Photographs of State Brickworks, Homebush Bay, New South Wales, 1928-1930

PXA 2093

fonds

1928-1930

Graphic Materials, Photographs

1179031

25 photographs - gelatin silver - various sizes.

In 1910, the Minister responsible for Public Works, put forward a proposal to build a brickworks to supply the Department of Public Works. In 1911 9.5 hectares of land was resumed from the State Abattoir for the State Brickworks. By 1925, the site comprised 23.5 hectares. Bricks made during the early years of the site were transported by barge to a depot in Blackwattle Bay from where they were loaded for road transport to building sites.

During the period 1927-1930 the Brickworks showed a declining profit margin and in 1930-1933 there was an increasing deficit. A change in government saw the Brickworks sold to Brickworks Limited in 1936, but production still declined. The site was closed in 1940 and in 1942 was taken over by the Naval Armament Depot to be used as a munitions store.

Reference:
Sydney Olympic Park Authority
http://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au (accessed 17.9.2014)

This collection comprises 25 images of the State Brickworks from 1928 to 1930 and shows the installation of the Electric Shovel, caterpillar trucks, and aerial views of the site and surrounding areas.

1. Assembling Electric Shovel prior to being lowered into pit 90 feet below. In background are the N.S.W. State Abattoirs and Metal Works. ‘30’ in bottom left. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
2. Assembling base of Electric Shovel at edge of pit bank. Depth of pit 90 feet. Background left part of works showing truck road from pit to shed above. Background right Homebush Bay, Concord West in the distance. ‘28’ in bottom left’. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
3. Lowering caterpillar truck and showing base of Ransome Rapier Electric Shovel to pit. ‘31’ in bottom left. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
4. Base of Ransome Rapier Electric Shovel being lowered into pit. ‘26’ in bottom left. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
5. Parramatta River, Rydalmere & Ermington in the background. ‘2’ in bottom left. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1929.
6. Aerial view of State Brick Works, Homebush Bay after installation of Electric Shovels in the pit and Belt Conveyor System (see white building in centre rising to top of pit). No. 2 works and wharf for despatch of bricks by punt in centre of bay. Parramatta River with railway bridge shown at back. Distance suburbs Concord West, Rhodes, Meadowbank, Ermington, Rydalmere and Ryde. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1929.
7. Showing wharf and cranes for loading onto punts, overall view of No. 1 and 2 works with cottage residence partly obscured behind first chimney on left with general view and abattoir and metal works and Lidcombe and Auburn in the distance. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1929.
8. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
9. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
10. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
11. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
12. Lowering Electric Shovel, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
13. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay.
14. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay.
15. Assembled shovel, big pit, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
16. Electric shovel in big pit, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
17. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, big pit, 1928.
18. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, big pit, 1928.
19. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, big pit, 1928.
20. Driving into ‘the crushers’, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
21. Tipping into ‘the crushers’, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, 1928.
22. The crushers, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, July 1930.
23. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, big pit, July 1930.
24. State Brick Works, Homebush Bay, ‘Chinaman’, 6 August 1930.
25. Bottom yard and narrow gauge tramway, State Brick Works, Homebush Bay.

Numbering by cataloguer.

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Verso of each photograph.

Titles and dates are inscribed on verso.

Photographs 1-4:
Front bottom right - imprint of Photo by Milton Kent, Sydney.
Verso - stamp of Noyes Bros (Sydney) Ltd. 115 Clarence Street, Sydney.

Photographs 5-7:
Front bottom right - imprint of Milton Kent, Airplane Photo, Sydney.