Bricks by the MillionA Brief History of Lilydale’s

Brick Making Industry

Sandy Ross

Lilydale & District Historical Society

ContentsPreface..................................................................................................................3Introduction.........................................................................................................4The Growth of Brick Making........................................................................... 5Geology of the Lilydale Area........................................................................... 5Descriptions of Lilydale’s Brickworks............................................................ 8No. 1 John Naismith’s Brick works................................................................... 8No.2 William Mortimer’s Brick Works........................................................... 9No3 and No.7. William Hand’s Clay Pits...................................................... 10No.4 and No. 6 Henry Hyne’s Brick Works................................................. 11Location of Lilydale’s Brick Works............................................................... 14Kudos for Lilydale Bricks............................................................................... 17No.5 John Cook’s Brick Yard......................................................................... 20Machine Versus Handmade Bricks.................................................................22Appendix 1: Lilydale Buildings which were built with Local Bricks..... 24Appendix 2: Present Day Locations of the old Brick yards (1996)..........25Bibliography......................................................................................................26

Front Cover:Artist G. Mutsaers drawing of Hyne’s Brick Kilns in 1972. The kiln was called a

Hampton Firing Kiln which burns for three days reaching a temperature of l,150°C. One and sometimes two kilns are burnt each week.

© 1996 Lilydale & District Historical Society 33 Castella Street, Lilydale Vic. 3140

National Library of Australia ISBN 0 947261 10 9

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part

may be reproduced by any process without written permission of the society.

Typeset, designed and printed by Roundabout Publishing Pty Ltd, 28 Milford Street, Kilsyth Vic. 3137.

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Preface

Possibly the earliest pictorial scene of the Lilydale district was not a photograph of the bush and scrub but a painting by early Australian artist Elizabeth Parsons.

This painting in the collection of the Ballarat Fine Art Galley was simply titled: Brick Kilns Lilydale 1876.

A request for information about the painting from the Gallery led to research on the brick kilns and works in the township area. It was not a matter of where it was so much as which kiln did Elizabeth Parsons paint.

The research revealed the town’s brickworks were thriving businesses which grew as the population of the Colony of Victoria grew.

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Introduction

Bricks, regarded as the foundation of all good building are made from special clay, moulded into shape and hardened by drying in the sun or drying in a kiln.

The earliest example of sun-dried bricks date back thousands of years ago to the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. Due to the dry, warm conditions of these countries, many buildings built in that time still remain.

Kiln-baked bricks were a product of a later time and most of the great ruins of Roman times were built of this type of brick and, it would appear that the Romans introduced the art of brick making into England.

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. The Growth of Brick MakingThe discovery of gold in Victoria on June 10, 1851 led to the rapid

growth of Melbourne’s population. Once word of the discovery spread overseas, upwards of 15,000 immigrants arrived in the latter half of that year; 94,000 in the following year and nearly quarter of a million people between 1853 and 1855.

Many people made their fortunes and required housing equal to their wealth and buildings from which to operate their businesses. The colonial government also benefited and many fine building were erected to house the growing branches of government.

But not everyone made their fortune digging for gold. For them it was often a return to their former occupations such as builders, farmers, vine growers, berry growers, blacksmiths, shopkeepers etc. With the growing population they too prospered and developed to meet the people’s needs.

The Township of Lilydale was officially settled in 1860 and being only 24 miles from Melbourne, was well situated to supply the population with meat, milk, wine, fruit, timber and building materials. When the railway arrived at Lilydale in 1882, the Yarra Valley and the surrounding area suddenly had a quick, efficient means of getting its produce and supplies to Melbourne. The district quickly became a bustling hive of activity - timber buildings were being replaced with brick buildings as people became more established and settled in their way of life.

The first brick house in Lilydale was built in 1864 by R.T.Kings, a successful business man, veterinary surgeon and Lillydale Shire Councillor. The house was on the south side of Main Street east of Clarke Street.

Geology of the Lilydale AreaThe Lilydale district had an asset - its clay and limestone - both

valuable for the growing prosperity of the Colony of Victoria.From the beginning, Lilydale has been well endowed with industrial

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materials. Local forests have always supported a profitable timber-milling industry in the district, but it is the geological deposits which have been most important.

As Figure 1 indicates, the Lilydale district has a varied geology. To the west of the town, folded Silurian and Devonian sedimentary deposits form a ridge of higher land running from north to south. The hills are capped by early Tertiary basalts. Below the basalts are shallow deposits of early Tertiary sands and clay which outcrop on the eastern side of the hills.

Figure 1: The geology of the Lilydale district. (Ref: theyarra valley).

Figure 2: Cave Hill limestone deposits. (Ref: theyarra valley).

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A belt of alluvial flats along the Olinda Creek divides the western ridge from another in the east. Here, a northward extension of the Devonian volcanics of the Dandenong Ranges forms a ridge several kilometres long and up to 200 metres high. The settlement of Lilydale is sited on both ridges of higher land. Until recently, there was little use of the river flats for purposes other than farming due to their low position and the threat of floods.

A large limestone deposit (Figure 2) occurs within the sedimentary rock south-west of the town at Cave Hill and important industries have been developed on the resource base provided by this and other geological formations.

Many of the early brick buildings in Lilydale were constructed from local bricks. Where the Devonian mudstones were easily worked and where the Tertiary clays outcrop to the west of the town clay pits were dug and hand-made bricks produced.

The earliest clay pits were established by William Hand in 1870 followed by William Mortimer in 1875 and Henry Hyne in 1879.

By the late 1880s, Lilydale had seven clay pits or brick works surrounding the township and proved to be a feature to mention: “Looking south we see through the trees the town of Lilydale with its picturesque churches and wide street, and at the foot of the hill a number of brickyards. The smoke from them lazily rolling and curving upwards and gradually blending with the haze hovering around the hills until it is lost to sight. (The New Tourist Guide & Victorian View Album 1888- 89).

The entrepreneurial brickmakers soon found markets for their bricks throughout Melbourne and in developing country areas.

Lilydale bricks were sent to all parts of the district and eastern suburbs.

In January 1886, the Lilydale Express reported the brick industry is evidently destined to flourish in Lilydale. Mr. Hyne has been so successful with his new brickmaking apparatus that he has applied steam

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power to his No. 2 yard, and Mr. Cook, an old brickmaking celebrity, is endeavouring to form a company and work his leasehold ground with an American machine. This bids fair for Lilydale, and I trust that success will attend Mr. Cook in his endeavours to improve his own condition and that of the neighbourhood also.

Descriptions of Lilydale’s Brickworks

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st. At 2.30 rx

LILYDALE

To Brickmakers, Builders, Speculators and Others.

By order of the Mortgagee.

The superior quality of the brick clay in the above prupeity is well-known, haring been abundantly proved by the production of some of the best brick* in the district, and in the bands of an energetic man would prove highly remunerative, whilst the clay pit being confined to one portion of the ground, the bulk of the land h perfectly available for buildin 4 or subdivision to which its prox* Unity to the township and railway station render it eminently suitable.

Title Certificate.For terms and farther particulars apply toE. Kidgel), auctiun^rrMain-str^t, Uly-

dale; F. L. Flint, auctioneer, 8 Collins-street East, Melbourne, or

F. J. Bradly, Esq., solicitor, 7 Collins- street west, Melbourne, and Main-street, Lilydale.

The auction published in theLilydale Express on October 1, 1887for John Naismith s Brick

Yard.

No.l John Naismith’s Brick works

Established at the comer of Kidgell Street and Beresford Road, John Naismith’s brickworks was established in 1886 and two year’s later taken over by Samuel Domom a building contractor and brick layer. Subsequent owners of the works were the Colonial Bank in 1893 and John Hamilton from 1902 until 1908.

Little is known of John Naismith but Samuel Dornom was a well established businessman in the town.

Born in Devonshire, England, Samuel Domom arrived in Victoria in 1864 and settled in Lilydale in 1870 where he lived all his life. He was a builder by occupation and erected many buildings in Lilydale including the Lilydale and Olinda Hotels, the Athenaeum Hall, the gas works and the old Colonial Bank. Samuel died on August 20, 1927 at the age of 86 years.

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No.2 William Mortimer’s Brick WorksWilliam Henry Mortimer arrived in Melbourne in about 1860 and

assisted with the survey of the Lilydale township. He spent his first 10 years in the goldfields before returning to Lilydale where he established his brickyards in the district at the comer of Slevin Street and Cavehill Road (then called Cemetery Road) in 1875. In 1876 colonial artist Elizabeth Parsons visited Lilydale and painted Mortimer’s Brickworks which she titled Brick Kilns Lilydale 1876.

Photograph of Elizabeth Parsons “Brick Kilns Lilydale 1876” oil painting courtesy of Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.

The painting is of William Mortimer’s Brick Yard, Cavehill Road, Lilydale.

Mortimer’s yard had a large output and most of the early buildings used his bricks. One documented building was Louis Deschamps Wine Hall at the comer of Cavehill and Albert Hill Roads.

The works operated until 1896. William Mortimer died on October 13, 1910 aged 78 years and is buried at Lilydale Cemetery.

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William Hands clay pit in the foreground of a view to Cavehill Road, Lilydale, 1901.

No.3 and No.7 William Hand’s Clay PitsWilliam Hand established two clay pits in Lilydale in 1870: one

above Cave Hill Road in the area of Clyde Street and the other on Mt Olinda near the Warburton turn-off, near the present Tudor Mews Village. It is not known when his brick works ceased operations.

Bom in Nottinghamshire, England, William Hand and his family arrived in the colony in 1840. He was connected with the General Office in Melbourne for some years before moving to Red Hill, near Lilydale in 1859 where he established a farm with orchards and vines. After 10 years he sold out and his sons started business as Hands Brothers store on the comer of Castella and Main Streets, Lilydale. William was a member of the first Road Board which held its meetings at Brushy Creek. His sons were Henry, John, William and Thomas, the first Lillydale Shire engineer.

William Hand died on October 26, 1889 aged 74 years.

His bricks were used in many of the town’s buildings:

Victoria Coffee Palace - comer Clarke and Main Streets.The original Methodist Church - comer Chapel and Castella Streets. Mclnytre’s home - McIntyre’s Lane.Church of England - comer Castella and Jones Streets.Original building of The Towers - The Eyrie.

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No.4 and No.6 Henry Hyne’s Brick Works

The largest and most innovative brick yard was operated by Henry Hyne. His first site was established in 1879 (No.6) on the Healesville Road which later became the Lilydale tip. Today, the site is near the comer of the present Goodall Drive. The following year he established another works across the road near the present business of Hunter & McPherson. This became his major operation and continued until 1970s.

His other site of 1 % acres of land was sold to John Baynes who was listed as a brick maker in 1885-86 Shire of Lillydale Ratebooks.

Hyne was a colourful character. Signboards on his property said he was: “an ar­chitect, engineer, brickmaker, sawmiller, wheelwright, builder etc.”

Henry Hyne was bom in Devon, England and arrived in Melbourne when 19 years old. For a few years he worked as an architect before heading for

ALBERT SAW Mil ISAX’I>

Lilydale Steam Brick — W O R K S.

HZ. HYNE,BEGS to inform his numennia

friends and patrieis that ki.ing a powerful

in the township of Lilydale. ho carries on the sawing Inisincr'. in conjunction with (,‘ontr.uting and Coichlatiiding, nul can supply a siqierioi <|iialily <*f Tunlsrst a reasonable price.

DOORS, SASHES and FRAMES, FLOORING. HARDWOOD

AndDEAL WEATHERBOARDS,

LININGJBOARD8, PALINGS, LUMBER and SHE L VIXG,

GA LVAN1SED IRON, SPOUTING, NAILS and BUILDERS* IRON­

MONGERY Kept in stock.

FIRST-CLASS BRICKS Always to be had from the works.

H.n. trusts tint by strict attentive to Imaiinvw, and tins let ato charge to merit a continuance <4 the patnmagv that has brew so liliendly accnnW him.

Agent for Norwich Unkm hire laroramw Society, and Mutual Life .Vsouiwncr Society of Victoria.

Hyne s Lilydale Steam Brick Co. in full operation. Lilydale Express

September 23, 1889.

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LILYDALE BRICK Company.

IN thanking the Public for their liberal patronage accorded us during the past

year, and soliciting a continuance of their favors, we wish to state that our BRICKS are the BEST and CHEAPEST.

These Bricks were selected by the Engi­neer of the Metropolitan Gas Co. for use in the construction of the Lilydale Gasworks, for their excellent quality in resisting the action of water in the Gasometer Tank, and also in the Retort-benches, where they are exposed to great heat.

Our Custoineis in dealing with us may be sure they will get the best and cheapest to be had in the District.

H. HYNE, Manager.

New advertisement promoting the selection of Hyne s bricks for Lilydale Gasworks retort.

(Lilydale Express January 23, 1889).

the Emerald goldfields. In 1860 with David Ewart he discovered gold in the Warburton district. He was the manager of several gold mines before spending several years as manager of the St Hubert’s and Yering Estates. He commenced business as a civil engineer and contractor in Lilydale and in 1878 established the first steam sawmill in the Shire of Lillydale. He also established a brickworks on Devonian mudstones east of Lilydale. He started making bricks in the traditional method: the clay was mixed by hand

and pressed into small wooden moulds. Soon he converted to steam brickmaking and through much trial and error invented and patented machinery for making bricks.

With the expansion of the Lilydale vineyards during the 1870s and 1880s and later the irrigation districts of Mildura and the Riverina, Hyne quickly turned to the production of agricultural pipes for underground drainage. Vineyards owned by Paul and Hubert de Castella, Ryrie and De Pury installed Lilydale agricultural pipes for drainage.

After Henry Hyne’s death in May, 1897, one of his sons Leo took over the operation of the business. By the turn of the century, virtually the entire output was agricultural pipes which were sent to the irrigation districts.

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The business was taken over by John Cathcart who continued to make bricks and pipes until during the Second World War when crockery was made for the armed forces.

After the war, Mr G. Mclroy acquired the business and the demand for pipes greatly increased. Methods of manufacturing were improved with the addition of modem machinery and new kilns. It was estimated in 1961 that 19,000,000 pipes had been produced in the last 15 years which, stretched end to end would cover a distance of 3,600 miles. The pipes have been used in many parts of the state and also in the war cemeteries in New Guinea.

For many years, pipe production had precedence over bricks and by 1961 brick making had ceased. In 1970, the Lilydale Brick, Tile and Pipeworks Pty Ltd was taken over by Rocla Industries Limited. The 18 acres site was to be re-modelled to serve as the company’s main manufacturing centre in Melbourne. However, the works did not stay open long and were finally closed in 1973.

Some of the town’s buildings which used Hyne’s bricks are:Original State School, Castella Street.Church of England, Cnr Castella and Jones Streets.Crown Hotel, Main Street.Bush Nursing Hospital, Anderson Street, Lilydale.Lilydale Gas Works, Clarke Street.

The detailed Lilydale Express reports of Hyne’s brickworks operation and his invention provide valuable insight into the operation of brickworks before the turn of the century.

Last week we paid a visit to Mr. H. Hyne’s No. 1 yard on the Healesville road and were very courteously shown round by the proprietor. The principal feature in the works is a brick-making machine of Mr. Hyne’s own invention, and which seems to turn out a very excellent specimen of work. Like many inventions which have in numerous instances made the fortunes of their projectors, Mr. Hyne s experiment atfirst caused him a vast amount of trouble and no small expenditure. However, with characteristic energy, he stuck to his task, and has now succeeded in producing a machine, which, as we have already remarked, turns out its work in a very satisfactory manner. Briefly

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Location of Lilydale’s Brick Works

1. John Naismith (1886)

2. W. Mortimer (1875 - 1896)

3. William Hand (1870-?)

4. Henry Hyne (1880- 1896)

5. John Cook (1882 - 1898)

6. Henry Hyne (1879 -1 884)

7. William Hand (1870-?

Page 14 Page 15

described the machine proper consists on the outside of a tapering wooden cylinder, strongly bound with iron, and encasing at its smallest extremity a series of gun metal dies through which the clay is forced and moulded. The process of breaking down the clay, is of course well-known, making it unnecessary for us to comment upon it. It will be sufficient for us to say, therefore, that after being broken up, the clay is run up from the pit by means of a truck travelling on an inclined tramway. On reaching a position above the receiving box of the machine, the bottom of the truck automatically opens, and its contents are dropped into the receptacle beneath, where it immediately comes into contact with an archimedean screw, which simultaneously grinds and mixes the clay, thus obviating the necessity of any further preparation. As the clay passes through the machine it is subjected to a pressure of about two tons, which it will be seen at a glance must turn out material far superior to the old method of working by hand. On leaving the immediate action of the screw the clay is forced by the pressure behind into the dies, in passing through which the “slots ” being so arranged, it is subject to a constant stream of water, which serves to “lubricate ” the stuff and prevents its adhering to the plates and clogging. On leaving the moulds the clay passes into a solid mass along a number of rollers on to a table fitted with a lever from which, by a simple motion of the hand, the mould is forced on to a “tray”, on its way coming in contact with an ingenious arrangement of steel wires which server the large block of clay, and on its emerging from their action it shows forth in the required size. It may be remarked here, in passing that it was on the emission of the clay from the machine that Mr. Hyne experienced the principal difficulty in the perfection of his project, as the pressure had to be regulated to a nicety, the slightest unevenness anywhere causing the clay to “bulge ” on its discharge, and thus spoiling the general effect.

This difficulty was, however, overcome by the exercise of patience and tact, and the clay now merges from the machine and travels along the rollers in a compact mass smooth on the sides as glass. Another feature is the cutting of the clay by means of the wires; the clay is not cleanly cut, a rough edge being left which acts as a building surface. When full the tray is lifted on to a truck ready for removal to the drying sheds. The machinery is driven by one of Clayton and Shuttleworth s 10 horse-power engines, and when in full work is capable of turning out about 8000 bricks per diem, but the machine has never yet been taxed to the utmost. The perculiarity of machine-moulded bricks is that when burnt they present on their smooth surfaces that deep red color so much sought after by architects, almost doing away with the necessity for

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coloring, has caused a species of revolution in the brickmaking industry during the last few years. Both architects and builders are beginning to recognise the superiority of machine-made bricks, and Mr. Hyne is in consequence benefiting to a considerable extent locally by their conversion. His latest extensive order was a consignment of60,000 to Messrs J. Coates and Co., to be used in the erection of the Lilydale Gasworks, and a further order of50,000for Wandin is now being supplied from the No. 3 yard on the Wandin road, while a prominent builder has given it as his opinion that these are the best bricks he had seen in the district. While on this subject it may not be out of place to give an extract from a letter received by Mr. Hyne from Messrs R. Eadie and Son, builder of Richmond to whom he sent an order of 100,000 bricks. Messrs Eadie wrote:

“They are the best lot of bricks we have ever handled; if you can turn out a kiln like them, they are not to be equalled in Melbourne. ” There is yet another feature in connection with the works at the No. 1 yard which cannot be passed over without special mention. Mr. Hyne recognising the demand for bricks so moulded as to work in for cornices, mouldings, &c., and thus abolish a deal of cutting the bricks, he had dies cast forming the necessary angles and so on, and these can be fitted into the machine and the proper moulding is obtained without further trouble. Mr. Hyne has also registered two ornamental designs for paving tiles, which he is prepared to supply at a very cheap rate, and the public will shortly have an opportunity of testing their suitability for the purpose, the shire council having decided to test the quality of the tiles by laying them down on a portion of the new footpath about to be formed in Main street. The yard is fitted with capacious drying sheds, which, with a kiln capable of holding from 40,000 to 45,000 bricks, complete a series of works well worth inspection.

(Lilydale Express May 27, 1887)

Later in 1887 Henry Hyne won the contract to supply the bricks for the Watt’s River water supply extension works. This meant he had to move his plant to Recherche Gully about four miles from Eltham for about 12 months. (Lilydale Express October 28, 1887)

Kudos for Lilydale Bricks“Bricks by the Million ” may seem rather a meaningless phrase in this

year of grace 1931 - the days of mass production: but it was a gigantic task in

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ALBERT SAW MILLSAND

Lilydale Steam Brick— WORKS.—

ARCHITECT and BUILDER,

BEGS to inform his numerous friends and patrons that having

a powerfulSAWMILL PLANT

in the township of Lilydale, he carnet on the sawing business in conjunction with Contracting and Coachbuilding, and can supply a superior quality of Timber at a reasonable price.

All Kinds of Building Materials and Ironmongery at Lowest Rates.

Kept in stock.

LILYDALE STEAM BRICK CO.Avoid Damp, Unhealthy Houses by nsing

Hyne's Patent Machine

—BRICKS-Allowed by all architects to be the Best

in the District.All kinds of Moulded Bricks and Orna­

mental Tiles made to order.

H.H. trusts that by strict attention to business, and moderate charges, to merit a continuance of the patronage that has been so liberally accorded him.

Agent for Norwich Union Fire insurance Society, and Mutual Life Assurance society o Victoria

Lilydale Express advertisement, January 2, 1886.

1887, and was first successfully handled by Mr. Hyne of Lilydale.

Just prior to September 1887, Mr Davidson, then engineer in chief of the Victorian Water Supply, visited Mr. Hyne s works at Lilydale and appeared to be so impressed with the good quality of the bricks made there - which, he said, were the best he had ever seen - that he ordered a quantity to be sent to the Public Works department. When the first and other sections of the Watts River aqueduct were let the contractors were supplied with samples of these bricks, and were bound by ' their applications to provide bricks equal to them in quality. Each contractor applied to Mr. Hyne to undertake the making of the bricks they required, with his patent machine, but after considerable expense in boring at Kangaroo Ground for Messrs. Johnson and Shaw without favourable results. Mr. Hyne contracted with Messrs Bailie, Davies and Wishart to make one and two million bricks not far from Diamond Creek, on the first section of the aqueduct. Twelve months was the time allowed for the

completion of the contract. The i or so later Mr Hyne s Victorian thousand at the new locality. Oj Hyne could not carry out the cc that work ceased at his No. 1 s alone, regardless of the cost of c sum then.

(Reprinte

The BrickyardsA visit to the brickyards is

worth the trouble of any person c to pay a visit to Mr. Hyne s yard, road a short distance from the to is the neatness and cleanliness < many evidences of Mr Hyne s in for the hacks &c. The modus oj. fully explained in these columns, The machinery is of the latest i clock-work. It is driven by a fir engine. Mr Hyne has a patent f bricks and it must be said that <

Henry Hyne s J

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completion of the contract. The machine was taken to the site, and a fortnight or so later Mr Hyne s Victorian Brick Maker was turning our bricks by the thousand at the new locality. Of course it was regretted in Lilydale that Mr Hyne could not carry out the contract without removing the plant. It meant that work ceased at his No. 1 site and the loss to the community in wages alone, regardless of the cost of carting the bricks, was £500 - a considerable sum then.

(Reprinted, Lilydale Express December 19, 1931)

The BrickyardsA visit to the brickyards is at all times very interesting, and it is well

worth the trouble of any person desirous of seeing the process of brickmaking to pay a visit to Mr. Hyne s yards which are situated on the Main Healesville road a short distance from the township. The first thing that strikes the visitor is the neatness and cleanliness of the yard, and here and there may be seen many evidences of Mr Hyne s inventive talent, in the shape ofpatent covers for the hacks &c. The modus operandum of brick making has already been fully explained in these columns, and it is therefore needless to go into detail. The machinery is of the latest improved principle and everything goes like clock-work. It is driven by a fine double cylinder 14 horse-power portable engine. Mr Hyne has a patent for the machine used in cutting the clay into bricks and it must be said that the bricks turned out are of a very superior

Henry Hynes Brick Works, Lilydale, 1970

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nature. At the present time about 5000 bricks are turned out daily. The clay is very plentiful, being obtainable down to a depth of 45 feet. A short time ago Mr Hyne agreed, at the request of a large number of gentlemen, to form a company to work on a more extensive scale. All the shares have been allotted, and more could have been easily placed. It is the intention of the company to purchase about seventeen acres of land at the rear ofthe present works, running down to the railway line. Thus they will be able to construct a tramway from the works to the line, and save a lot of expense by cartage. The company intend to procure machinery capable of turning out four times the number of bricks at present made. Mr Hyne is to be manager of the new company. It may be mentioned that the bricks supplied at the Watts River Aqueduct by Mr Hyne were the only bricks passed by the Government engineer. This itself speaks volumesfor the superior class of bricks turned out at this establishment.

(Lilydale Express January 16, 1889)

No. 5 John Cook’s Brick Yard

THE LILYDALE MODEL BRICK AND TILE YARDS.

TJUILDKRS, Crttracton. AretetUcU._L> art oUmc* m» all agrwrt trt»

Brick* ar* Um Urt arw hi tWw <li*trict.

COOK’S OLD ESTABLISHED

BRICK AND TILK YARD.TU Pint Brickywrt fra* Um Tawnwkip (art

MAIN HRALE3VILLK ROAD.

iMM-acnow Ixrm*.

Hmm ywirtUilrttwy.

JOHN COOK. Proprietor.

Lilydale Express 1888.

John Cook’s Brickyard was located opposite Hyne’s main site. Today, it is the site of Greenfields Produce Supplies. Unlike Hyne, Cook made his bricks by hand, an issue that was later to create controversy in the town. His brickyard operated from 1882 until 1898. Some of the buildings which used his bricks were: Original Police Station, Castella Street.State School, Castella Street Original Hutchinson’s Store, Main Street.Original Shire Hall, Castella Street.

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A Lilydale Express reporter visited Cook’s brickyards on September 8, 1886:

Following up my tour of inspection, I visited Mr. J. Cook’s “Model” brickworks last week. These works are situated on the Healesville-road, in close proximity to Hyne s and Bayne s yards. The recent inclement weather had stopped the operations in the yards, the clay-pit being full of water. Mr. Cook claims to be the oldest brickmaker in Lilydale, having been employed by Mr. H. Hyne for five years and started business on his own account about five years ago. The bricks turned out of his yard are handmade, and are admitted to be a first-class article, and in proof of this they are used by Government contractors, our police station and state school being built with them. Another proofof the quality ofthese bricks is to befound in thefact that he has supplied them to contractors at Balaclava, North Carlton, and even up the north-eastern line. Five men are employed on the place, and they are capable of turning out almost 3000 bricks per day, the bricks being guaranteed to stand a pressure of 60 ton dead weight. The kiln contained 50,000 bricks, which had finished burning and were ready to be carted away. The pug-mill erected on the premises was driven by horse-power, this being the only machine the proprietor has yet obtained. There are different qualities of clay in the yard, affording material necessary for the manufacture of any kind of ornamental brick or tile, but at present the proprietorfinds his time fully occupied in supplying good building bricks. The works are well arranged and managed, and altogether well repaid my visit to them. (Lilydale Express April 8, 1886)

Mr. John Cook’s brickyard which is situated on the opposite side of the road, is also worthy of a visit. Here the machinery is driven by horse-power. The bricks turned out are of excellent quality, and much sought after. A good number of men are employed, and about 5000 bricks are manufactured daily. Mr Cook has a good demand for his bricks, and finds no difficulty in disposing of them. (Lilydale Express January 16, 1889)

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Machine Versus Handmade BricksA large fire in buildings in Main Street in 1889 prompted a

controversy on which type of bricks were better: handmade or machine made.

The following letters to the Editor of the Lilydale Express put both sides of the argument:

Sir,

As a malicious individual attempted to damage my business at the late fire in Main street by saying “that if Hyne's bricks had been used in the building on fire, they would have gone to pieces, ’’perhaps you will allow me space to set the matter fairly before the public. The spectators were able to see the effect of fire on hand-made bricks, how the walls burst and cracked in all directions. In fact, Always store might have been saved before any material damage was done, if harder bricks had been used in its construction. Several men were with me in an upstair room intending to cut a hole in the ceiling and try to extinguish the fire under the roof, but the wall next to the burning tenements was cracked and the gap was opening so rapidly that it was dangerous to remain longer in such a position. Hand-made bricks are so porous that they absorb heat rapidly; this caused them to expand, which lifts one side of the wall, throwing it out of its position and cracking it in all directions. Anyone can satisfy themselves that this is correct by inspecting the burst out buildings, when they will see that the walls are wrecked to the foundations. On the other hand if any one who may have been prejudiced against using my bricks by the talk of this stupid fellow will take the trouble to walk to the gasworks they will see the bricks in the retort setting, where they have been in use two years now, exposed to great heat, and are now as good as ever. - lam &c H. Hyne.

(Lilydale Express August 7, 1889)

Hand-Made Bricks (John Cook) replied quickly:

Sir,

I noticed that “Machine made Bricks ” is blowing his trumpet again. I don’t pretend to be able to use the pen, nor am I a surveyor, an architect, or an

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estate agent. I couldn’t insure your life, but I can make bricks, and I can state a few stubborn facts:

1. The bricks in Alway Bros, store are quite as hard as machine-made bricks can burn them, because hand-made bricks of the Lilydale clay will stand fire better than machine-made ones, and I can prove that “Machine- made Bricks ” has had hand-made bricks made to set in the fire holes of his kiln, where they are exposed to the greatest heat.

2. If anyone will take the trouble to walk to the gasworks they will see there the retort is set with fire bricks, where they are exposed to any great heat. The machine-made bricks were used in the tank at the gasworks, and perhaps “Machine-made Bricks ” can tell how many barrels of cement it cost the contractor extra to stop the action of water. I say to those persons who intend to build with bricks, take a brick from each yard, and give them an equal test of fire and water, and see which willfly like glass-bottles. Thanking you in anticipation, Mr Editor

I am &c *Hand-Made Bricks.

(Lilydale Express August 21, 1889)

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Appendix 1

Lilydale Buildings which were built with Local BricksThe following list only includes those buildings where the brick

supplier had been clearly identified.

(A) William Hand’s Brick Yards (No.3 and No.7)Victoria Coffee Palace, cnr Clarke and Main Streets.The original Methodist Church, cnr Chapel and Castella Streets.Mclnytre’s home - McIntyre’s Lane.Church of England, Comer Castella and Jones Streets.The Towers - original building The Eyrie.

(B) Henry Hyne’s Brick Yards (No.4 and No.6)Original State School, Castella Street.Church of England, Cnr Castella and Jones Streets.Crown Hotel, Main Street.Bush Nursing Hospital, Anderson Street, Lilydale.Lilydale Gas Works, Clarke Street.

(C) John Cook’s Brick Yard (No.5)Original Police Station, Castella Street.State School, Castella Street.Original Hutchinson’s Store, Main Street.Original Shire Hall, Castella Street.

(D) William Mortimer’s Brick YardLouis Deschamps Wine Hall, Cnr Albert Hill and Cave Hill Roads.

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Appendix 2

Present Day Locations of the old Brick Yards (1996)No. 1 John Naismith’s Brick Yard

comer Kidgell Street and Beresford Road, Lilydale.

No. 2 William Mortimer Brick Yardcomer Slevin Street and Cave Hill Road, Lilydale.

No. 3 William Hand Brick YardClyde Street, Lilydale.

No. 4 Henry Hyne Brick YardMain Street, Lilydale, rear of Hunter and McPherson.

No. 5 John Cook Brick YardMain Street, Lilydale site of Greenfields Produce Supplies.

No. 6 Henry Hyne Brick YardComer Goodall Drive and Main Street, Lilydale.

No. 7 William Hand Brick YardMain Street, Lilydale, near Tudor Mews Village.

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BibliographyLilydale Express newspaper

Back to Lilydale Re-Union 1931, Lilydale Express, 1931

Marriott, K.L., theyarra valley, Sorrett Publishing Pty Limited, 1975

Victoria and Its Metropolis. 1888

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