In 1870 Jenkin Collier, David MacKenzie Barry and William Owen established the Hoffman Patent Brick and Tile Company (later renamed the Hoffman Patent Steam Brick Company) and commenced machanised brick-making at their Albert Street site. The Company later expanded to a second, larget premises in Dawson Street in 1884.

This is an aerial photograph of Brunswick, circa 1950, showing Hoffman's Brickworks in Albert Street and Dawson Street. Two continuous firing brick kilns (hoffman-design) can be seen at Albert Street and three at Dawson Street, including "Kiln 1" which was built in the 19th century. Only the Dawson Street kilns are extant.

The photograph shows the extent of the clay pits. The section of Sydney Road adjacent the brickworks became the commercial centre of Brunswick, although the original town hall was about 1km north near Albion Street.

Hoffman's Brickworks display for 8 hour day 1909. The caption includes the "8.8.8" symbol which represented the campaign for an 8-hour working day.

Hoffman's employees were instrumental in the Brickmakers' and Brickmaker's Labourer's Union campaign. As a result, Hoffman's was the first brickmaking employer to agree to an eight hour day for workers in 1873. A New Years Day procession, complete with speeches, banners and brass bands, culminating in a celebration at the Dawson Street brickworks became an annual event marking this important industry victory. In the 1880's, Hoffman's broke the union over the issue of child labour. A new union, the Bictorian Brick, Tile and Pottery Employees Association, was organised to address this and other ongoing industry issues.

In 1873 the Hoffman Patent Steam Brick Company wrote to the brickmakers' union: "Sir, we are prepared to adopt the eight hour system in our work as far as it is practicable. ... We agree to this conditionally that no stoppage occurs at our works... Trusting that the eight hour day will prove to be satisfactory to all concerned ... "

At 7:15am each day the Hoffman's wake-up whistle summoned employees to a working day from 7:30am to 5pm on weekdays and until 11:30 on Saturdays. Work at the brickworks included mining the clay pits, preparing the clay for use, firing and loading the kilns, pressing and firing bricks, designing, casting and glazing pottery, packaging and loading the finished products and maintaining the machinery and used on site. Most jobs at the plant involved heavy manual labour in an often hot and dusty environment.
Photograph by Grant Hobson, taken as part of the "Old Ways Series" (1991-1995) in partnership with the State Library of Victoria.

Land adjacent the brickworks was subdivided to provide cottages for the workforce.

View of the brickworks from Gilpin Park, which was formed after the clay pits were filled in. Kiln 1, which was demolished during the re-development leaving only the chimney, is visible in the foreground.
Photo: Werner Voight