Bristile Kilns (fmr), Belmont

Statement of Significance

Bristile Kilns (fmr), Belmont, is an industrial site comprising eight brick circular downdraught kilns and five tall brick chimneys, and has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
• the place is the largest cluster of circular downdraught kilns and associated stacks in Australia, which are an increasingly rare industrial structure nationally;
• the eight brick circular downdraught kilns are an unusual built form in the Western Australian landscape, and the five tall brick chimneys dominate the skyline and are a local landmark;
• the place was the location of the first specialised pottery works established in Western Australia in 1905;
• the place has value for its associations with Sir H.L. Brisbane, the Chairman of the Board of the company from 1929 to 1966. Brisbane developed the Bristile building empire, which has been prominent in the Western Australian building industry since the late 1930s;
• the place has scientific value for the potential, through archaeological investigation, to yield information about the technological, functional, and evolutionary aspects of early kiln design and operation in Western Australia; and,
• the place represents the development of the clay industry in the Belmont area and has had a significant impact on the development of the City of Belmont from 1905 to 1982.
• the places has aesthetic and social value for its landmark qualities

Physical Description

The place has an area of 1.6 hectares and is bound by Resolution Road, Grandstand Drive and a boundary that aligns with Marina Drive.

The remaining structures on the site comprise eight brick beehive kilns (circular downdraught kilns) and five tall brick chimney stacks.

History

Pottery works were established at the site on Grandstand Road opposite Ascot Racecourse in 1910. This company was taken over in 1930 by H L Brisbane & Co. At the time of the takeover by H L Brisbane & Co, the site had two kilns fired by wood and coal.
In 1934, two new kilns were built by Ernie Banks at the site, followed by additions to the pipe and tile factories. In 1938, the business became H L Brisbane & Wunderlich Ltd.
During the 1950s, extensions were carried out to the pipe and tile factories including the construction of two new Kilns and stacks in 1954. On 17 December 1958 the production of roofing tiles ceased.

In 1963, a major development of the pipe factory occurred, which was opened as the ‘Earthenware Sewerage Pipe Factory by Premier Charles Court on 12 December. In 1971 H L Brisbane & Wunderlich Ltd started construction on a ‘Bickley” shuttle kiln which manufactured smaller diameter pipes for housing estate developers.

In 1978, the second plant was converted to roof tile production. In 1982, Bristle's clay pipe division shut down. Since that time the site has remained unused with many options proposed for its future use.

In 2021, a 2.5m brick sculpture of Sir Lance Brisbane was erected on the site. The designer of this sculpture is unknown but it has received significant community support since its erection. The WA government has committed to retaining the sculpture.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate
Authenticity: Low

Condition

Poor

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.