The Brickyards were constructed in 1913 and by mid year were
producing bricks. The Brickworks were built to facilitate the
initial development of Canberra including the Cotter Dam and
Pumping Station and the Kingston Power House.
By 1916 work ceased at the yards and did not recommence until
1921.
In 1924 the Manager of the Brickworks was WK Newbolte and the
cost of making 1,000 bricks was 4 pounds 14 shillings. By 1925 this
amount per thousand was reduced to 3 pounds 17/6d.
The men worked a 44 hour week with 15 minute break for
smoko.
Bricks were delivered by light rail to the stacks at Ainslie
(Civic), Railway (June 1926). Bricks were delivered to major sites
such as Parliament House. Following the completion of Parliament
House and other buildings necessary to operate the business of
parliament building works slowed. By 23 March, 1928 the staff was
reduced from 73 to (at 1.5.1928) 3 setters, 3 draggers, 3 burners,
4 pitmen, 4 wheelers, 2 mixer men, 2 pan men, 2 machine men, 5
machine boys, 1 die maker, 1 presser, 1 fitter, 1 fitter's help, 1
horse & dray driver. The one brick machine made 50,000 bricks
per week.
The Brickyards closed during World War II and in August 1944 the
Works Director made application for labourers required for the
reopening of the brickworks. At that time there were still
6,000,000 bricks in stock but more were needed to keep up with the
demand. Some of the key men were in the armed forces and others had
been sent out of state.
The brickpits have historical value as a primary source of clay
and are also of considerable geological value as the locality for
the ‘Yarralumla Formation’, dating from the Silurian Period 425
million years ago. It is the only fossil marine unit within the
extensive volcanic marker horizons of South Canberra. It shows
abundant fossils of mainly gracitiopods, trilobites, coral and a
simple crinoid.
The largest chimney stack is a prominent landmark, visible from
the Lake Burley Griffin foreshores, New Parliament House and
mountain lookouts around the City. (Site Map Attached).
- All information and more was found
at:
- Territory Plan Heritage Places Register located at
http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tplan/Appendices/Appendix_V_H61_H72.pdf
- Brickyards A.C.T. located at
http://www.genseek.net/actbrick.htm
The Cache is a traditional, located adjacent to this interesting
site in Canberra. The cache is hidden close to one of the
boundaries, further views of the site can be gained via other
boundaries which can be accessed from the surrounding streets.
As with all of our other caches this cache has been started with
a theme, but there is no need to continue this. The theme is as the
name suggests …….
For ease of access to this cache the suggested location to leave
the geomobile would be
35 18.590
149 05.448
The direct route to this cache is not necessarily the best
choice, if you choose your path wisely you should be able to take a
nice easy stroll straight to GZ without any blackberries standing
in your way, our 2 year old can run to and from gz without any
problems.