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1839 |
First subdivision of the land that is now Brunswick |
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1840’s |
Bricklayers settled into south Brunswick to take advantage of the extensive clay deposits in the area. |
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1850’s |
John Glew became the first employer of labour in the Brunswick brick industry |
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1859 |
Fredrich Hoffman, of Stettin, Prussia, developed the Hoffman kiln. It was leading edge technology, with the circular arrangement of its numerous chambers enabling a fuel saving process of continuous firing |
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1865 |
Hoffman Patent Brick and Tile Company patented the technology in Australia |
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1870 |
First Hoffman circular kiln constructed on their Albert Street site. (Later kilns constructed on both the Albert Street and Dawson Street sites used elliptical design) The introduction of Hoffman kilns industrialised the brick making process and established Brunswick as a major brick producing area within the state |
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1873 |
The first brickmaking employer to agree to an eight hour day for workers. |
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1884 |
Hoffman’s Dawson Street site opened |
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1890’s |
Began to produce sanitary ware and drainage pipes in response to the sewering of Melbourne that commenced in 1891. By now, Hoffman’s was the largest employer in Brunswick and the largest brick manufacturer in the state. |
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1900 |
One of many potteries now operating in the area producing a range of commercial and household ceramic ware. By 1902, Hoffmans was the largest pottery works in the state. The pottery operations utilised both traditional and modern manufacturing techniques, and included the distinctive Melrose Ware pottery |
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1920-30’s |
“Hoffies” an integral part of Brunswick community life. The whistles for wake up, starting and ending the workday, the ever present clay dust, the glow of the kilns, the constant hum of machinery and ‘smoke free’ Mondays in deference to the weekly wash day. |
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1931 |
The company experienced its first financial loss. Unlike the early days, the company was no longer embracing new technologies in brickmaking, an attitude that was ultimately to lead to its demise |
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1941 |
Albert Street site closed and sold. This was in part due to the decline in clay deposits |
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1958 |
Dawson Street clay pit sold for use as a landfill site (now Gilpin Park) |
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1960 |
Clifton Holdings took over. Progressively the pottery works at the site were closed. |
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1986 |
Nubrik purchased the site |
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1993 |
Site closes. |
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