The proliferation of buildings in

brick, from the polychromatic extravagances of the late nineteenth century to the waves of

interwar suburban expansion, were made possible in part by industrialisation of the brickmaking

process. The introduction of the kiln at the Brunswick brickworks in tandem with Bradley

Craven steam presses and other technological advances, paved the way for local brick production

on an unprecedented scale. This technological revolution found its physical expression both in

the changing face of suburban Melbourne and in the industrial landscapes of Melbourne's

brickworks. Through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, over a dozen brick and

tile producers set up along the vast clay field extending from Tooronga to Nunawading.

Over the last half century, rationalisation of the brick and paver industries has seen the relocation

of much of Melbourne's brick production to the periphery of the Metropolitan area. Abandoned

brickworks sites have inevitably been redeveloped and their clayholes, buildings and plant, lost.

Today, only a handful of buildings associated with brick production in the early part of the

century remain. Of these, none has survived in its original or early state although a small

number have retained sufficient building stock and plant to exist to allow the chain of production

and the role of the facility within its local environment to be understood. The former Standard

Brickworks at Box Hill is one of these remnant sites.



As noted above kilns are found on three sites in Victoria, namely, the former Standard Brickworks

(Box Hill), the former Brickworks in Brunswick, (two kilns survive after one was demolished c.2000s)

and one circular kiln at Preston. Remnant plant has been preserved at Brickmaker's Park in

Oakleigh and remnant chimneys remain at other locations throughout the state, but no other sites

are believed to retain intact kilns. The kiln at Box Hill appears to be broadly in the same condition

as those at Brunswick while the kiln at Preston is of a different design and has not been viewed in

the preparation of this report. This group of Victorian examples is understood to represent about

half of the remaining kilns in Australia.

The clay mill building defies easy analysis. It is certainly unique within Victoria, being of an entirely

different design to its counterpart at Brunswick, which conforms more closely to a large industrial

shed, and lacks the unusual cascading gables that distinguish the Box Hill structure. The Box Hill

clay mill building also retains some of its early plant whereas it is understood that the Brunswick site

has been stripped of its brickmaking machinery. No other comparable structures are believed to exist

locally and the building clearly makes an important contribution to an understanding of the

brickmaking history of the state. However, without a full assessment of the plant and machinery

remaining on site and a more extensive review of similar examples elsewhere it is difficult to precisely

assess the significance of the facility as a whole. It is likely that the lightweight nature of clay mill

buildings generally and the relative ease of their dismantlement has resulted in structures of this kind

becoming less common than the more permanent kiln buildings with which they were associated.

The only extant brickworks in Victoria which compares to the Box Hill site in terms of intactness to its

original state is, the former Brickworks in Brunswick. Other sites, such as Brickmaker's Park in

Oakleigh, where early plant is preserved in a park environment or Selkirk Bricks in Ballarat that

retains an early chimney are little more than records of the early activities undertaken on those sites.

The Box Hill and Brunswick sites have been compared frequently since their nominations to the

Historical Building Council in 1988. Comparisons have centred on the relative integrities of

their respective chains of production. In recent years, one of the kilns on the Brunswick site has

been demolished along with its early gatehouse and a number of new apartment buildings have been

constructed on the site. The Brunswick site retains its suite of early pottery manufacturing buildings.

Neither the Brunswick nor the Box Hill site continues to demonstrate, in any detail, the complex

process of brick production. Nonetheless, The former Standard Brickworks at Box Hill survives as a

more complete example of an early brickmaking facility.

It should also be noted that the Standard Brickworks is the last historically preserved remnant of

the major brick and tile producing region which was established between Hawthorn and

Mitcham between the 1880s and WWI.



CHAPTER 6.0 SIGNIFICANCE

6.1 The Concept of Cultural Significance

The assessment of significance requires an objective analysis of the values that contribute to

distinguishing a particular place. While there is a subjective element in such an assessment the

objective is to avoid making judgements within narrow preferences, biased by particular interests or

without historical perspective. The history, description and analysis developed in the previous

chapters have sought to provide material sufficient to make this assessment. The following brings

together the major elements identified with respect to the significance of the place.

6.2 Statements of Significance

A number of Statutory and other Agencies have undertaken assessments of the various buildings on

the site and produced citations detailing their significance. The key documents are discussed below.

Broadly speaking, this report concurs with the following statement of significance prepared by

Heritage Victoria, which notes that the former standard Brickworks is of architectural, aesthetic and

historical significance to the State of Victoria.

6.2.1 Heritage Victoria

The citation relates to the Former Standard Brickworks, Federation Street, Box Hill to the extent of

all the buildings and the land included in the Register Book Certificate of Title Volume 6520 Folio

1303967. The extent of registration is shown in figure 1 of this report.

The Box Hill Brickworks had their origins in the boom years of the 1880s. In 1884 a prospectus was issued for

the Haughton Park Brick Company Ltd., Box Hill, proposing to produce machine and hand made bricks, tiles,

earthenware and porcelain on 30 acres at the corner of Elgar and Canterbury Roads. One of the directors was

Peter Behrendt, a civil engineer and architect, an agent for continental clay products and said to be adept in the

manufacture of Dresden and other high class terracotta and porcelain works. In 1886 the company changed its

name to the Box Hill Brick Co Ltd. The year 1889 was a peak year for brickmaking in Melbourne and in

1890 the company declared its first dividend. These works were among a number of like industries in the region.

With the industry in decline in the 1890s the company did not pay a dividend in 1891 and in 1892 it

suspended production. Following a change of ownership and a lease by the rival Co-operative Brick Company the

site was sold in 1905 and the quarry became the "surrey dive" swimming hole. In about 1911 brick production

again started on this site near the dive and in 1913 this became the Standard Brick and Tile Co. Ltd. In 1913



the company was attending its plant, building an 18 chamber Hoffman patent kiln and planning to install four

brick presses and employ 40 men. Over the years the Box Hill brickworks has experienced changing fortunes and

even closures. One reason for this has been the comparative isolation of the works. In 1938 the works were taken

over by the Co-operative Brick Company. They were closed in the war years of 1942-46 and in 1952 the plant

was converted to electricity. The Brick and Pipe Company took over the company in 1966 and in August 1988

the box hill works were closed.

The Former Standard Brick Works at Box Hill are of historic and architectural importance for the following reasons: • the former standard brickworks site in Federation street, Box Hill comprises a rare and unusually intact

brickmaking plant of the early twentieth century. The site retains material evidence of all the stages of the brick production process from clay extraction to dispatch.

• the distinctive form and internal fittings of the clay mill building provide evidence of superseded brickmaking processes and ancillary trades, in particular the tramway system for hauling clay and the blacksmith's shop. The grinding pans and brick press machinery on site exhibit the same fundamental technology which was introduced with the industrialization of brickmaking in Victoria in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

• for containing on site one of the last operative Hoffman patent brickmaking kilns in Victoria. • the significance of the site is enhanced by its location adjacent to the former "Surrey Dive" with which it

has some historical associations. • Box Hill is also the last historic remnant of a series of brick and tile producing works which were

established between Hawthorn and Mitcham from the 1880s to the 1939-45 war.

6.2.2 National Trust of Australia (Vic)

The former Standard Brickworks is included on the Register of the National Trust of Australia (Vic).

The Statement of Significance identified the site as being of State significance (B5992). It notes:

The former Standard Brickworks in Federation Street Box Hill is a rare and unusually intact brickmaking plant of the early twentieth century. �The site is compact and retains evidence of the various stages of the former production process, from clay extraction to dispatch of bricks. The distinctive form and internal fittings of the clay mill building proved substantial evidence of superseded processes, in particular the clay tramway haulage system. The grinding pans and brick press machinery retained on site exhibit the same fundamental technology as was introduced with the industrialization of brickmaking in the latter nineteenth century. The significance of the site is enhanced by its location adjacent to the former Surrey Drive, with which it has some historical associations. Box Hill is also the last historic remnant of the major brick and tile producing region which established between Hawthorn and Mitcham from the 1880s to World War 1. �The Classification incorporates the whole site, including the Hoffman Kiln, clay mill building, grinding pans and brick presses, relics of the downdraught Kiln stack, office, former locomotive shed, and quarry. � Classified: 26/09/1988

6.2.3 City of Box Hill

The City of Box Hill Heritage and Conservation Study (Andrew Ward and Associates, July 1990)

provided separate Statements of Significance for the Hoffmann kiln and the clay mill. These early



citations make reference to the clayhole which has since been filled. The citations note:

The Hoffman Kiln is representative of others in the metropolitan area situation (sic) at Bulleen (former Glen Iris Brick Co) and the Brunswick (former Hoffman Steam Brick Co). Its place in the Federation Street industrial complex, however, is important at the State level.

and

The Press and mill buildings form a remarkable industrial complex on account of their distinctive architectural forms overlooking the existing quarry (compare the Tooronga Brickworks, demolished 1988). The intact state of the plant, including the blacksmiths shop is noteworthy at the State level whilst the whole structure is essential to the interpretation of the site.

6.2.4 City of Whitehorse

The City of Whitehorse Heritage Review (Allom Lovell & Associates, 1999) a single unified citation

for the various buildings within the complex. This is Council’s current citation for the site.

The following Statement of Significance is primarily derived fro the Heritage Victoria citation for the former Standard Brickworks (H720). The former Standard Brickworks is of outstanding historical and technological significance. The complex is the rare remnant of a series of brick and tilemaking works which were established in the eastern suburbs between the 1880s and the 1940s. The complex comprises a rare and unusually intact brickmaking plant of the early twentieth century. The site retains material evidence from all stages of the brick production process from clay extractions to despatch of finished bricks. Until the closure of the works in 1988, the Hoffmann patent brickmaking Kiln was one of the last such operative Kilns in Victoria. The distinctive form and internal fittings of the clay mill building provide evidence of superseded brickmaking processes and ancillary trades, in particular the tramway system for hauling clay and the blacksmith’s shop. The grinding pans and brick press machinery on site exhibit the same fundamental technology which was introduced with the industrialisation of brickmaking to Victoria in the second half of the nineteenth century.



CHAPT ER 7.0 CONSERVATION POLICY 7.1 Introduction The following conservation policy has been developed with regard to the significance of the former

Standard Brickworks in Box Hill and is intended as a guide to the manner in which the place should

be treated to maintain that significance. Specifically, the intention of the conservation policy is to

provide a framework for the future use and conservation of the site, including protection of the

significant fabric. It is to provide for ongoing maintenance and repair, and to enable appropriate

adaptation and sympathetic new development to ensure the continued cultural significance, economic

viability and utility of the place. Broadly speaking, it is hoped that this policy will enable the place to

retain its remnant historic fabric and significant character while nonetheless evolving in a manner that

ensures the future of the place. A detailed guide to periods of construction, nature and significance of

individual elements of the fabric that informs these policies can be found elsewhere in this report.

The conservation policy is based on the processes outlined within the Burra Charter, the charter of

Australia ICOMOS, which has been adopted by most governmental and private conservation bodies

and individuals in Australia. Special reference should be made to the definitions outlined in Articles 1

to 29 of the Burra Charter, which provide the basis for the terminology used in this policy. The Burra

Charter is reproduced in full as Appendix A.

The policy below outlines a number of broad principles and recommends that these are formally

adopted as policy. All decisions concerning future modifications to the site should adhere to these

principles. It is intended that this policy and the CMP as a whole should be endorsed, at least in

principle, by Heritage Victoria.

7.2 Fabric and Setting

The fo rm e r S ta nd a rd B r ic kw o rk s (Bo x H i l l ) i s re c o g n i se d a s a p la c e o f c u l tu ra l

s ig n i f ic a n c e p u r su a n t to H e r i ta g e V ic to r ia ’ s S ta te m e n t o f S ig n i f ic a n c e

a b o v e (c h a p te r 5 ) . The s i te i s s ig n i f ic a nt a s a ra re a n d re la t i v e ly i n ta c t

b r ic km a k in g p la n t d a t in g f ro m th e e a r l y tw e n t ie th c e n tu ry w i th v a r io u s

h i s to r ic a s so c ia t io n s to th e d i s t r ic t a n d th e e a r l y b r ic km a k in g in d u s t r y i n

V ic to r ia . The s ig n i f ic a nc e o f the s i te re la te s p r inc ip a l l y to i t s id e nt i f ie d

s ig n i f ic a n t fa b r ic a n d th e e x i s t i n g re la t io n sh ip s b e tw e e n ke y e le m e n t s ,

w h ic h a l lo w th e g ro u p to b e und e r s to o d a s a n e a r l y i nd us t r ia l c o m p le x .



The former Standard Brickworks is recognised as a place of State significance pursuant to the

Statements of Significance cited in Chapter 5 and is a registered historic place under the Heritage Act

1995. The significance of the site is primarily related to its remnant industrial structures notably the

early twentieth century architecture of the kiln, the mill building and the gatehouse. The site is valued

for its aesthetic qualities both external and internal, its historical and technical associations. No works,

other than maintenance and repair, should be undertaken without consultation with Heritage

Victoria.

As noted in Chapter 3, much of the historic fabric has been removed from the former Standard

Brickworks (Box Hill) as a consequence of the decommissioning of the site and the subsequent

landfill operations which have taken place in recent times. The setting of some key buildings has

already been diminished. To ensure that further losses of historic fabric are minimised, it is

recommended that the guidelines in Section 7.6 be adopted for future building, stabilisation,

restoration or renovation works.

Before undertaking any works, whether redevelopment, repairs or maintenance, consideration should

be given to the significance of the fabric that will be affected and the impact of any proposed works on

the fabric. To assist in these deliberations, the guidelines contained in the Burra Charter should be

used in consideration of any proposed building works. The Charter is reproduced at Appendix A of

this report.

Any future works to the complex should be designed to retain and enhance as much significant fabric

as possible through maintenance and possibly through repairs and restoration. They should be

undertaken in a manner that is mindful of the policies of this CMP and that seeks to further its

objectives wherever possible, including the conservation of all extant fabric of primary significance

and enhancement of the use and interpretive values of the complex.

As discussed below, the elements of the place that comprise the former Brickworks may be classified

according to their relative levels of significance using a three-tiered classification system of primary,

secondary and little/no significance. Most notably, every effort should be taken to preserve and

maintain all fabric of primary significance.

Specific policies for the future retention and management of built fabric on the site will vary according

to the level of significance attributed to individual elements as discussed below. In general, it is

preferable that alterations, additions and/or partial demolition be confined to those parts of the fabric

deemed to be of contributory or little/no significance. Where original fabric can be revealed or

reinforced by sympathetic new works then this approach is encouraged.



Figure 5 Site Plan showing levels of significance.

7.2.1 Elements of Primary Significance

Elements and spaces of primary significance are those that contribute in a fundamental way to an

understanding of the significance of the site and are predominantly intact in terms of their form and

fabric to the most significant phase of the site’s development. These elements should be retained and

restored.

In the case of the subject site, the primary significance of the place relates to the extant early fabric

from the period up to and including WWII along with the historical and social associations of the

buildings.

Elements of primary significance include:

• The kiln

• Original brick sections (pre-1928) of the clay mill building

• The gatehouse

• Machinery as identified by others

N

GATEHOUSE (c1920)

STORE

[FORMER

LUNCHROOMS]

(c1920)

TOILETS

(c1952)

SOUTHERN ADDITION

(c1970s)

EARLY

SHED

CLAY MILL BUILDING (c1913)

WESTERN

ADDITION

(c1960)

KILN (1913)

EASTERN

ADDITION

(c1975)

Primary significance

Secondary significance

Little or no significance



In broad terms, internal and external fabric of primary significance should be retained and restored

wherever possible. Some modest alterations to fabric of primary significance to facilitate a positive

adaptive reuse may be appropriate providing the impact of such works on the identified significance of

the place is limited.

7.2.2 Elements of Secondary Significance

Elements and spaces of secondary significance contribute to an understanding of the overall

significance or later development of the site. However, they are not of individual distinction and do

not play a key role in the understanding or appreciation of the function or layout of the early complex.

These elements may date from the key interwar period of significance but be so altered or of such

limited individual significance that their contribution to the character and significance of the place is

reasonably modest.

Elements of secondary significance should preferably be retained, but might be removed or altered as

part of an otherwise supportable redevelopment of the site that provides a sustainable future for the

place.

Elements of secondary significance include:

• The early shed

• The Store (Lunchrooms)

7.2.3 Elements of Little or No Significance

These are elements and spaces that contribute little or nothing to an overall understanding of the

significance of the site. They may be minor elements which provide few insights into the processes

that once took place within the site or may be so heavily altered as to have lost any of their original

significance. Generally speaking, these elements may be retained or demolished as required.

Elements of little or no significance include:

• Toilets

• Postwar additions to the western, southern and eastern elevations of the clay mill building.

• Modern cladding to exterior of the brick kiln

• Fencing and gates.

7.2.4 Plant and machinery

As discussed at 7.5 below, the extant brick presses and clay milling machinery surviving within the

original sections of the clay mill and later additions are unusual and may be unique within Victoria as

the last surviving brick processing machinery to survive in situ. The significance of these and other

elements of machinery should be assessed by a suitably qualified industrial archaeologist or other



specialist consultant prior to undertaking detailed design for the redevelopment of the site. These

elements should be conserved in accordance with any relevant recommendations from the consultant.

7.3 Use

The signif icance of the site depends, in part, upon its legibil ity as a brickmaking

plant dating from the early twentieth century. To ensure that this s ignif icance is

retained and enhanced, uses, which assist in the interpretation of the buildings as

a coherent industr ial group and support an understanding of the place should be

given preference.

The former Standard Brickworks was abandoned in 1988. It has been unused since that time and the

original, or a similar, industrial use will not eventuate in the current planning and economic

environment. The buildings on the site are currently experiencing slow decay as a consequence of

vandalism and neglect. In order for the place to be conserved, it is imperative that an alternative but

appropriate new use is found. Accepting this, it is recognised that any future redevelopment of the site

will require the construction of new buildings that will support both the new use and the extensive

restoration works to key buildings. While it would be desirable, in an ideal sense, to retain buildings of

both primary and secondary significance and to reinstate the ad hoc manufacturing setting, this is not a

practical or feasible future outcome and it is likely that some fabric of secondary significance will need

to be removed to allow the regeneration of the complex.

A number of possibilities exist for the adaptive reuse of the structures on the site.

Potential uses for the kiln might include a market in which individual stallholders could

operate on a temporary or semi-permanent basis from sites in or around the building.

Alternatively, the unusual, vaulted spaces of the kiln could be utilised for exhibition or display

purposes and the site could be adapted for use as an exposition centre or gallery.

Alternatively, original, light partitions between the wickets could be reinstated to allow up to

18 small tenancies with entry by way of the individual wickets. These outcomes would

probably require some alterations to significant fabric to allow the spaces to comply with

modern building regulations. It may, for example, be necessary to lower the floor levels in the

wickets to achieve adequate floor to ceiling heights or to create new penetrations to allow

access to the exhaust chamber of the kiln. However, alterations of this type need not impact

in a substantial way on the form of the building or require substantial losses of original fabric.

Access to the upper levels of the kiln could be reinstated allowing their use as a recreational,

commercial or office spaces. It may be appropriate to replace some original brickwork to

existing openings to the upper floor with glazed panels in conjunction with such a usage.



Some panels have previously been infilled with later brickwork or lightweight panels. This

relatively modern fabric does not contribute to the significance of the kiln and the removal of

these retrofitted elements would raise no heritage issues. Some alterations to allow increased

floor to ceiling heights may be necessary. These should be undertaken in a manner that limits

impacts on the external appearance of the structure and losses of original fabric. Access to

the upper level could be achieved by way of an external structure recalling that visible in

figure 3.

The clay mill building may provide fewer opportunities for straightforward adaptive reuse but

still has the potential for the regeneration of its grand spaces for retail, office or recreational

purposes. Issues associated with natural light, energy efficiency, heating and cooling could be

addressed without substantial impacts on the external character or significance of the

building. New openings could be introduced in discreet sections of the building although

original window openings and joinery (to the limited extent that it survives) should, where

possible, be retained.

A number of alternative development options exist for the broader site.

These could take the form of new multi-storey development along the boundaries adjacent to

the southwestern corner of the site or elsewhere within the curtilage associated with the

Heritage Victoria Registration. The existing, single storey buildings, including later additions to

the clay mill building, the toilets and possible the store (lunchrooms) and/or early shed, could be

demolished to provide sites for new residential or commercial structures. The existing clay mill

building could be retained and refurbished to contribute to this new residential or commercial

stock. New built form should allow the key early buildings to remain pre-eminent buildings on

the site and for the relationship between these buildings to remain legible. Funds generated by

the new development would allow for the stabilisation and adaptive reuse of the kiln building

and for the remnant plant and machinery to be assessed and conserved as recommended by

others (refer 7.5.3 below).

The goal of any new development on the site should be the retention of key elements present on the

site, most notably, the kiln, the clay mill and gatehouse buildings and key remnant milling and

pressing machinery (as identified by others). These should be conserved in a manner that allows the

broad sense of the early chain of production, from the early clayhole on the adjacent Surrey Park site,

the clay mill building and its associated plant and the kiln to be preserved.

In the event that no adaptive reuse can be identified, the kiln gatehouse and mill buildings could be

stabilised within tight fenced boundaries until such time as funding from the development of the



broader site allow other options for the remnant building stock to be explored. This proposal allows

for a number of idealised possibilities, such as the total restoration of the site or the construction of an

interpretative centre, at a later date. However, ‘mothballing’ in this manner would not address the

immediate issue of decay of significant fabric and represents the least desirable of the approaches

canvassed in this report.

If no sustainable use and management can be identified for the place it may be appropriate to

consider demolition of some or all of the buildings on the site. This would require detailed

consultation with Heritage Victoria who would be unlikely to support the proposal unless

extraordinary circumstances could be shown to exist. It would be necessary to establish that

conservation of the key buildings on the site is not possible. In the event that Heritage Victoria

supported the total or near total demolition of the identified significant structures, an archive of

material relating to the site should be established and lodged with appropriate groups such as,

Heritage Victoria, the local historical societies or a brick industry body. This would include measured

drawings and a detailed photographic record of the site. The former role of the site would need to be

identified by way of plaques or other interpretative elements at suitable locations around the former

Brickworks site.

7.4 Interpretation

The significance of the former Standard Brickworks (Box Hil l) can be best

interpreted through an inspection of the physical fabric. The place is less well

understood by means of secondary sources or documentation.

Despite the losses of some elements over the last three decades, the physical form of the complex is

readily understandable as an early twentieth century brickmaking site. The interpretative value of the

place is largely attributable to the form, scale and architectural character of the kiln, clay mill and

gatehouse. The retention of significant fabric is therefore central to the interpretation of the complex

and new works on the site should be executed in a manner that allows the continued legibility of this

aspect of the place.

While the significance of the place can also be interpreted by means of primary and secondary sources

and documentation, these methods are less well-suited to an explanation of the scale of the enterprise

and the form of the machinery and structure required in the brick production process. In the event

that the site is redeveloped, the retained buildings should be supplemented by an interpretative display

that identifies and interprets aspects of their historical, technological and social significance.

Interpretation of the place may also be achieved through secondary sources, such as this Conservation

Management Plan and the material identified in its bibliography.



Prior to any substantial redevelopment works it may also be appropriate to undertake detailed,

graphic surveys of the place by professional photographers in order to record the current appearance

of the site in a systematic manner. These records should be stored to archival standards, and copies

should be lodged with Heritage Victoria, City of Whitehorse and the Whitehorse Historical society or

other bodies as appropriate.

7.5 Management

The future survival of the site should be secured through appropriate and

sustainable management. Future management of the significance of the place

should help determine future management, subdivision.

The present ownership and management of the site is sufficient to allow an appropriate ongoing

maintenance and evolution of the site. Present and future owners will be required to liaise with

Heritage Victoria on any proposed works to the buildings of identified significance other than

straightforward repairs and general maintenance.

Current and future owners should have overall responsibility for the implementation of the general

direction in this CMP. However, a number of other, specific actions need to be undertaken by

current managers of the site as a priority.

7.5.1 Environmental Audit Overlay

The site is subject to an Environmental Audit Overlay. This extends over the full extent of the land

described in the Heritage Victoria Registration. Prior to undertaking detailed design for the site the

extent of any contamination should be determined and appropriate remediation processes identified.

In particular, the extent to which remediation works could impact on early buildings should be

understood.

7.5.2 Structural Stability

Some sections of the early buildings on the site, most notably the chimney to the kiln, were stabilised

during the 1990s. It is understood that no further structural assessment has been undertaken since

that time. An updated structural assessment of key buildings on the site should be undertaken in the

short term prioritising any necessary structural work. Investigation of the chimney, cracking to

brickwork in the kiln more broadly and cracking to the gatehouse should be investigated as a priority.



7.5.3 Assessment of plant and machinery

Original or early machinery including brick presses, crushers and conveyors survive within the

complex. An assessment of these items should be undertaken by a suitably-qualified and experienced

industrial archaeologist or other specialist consultant. A report identifying all industrial artefacts,

machinery and equipment within the registered structures, explaining their role in the brick-making

process and assessing their relative heritage significance should be prepared. The report should

include a plan for the future treatment of machinery. Any constraints arising from the presence of

these elements should be identified prior to undertaking detailed design for the redevelopment of the

site. In addition, the report should clearly identify any sub-surface industrial archaeological zones and

make recommendations for their management. The report should identify whether any form of

archaeological investigation or monitoring will be required during the future redevelopment of the

site.

7.6 Control of Physical Intervention in the Fabric

Interventions, which result in the loss of original fabric, as identif ied above, should

be avoided. Permits from Heritage Victoria are required for any works on this s ite,

other than routine maintenance.

Despite recent losses, much of the early fabric remains intact. Where repairs are necessary, every effort should be

made to retain the surviving original fabric rather than replace it with new fabric of a similar material or design.

Efforts should be made to restore or reconstruct existing external fabric where feasible. Where fabric is unable to

be repaired and/or reused, it should be replaced with a compatible alternative of similar appearance. Internal

alterations should minimise the loss of original elements and fabric and should be designed in a manner that

facilitates the interpretation of the original design and facilitates the reconstruction of any elements removed.

Where necessary, fittings that are consistent with the building's new role may be introduced, but these should be

removable and of a design and a method of installation which results in little or no impact on the significant fabric

and the character of the place generally.

All significant fabric should be maintained to a high order. The significance of the site relates to that fabric

deriving from its mature, interwar state. Where new work has been undertaken since that time, such as

bricking up of kiln wickets and additions to the clay mill building, they should be reversed in a manner

which reconstructs the original detailing of that part of the place.

It is a requirement under the Heritage Act, 1995, that Heritage Victoria is advised of any work which

might result in the loss of any early fabric, and consulted regarding its appropriateness. Permits will

be required for works other than maintenance and repair, including internal changes. In the event

that redevelopment does not occur in the very short term, it is recommended that a permit



exemptions policy is prepared in consultation with Heritage Victoria. This would facilitate the

ongoing management of the place by obviating the need for permits for routine maintenance works

and changes which do not impact on significant fabric. The owners would still be responsible for

seeking relevant planning or building permits from the City of Whitehorse, where applicable.

Appropriate permit exemptions for the former Standard Brickworks might include the following:

General Conditions

• All exempted alterations are to be carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered

place.

• Should it become apparent during further inspection or carrying out of alterations that original or previously

hidden or inaccessible details of the place are revealed which related to the significance of the place or object,

then the exemption covering such alterations shall cease and the Executive director shall be notified as soon as

possible.

• In the event that this conservation policy and plan is approved by the Executive Director, all works shall accord

with the direction therein.

Grounds

• The process of gardening, mowing, mulching, new plantings, removal of dead plants and weed control

and safety works.

• Repair, conservation or removal of hard landscaping elements (paving etc.) None of these elements date

from the early occupation of the site. Although this may be retained for practical reasons

• Installation or removal of cameras or other security devices

• Installation, repair, replacement or removal of perimeter and other security fences.

The clay mill

• Emergency or safety works which do not involve significant building fabric.

• Removal of extraneous items such as external framing and cladding to prevent unauthorised entry, etc.

and making good.

• Fitting or removal of screens and other devices to discourage entry.

• Installation or removal of cameras or other security devices.

• Installation or removal of extraneous modern items pipework, ducting wiring, etc. and making good of

these areas.

• Removal of elements of little or no significance

The Brick kiln






• Removal of extraneous modern items pipework, ducting wiring, etc. and making good of these items.

The gatehouse




• Installation or removal of extraneous modern items pipework, ducting wiring, etc. and making good of

these items.

7.7 Future Developments

Future works should not obscure or damage original fabric, and should not obscure the legibility

or appearance of the key buildings or their relationship with one another. New external

structures should be readily distinguishable from, and physically independent from, the

significant fabric. Where possible, future works should recover aspects of the form, detailing,

materials and setting of the key buildings on the site.

Future works should not obscure or damage original fabric and should not obscure the legibility or

appearance of the key buildings or their relationship with one another. It is important that the

arrangement of the early buildings, present on the site in 1948 remains legible. The relationship

between the buildings and the former clayhole immediately to the east has largely been lost through

infilling and this is best preserved through markers or other interpretative material. Key views, such

as that from the site entry, in which the individual buildings can be understood as a group, should

be preserved. Where possible, future works should recover aspects of the form, detailing, materials

and setting of the key buildings on the site.

Given that the site itself is significant, and is a registered historic place, it is important that any new

built form on the place be designed with regard for the character, appearance and significance of the

place, while nonetheless being expressive of its own time, i.e. good contemporary design.

As part of any future redevelopment of the site, it may be useful to consider recent developments at

the Brunswick Brickworks site. On that occasion, Heritage Victoria supported a scheme in which key

buildings were largely retained and adapted for new uses. Substantial numbers of new buildings were

introduced including townhouse rows and apartment blocks. However, these were generally located

in less sensitive sections of the site and rarely abut key buildings on the site. Key views to the kiln and

mill buildings from Dawson Street remain available.



Figure 27 Dawson Streetscape incorporates new buildings alongside earlier buildings. Figure 28 Infill building on the Brunswick Brickworks site.

New buildings erected on the registered land should be of a similar or lower height to that of the clay

mill building. Some potential for taller buildings exists in areas away from the kiln and the mill –

indeed, outside the registered land there is scope for buildings of greater, even unrelated height.

Where possible new external structures should be kept separate from the historic fabric. New

structures should be sited in such a way as to retain and enhance the existing physical

relationships between the key individual buildings. New structures should be of a

straightforward contemporary design that minimises concealment of the fabric of primary

significance.

7.8 Adoption and Review

Th i s Conservat ion and Management P lan shou ld be rev iewed every ten years in

consu l tat ion wi th the Her i tage V ictor ia and the Ci ty of Whi tehorse, and at any

such t ime as the ownersh ip of the p lace may change .

It is standard practice for Conservation Management Plans to be reviewed at regular intervals, to

ensure that they make provision for the changing circumstances of the particular place and to

accommodate new information and improved conservation technologies and philosophies.

This Conservation Management Plan should be reviewed at a maximum interval of ten years in

consultation with Heritage Victoria and the owners.



7.9 Maintenance and Repair

The complex has fal len into disrepair over recent decades. As a consequence,

a number of stabi l i sat ion measures are required as a pr ior i ty and a program of

monitor ing and maintenance should be in it iated.

As noted at 7.5 above, a number of surveys, audits and other assessments of conditions within the site

need to be undertaken in the short term. Those assessments will create requirements for action

beyond straightforward repairs and maintenance. Matters raised by those reports may not be

addressed below.

In addition, a coordinated program of maintenance and repair should be devised and implemented in

the short term. This should incorporate a systematised programme of inspection, repairs and routine

maintenance. Present and future owners and/or operators should subscribe to this program.

Works such as gutter clearance, roof repairs, stormwater maintenance, assessment of damage through

vandalism and graffiti attack should be undertaken on a regular basis. Cracking to gatehouse and

around wickets should be monitored. As a general rule, persistent or recurring problems should be

investigated in detail to determine the likely cause before any repairs are undertaken.

The kiln, clay mill and gatehouse have developed high levels of soiling and graffiti. Cleaning is

normally discouraged unless it takes place in the context of essential conservation works. Good

principles for masonry cleaning are set out in the National Trust Technical Bulletin 3.1, which notes:

Cleaning of fabric of a building (or monument or statue) is generally regarded as an important part of

maintenance and of restoration. However, it must be stressed that not only may cleaning be expensive, but

it may change the character of the building (by destroying an attractive patina), damage the external fabric

and internal decoration, and may be of temporary effect only. Cleaning should not be undertaken without

strong justification and if soiling cannot be removed without damage to the fabric then it should not be

removed at all.10

As part of any future redevelopment, graffiti should be removed from brickwork and brick surfaces

more broadly should be cleaned.

10 Australian Council of National Trusts, Principles of Cleaning Masonry Buildings, p.3.



7.10 Conservation Works

The following comprises a list of security, maintenance and remedial works which should be

considered and generally undertaken in the short (1-5 years) to medium (5-10 years) term. Where

appropriate, the need for specialist advice has been indicated. Many of the interventions discussed

below were identified prior to the preparation of the earlier Conservation Management Plan (2002)

but have yet to be undertaken.

Grounds

(i) Site security should continue to be enforced and enhanced. All buildings, particularly the clay mill,

gatehouse and kiln, should be secured to prevent further vandalism. Strategies for increased passive

surveillance of the heritage buildings should be incorporated where possible in order to limit inappropriate

behaviour and the need for active site security.

The clay mill

(ii) Repair cladding to roof and upper stories of clay mill building.

(iii) Repair windows and skylights to upper stories of clay mill building to match surviving details.

(iv) Stabilise additions to clay mill building with particular attention to column subsidence in southwestern

addition and damaged roof trusses in western addition. All works should be performed in conjunction with a

Consulting Engineer.

(v) In the longer term (more than 10 years) additions in the northwestern and southwestern sections of the

clay mill building should be removed. These elements are not visible in the 1947 MMBW plan.

The Brick kiln

(vi) In the longer term, temporary banding around upper sections of chimney should be removed and the

chimney repointed for its full height to the satisfaction of a Structural Engineer along its full height in

accordance with the Irwin Johnston report (1993) and addendum (1994) or in accordance with a new

report into the condition of the kiln as discussed at 7.5 above. In the short term, a minimum repair to the

chimney structure would involve the replacement of the metal bands and longitudinal strapping in place

over the top section of the chimney and an extension of the banding to the base of the chimney as outlined in

the early reports noted above. All works should be performed in conjunction with a Consulting Engineer.

(vii) The top of the chimney should be capped to stop further deterioration of the internal face of the chimney,

in accordance with the Irwin Johnston report (1993) and addendum (1994). Efforts should be made to



ensure that the capping is not readily visible from areas adjacent to the kiln building. All works should

be performed in conjunction with a Consulting Engineer and a Heritage Consultant. It may be

appropriate consider a silicone or other compatible external coating, to arrest decay to the exterior

brickwork of the chimney, as discussed in the Irwin Johnston report (1993) and addendum (1994), as

part of these works. However works of this type can damage brickwork and the precise properties of the

products employed should be established prior to undertaking works of this type. Traditional repointing is

preferred.

(viii) Temporary timber bracing to roof trusses should be examined by a Structural Engineer. If its is judged to

be inadequate, it should be replaced and new knee bracing installed to detail provided in Perrett Simpson

report (1990) or similar approved. Missing sections of roof trusses should be he replaced or repaired. All

works should be performed in conjunction with a Consulting Engineer.

(ix) Replace roof and guttering to original detail.

(x) Walls and piers at first floor level to be stabilised to the satisfaction of a Structural Engineer.

(xi) Where failure has occurred, concrete lintels to wickets should be replaced to replicate existing detail. This

work to be carried out in conjunction with a Heritage Consultant and Structural Engineer.

(xii) Localised failures to brickwork to be repaired. This work to be carried out in conjunction with a

Structural Engineer and Heritage Consultant. A number of substantial and unexplained failures were

noted in the walls to the exhaust chamber and the wickets at ground floor level of the kiln. These should

assessed (refer 7.5 above) and appropriate action undertaken.

(xiii) Modern brickwork to wickets should be removed and doors to original detail.

The gatehouse

(xiv) In the short term, the gatehouse should be secured to limit further damage and vandalism

(xv) In the longer term, an assessment of cracking should be undertaken inform restoration of this building.

(xvi) Sufficient original fabric survives to allow a restoration of this building to its early state. This should be

undertaken as [art of the redevelopment of the broader site for a new use.



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Allom Lovell & Associates, The former Brickworks, 72-106 Dawson Street, Brunswick, Conservation Management Plan, prepared for the City of Moreland, November 1997.

Timothy Hubbard Pty Ltd, Former standard (Box Hill) Brickworks, Proposed Demolition, Unpublished report for the Historic Buildings Council, April 1994, p.6.

Irwin Johnston & Partners, Report on Condition of Existing Buildings, Former Box Hill Brickworks, Federation Street, Box Hill, 12 November 1993.

Irwin Johnston & Partners, Addendum to Report on Condition of Existing Buildings, Former Box Hill Brickworks, Federation Street, Box Hill, 18 April 1994.

Helen Lardner Conservation & Design, The former Brickworks, 72-106 Dawson Street, Brunswick, Conservation Management Plan, prepared for the City of Moreland, November 1997.

Helen Lardner Conservation & Design, Brickworks, Brunswick, Additional Research, November 1998.

MMBW Plan No 177, 160' to 1", June 1928.

MMBW Plan No 3102, 40' to 1", 1947.

MMBW Plan of House Connections Drainage, Plan No 207047, 4 January 1952.

National Trust (Vic), Citation for the Box Hill Brickworks, File No 05992.

National Trust (Vic), The submission concerning the former Standard Brickworks, Federation Street Box Hill to the Historic Buildings Council,

Perrett Simpson, Report on existing brick kiln, Federation Street, Box Hill , 20 February 1990.

Geoff Taplin, Consulting Engineer, Report to the National Trust of Australia (Vic) on the Box Hill brickworks, Federation Street, Box Hill, 11 April 1994.

Geoff Taplin, Consulting Engineer, Report to the National Trust of Australia (Vic) on the Box Hill brickworks, Federation Street, Box Hill, 11 April 1994,

Uncredited, Prospectus of the Houghton Park Brick Company, 1884.

National Trust (Vic), The submission concerning the former Standard Brickworks, Federation Street Box Hill to the Historic Buildings Council,

Victorian Heritage Register, Citation for the Box Hill Brickworks, Registration No H720.

bryce raworth conservation • urban design D1

APPENDIX A BURRA CHARTER

Preamble Considering the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (Venice 1964), and the Resolutions of the 5th General Assembly of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) (Moscow 1978), the Burra Charter was adopted by Australia ICOMOS (the Australian National Committee of ICOMOS) on 19 August 1979 at Burra, South Australia. Revisions were adopted on 23 February 1981, 23 April 1988 and 26 November 1999. The Burra Charter provides guidance for the conservation and management of places of cultural significance (cultural heritage places), and is based on the knowledge and experience of Australia ICOMOS members. Conservation is an integral part of the management of places of cultural significance and is an ongoing responsibility. Who is the Charter for? The Charter sets a standard of practice for those who provide advice, make decisions about, or undertake works to places of cultural significance, including owners, managers and custodians. Using the Charter The Charter should be read as a whole. Many articles are interdependent. Articles in the Conservation Principles Section are often further developed in the Conservation Processes and Conservation Practice sections. Headings have been included for ease of reading but do not form part of the Charter. The Charter is self-contained, but aspects of its use and application are further explained in the following Australia ICOMOS documents: Guidelines to the Burra Charter: Cultural Significance; Guidelines to the Burra Charter: Conservation Policy; Guidelines to the Burra Charter: Procedures for Undertaking Studies and Reports; Code on the Ethics of Coexistence in Conserving Significant Places. What places does the Charter apply to? The Charter can be applied to all types of places of cultural significance including natural, indigenous and historic places with cultural values. The standards of other organisations may also be relevant. These include the Australian Natural Heritage Charter and the Draft Guidelines for the Protection, Management and Use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Places. Why conserve? Places of cultural significance enrich people's lives, often providing a deep and inspirational sense of connection to community and landscape, to the past and to lived experiences. They are historical records, that are important as tangible expressions of Australian identity and experience. Places of


cultural significance reflect the diversity of our communities, telling us about who we are and the past that has formed us and the Australian landscape. They are irreplaceable and precious. These places of cultural significance must be conserved for present and future generations. The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained. Articles Article 1. Definitions For the purposes of this Charter: 1.1 Place means site, area, land, landscape, building or other work, group of buildings or other works, and may include components, contents, spaces and views. 1.2 Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects. Places may have a range of values for different individuals or groups. 1.3 Fabric means all the physical material of the place including components, fixtures, contents, and objects. 1.4 Conservation means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance. Maintenance means the continuous protective care of the fabric and setting of a place, and is to be distinguished from repair. Repair involves restoration or reconstruction. 1.6 Preservation means maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state and retarding deterioration. 1.7 Restoration means returning the existing fabric of a place to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material. 1.8 Reconstruction means returning a place to a known earlier state and is distinguished from restoration by the introduction of new material into the fabric. 1.9 Adaptation means modifying a place to suit the existing use or a proposed use. 1.10 Use means the functions of a place, as well as the activities and practices that may occur at the place. 1.11 Compatible use means a use which respects the cultural significance of a place. Such a use involves no, or minimal, impact on cultural significance.


1. 12 Setting means the area around a place, which may include the visual catchment. 1. 13 Related place means a place that contributes to the cultural significance of another place. 1. 14 Related object means an object that contributes to the cultural significance of a place but is not at the place. 1. 15 Associations mean the special connections that exist between people and a place. 1. 16 Meanings denote what a place signifies, indicates, evokes or expresses. 1. 17 Interpretation means all the ways of presenting the cultural significance of a place. Conservation Principles Article 2. Conservation and management 2.1 Places of cultural significance should be conserved. 2.2 The aim of conservation is to retain the cultural significance of a place. 2.3 Conservation is an integral part of good management of places of cultural significance. 2.4 Places of cultural significance should be safeguarded and not put at risk or left in a vulnerable state. Article 3. Cautious approach 3.1 Conservation is based on a respect for the existing fabric, use, associations and meanings. It requires a cautious approach of changing as much as necessary but as little as possible. 3.2 Changes to a place should not distort the physical or other evidence it provides, nor be based on conjecture. Article 4. Knowledge, skills and techniques 4.1 Conservation should make use of all the knowledge, skills and disciplines which can contribute to the study and care of the place. 4.2 Traditional techniques and materials are preferred for the conservation of significant fabric. In some circumstances modern techniques and materials which offer substantial conservation benefits may be appropriate. Article 5. Values 5.1 Conservation of a place should identify and take into consideration all aspects of cultural and natural significance without unwarranted emphasis on any one value at the expense of others. 5.2 Relative degrees of cultural significance may lead to different conservation actions at a place. Article 6. Burra Charter process 6.1 The cultural significance of a place and other issues affecting its future are best understood by a sequence of collecting and analysing information before making decisions.


Understanding cultural significance comes first, then development of policy and finally management of the place in accordance with the policy. 6.2 The policy for managing a place must be based on an understanding of its cultural significance. 6.3 Policy development should also include consideration of other factors affecting the future of a place such as the owner's needs, resources, external constraints and its physical condition. Article 7. Use 7.1 Where the use of a place is of cultural significance it should be retained. 7.2 A place should have a compatible use. Article 8. Setting Conservation requires the retention of an appropriate visual setting and other relationships that contribute to the cultural significance of the place. New construction, demolition, intrusions or other changes which would adversely affect the setting or relationships are not appropriate. Article 9. Location 9.1 The physical location of a place is part of its cultural significance. A building, work or other component of a place should remain in its historical location. Relocation is generally unacceptable unless this is the sole practical means of ensuring its survival. 9.2 Some buildings, works or other components of places were designed to be readily removable or already have a history of relocation. Provided such buildings, works or other components do not have significant links with their present location, removal may be appropriate. 9.3 If any building, work or other component is moved, it should be moved to an appropriate location and given an appropriate use. Such action should not be to the detriment of any place of cultural significance. Article 10. Contents Contents, fixtures and objects which contribute to the cultural significance of a place should be retained at that place. Their removal is unacceptable unless it is: the sole means of ensuring their security and preservation; on a temporary basis for treatment or exhibition; for cultural reasons; for health and safety; or to protect the place. Such contents, fixtures and objects should be returned where circumstances permit and it is culturally appropriate. Article 11. Related places and objects The contribution which related places and related objects make to the cultural significance of the place should be retained. Article 12. Participation Conservation, interpretation and management of a place should provide for the participation of people for whom the place has special associations and meanings, or who have social, spiritual or other cultural responsibilities for the place.


Article 13. Co-existence of cultural values Co-existence of cultural values should be recognised, respected and encouraged, especially in cases where they conflict. Conservation Processes Article 14. Conservation processes Conservation may, according to circumstance, include the processes of retention or reintroduction of a use; retention of associations and meanings; maintenance, preservation, restoration, reconstruction, adaptation and interpretation; and will commonly include a combination of more than one of these. Article 15. Change 15.1 Change may be necessary to retain cultural significance, but is undesirable where it reduces cultural significance. The amount of change to a place should be guided by the cultural significance of the place and its appropriate interpretation. 15.2 Changes which reduce cultural significance should be reversible, and be reversed when circumstances permit. 15.3 Demolition of significant fabric of a place is generally not acceptable. However, in some cases minor demolition may be appropriate as part of conservation. Removed significant fabric should be reinstated when circumstances permit. 15.4 The contributions of all aspects of cultural significance of a place should be respected. If a place includes fabric, uses, associations or meanings of different periods, or different aspects of cultural significance, emphasising or interpreting one period or aspect at the expense of another can only be justified when what is left out, removed or diminished is of slight cultural significance and that which is emphasised or interpreted is of much greater cultural significance. Article 16. Maintenance Maintenance is fundamental to conservation and should be undertaken where fabric is of cultural significance and its maintenance is necessary to retain that cultural significance. Article 17. Preservation Preservation is appropriate where the existing fabric or its condition constitutes evidence of cultural significance, or where insufficient evidence is available to allow other conservation processes to be carried out. Article 18. Restoration and reconstruction Restoration and reconstruction should reveal culturally significant aspects of the place. Article 19. Restoration Restoration is appropriate only if there is sufficient evidence of an earlier state of the fabric. Article 20. Reconstruction 20.1 Reconstruction is appropriate only where a place is incomplete through damage or alteration, and only where there is sufficient evidence to reproduce an earlier state of the fabric. In rare cases,


reconstruction may also be appropriate as part of a use or practice that retains the cultural significance of the place. 20.2 Reconstruction should be identifiable on close inspection or through additional interpretation. Article 21. Adaptation 21.1 Adaptation is acceptable only where the adaptation has minimal impact on the cultural significance of the place. 21.2 Adaptation should involve minimal change to significant fabric, achieved only after considering alternatives. Article 22. New work 22.1 New work such as additions to the place may be acceptable where it does not distort or obscure the cultural significance of the place, or detract from its interpretation and appreciation. 22.2 New work should be readily identifiable as such. Article 23. Conserving use Continuing, modifying or reinstating a significant use may be appropriate and preferred forms of conservation. Article 24. Retaining associations and meanings 24.1 Significant associations between people and a place should be respected, retained and not obscured. Opportunities for the interpretation, commemoration and celebration of these associations should be investigated and implemented. 24.2 Significant meanings, including spiritual values, of a place should be respected. Opportunities for the continuation or revival of these meanings should be investigated and implemented. Article 25. Interpretation The cultural significance of many places is not readily apparent, and should be explained by interpretation. Interpretation should enhance understanding and enjoyment, and be culturally appropriate. Conservation Practice Article 26. Applying the Burra Charter process 26.1 Work on a place should be preceded by studies to understand the place which should include analysis of physical, documentary, oral and other evidence, drawing on appropriate knowledge, skills and disciplines. 26.2 Written statements of cultural significance and policy for the place should be prepared, justified and accompanied by supporting evidence. The statements of significance and policy should be incorporated into a management plan for the place. 26.3 Groups and individuals with associations with a place as well as those involved in its management should be provided with opportunities to contribute to and participate in understanding the cultural


significance of the place. Where appropriate they should also have opportunities to participate in its conservation and management. Article 27. Managing change 27.1 The impact of proposed changes on the cultural significance of a place should be analysed with reference to the statement of significance and the policy for managing the place. It may be necessary to modify proposed changes following analysis to better retain cultural significance. 27.2 Existing fabric, use, associations and meanings should be adequately recorded before any changes are made to the place. Article 28. Disturbance of fabric 28.1 Disturbance of significant fabric for study, or to obtain evidence, should be minimised. Study of a place by any disturbance of the fabric, including archaeological excavation, should only be undertaken to provide data essential for decisions on the conservation of the place, or to obtain important evidence about to be lost or made inaccessible. 28.2 Investigation of a place which requires disturbance of the fabric, apart from that necessary to make decisions, may be appropriate provided that it is consistent with the policy for the place. Such investigation should be based on important research questions which have potential to substantially add to knowledge, which cannot be answered in other ways and which minimises disturbance of significant fabric. Article 29. Responsibility for decisions The organisations and individuals responsible for management decisions should be named and specific responsibility taken for each such decision. Article 30. Direction, supervision and implementation Competent direction and supervision should be maintained at all stages, and any changes should be implemented by people with appropriate knowledge and skills. Article 31. Documenting evidence and decisions A log of new evidence and additional decisions should be kept. Article 32. Records 32.1 The records associated with the conservation of a place should be placed in a permanent archive and made publicly available, subject to requirements of security and privacy; and where this is culturally appropriate. 32.2 Records about the history of a place should be protected and made publicly available, subject to requirements of security and privacy, and where this is culturally appropriate. Article 33. Removed fabric Significant fabric which has been removed from a place including contents, fixtures and objects, should be catalogued, and protected in accordance with its cultural significance. Where possible and culturally appropriate, removed significant fabric including contents, fixtures and objects, should be kept at the place.


Article 34. Resources Adequate resources should be provided for conservation.

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