COMMONWEALTH FERTILISERS WHARVES AND ASSOCIATED LAND
221-267 WHITEHALL STREET YARRAVILLE, MARIBYRNONG CITY
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Statement of Significance
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COMMONWEALTH FERTILISERS WHARVES AND ASSOCIATED LAND - History
Lying to the area south of Somerville Road is the site of the former Commonwealth Fertiliser Factory Wharves. Two wharves, probably associated with nearby quarries were already in existence at this location in 1844, when Joseph Raleigh established a salting works at this location in the same year. Raleigh's Salting Works is shown in 1844 with an associated wharf. James Macmeikan and Company moved to this area after he was hounded out of his Flemington Bone Mills by the Council in 1871. He established an Animal Guano and Converting Works on this site, which became the catalyst for Victorian fertiliser industry at Yarraville. The site has been consecutively occupied by Cummings and Smith's acid and Fertiliser Works, Commonwealth Fertiliser Works, and is the current home of the Pivot Fertiliser works. Cummings Smith and Company pioneered the production of superphosphate at their sulphuric acid works in 1872, which led to a thriving trade with Mauritius in exchange for sugar. The individual wharf built to service the factory was replaced by a continuous line of wharves at Yarraville between the late 1870's and 1900, when the MHT took over responsibility for port berthing facilities. When the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company entered the sulphuric acid trade, it purchased the site at Yarraville to produce superphosphate in 1905. The Commonwealth Fertiliser and Chemical Works were formed in 1929, and continued use of the site for fertiliser production. The wharf has been extensively used for the importation of guano produce from Nauru, an essential component of the fertiliser production process. This area of wharf is locally known as wharves # 1- 4 .COMMONWEALTH FERTILISERS WHARVES AND ASSOCIATED LAND - Interpretation of Site
The timber sheet piling may date to 1910. Evidence of former timber wharf structure can also be seen in areas of gaps in the bluestone beaching which now lines the river frontage of the site. It is probable that large sections of wharf structure, particular the wharf ties and landward most sections, still exist under the extensive bluestone beaching. Further terrestrial based investigation is required to verify this observation.
The site is significant as one of the first fertiliser industries in the Yarraville Region, and socially significant as a major employer in the area.
The finger piers had been removed by Nov 2004
Heritage Inventory Description
COMMONWEALTH FERTILISERS WHARVES AND ASSOCIATED LAND - Heritage Inventory Description
Although extensive demolition work has been undertaken on the former fertiliser works over the last decade, evidence of two finger pier platforms at the northern extremity, and sections of both timber and iron sheet piling are still extant in three areas situated in the south.
Wharf, sheet piling, bollards, finger piers and probable archaeological deposits associated with former site use both above and below water.
Archeological Potential:
good
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FOOTSCRAY RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1563
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HENDERSON HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0183
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ERCILDOUNEVictorian Heritage Register H0494
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