Monsanto Chemicals, Huntsman Chemical. Co.

454 Somerville Road, BROOKLYN VIC 3012 - Property No 5

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Brimbank City

1969a - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1999

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    Monsanto Chemicals, Huntsman Chemical. Co. - Physical Description 1

    Description

    This extensive chemical processing plant has a main office block which is a notable Georgian domestic revival (or "American Colonial Revival") styled building, similar to Commonwealth munitions factory office design. It is in brick with tiled hipped roof and projecting pedimented portico, featuring four huge Doric columns standing on a stepped paved plinth. The columns rise through two floors (the full height of the buildings) with the section of facade behind them slightly projecting.
    Window treatment is unusual with tall narrow multi-paned windows in pairs to the top floor and mullioned windows at the ground floor. All have segmental brick arches and white contrasting keystones. An oculus vent in the pediment follows with the same contrasting stone key. The main doorway features a fanlight set in a small cut-away pediment, supported on classical columns and framing panelled double timber doors. A single-storey block of similar design forms an "L" shaped wing behind, providing accommodation for the laboratories at one stage, now the training centre and canteen. This building has identical window treatment to the main building and many other stylistic similarities, although the eave brackets are less prominent, and some details such as rusticated quoins are absent. The short section of the L is a later (c1960s) addition in a simple Modernist Style. The interiors of both these buildings are very plain, having been renovated in the 1970s or 80s.
    Another main building on the site from the original phase includes the large brick processing building, originally used for Aspirin manufacturing. This has large steel-framed windows, steel trusses and corrugated iron roof and is currently used as a workshop, store and office. Between these two is the steel-framed, corrugated iron-clad boiler house, and large cylindrical concrete water tower. Many other buildings and external plant cover the site, most of which are of relatively recent construction. However, the above-mentioned buildings demonstrate the historical core of the works.

    Physical Conditions

    Monsanto Chemicals, Huntsman Chemical. Co. - Physical Conditions

    Condition/integrity

    The office block and canteen are in excellent condition and well maintained. Other buildings on the site have obviously undergone substantial modification to accommodate changes in manufacturing processes. The majority of buildings are of quite recent origin, with the modern chemical processing plant taking the form of freestanding cracking towers and complex pipework. A small later addition to the canteen block is not considered significant.

    Historical Australian Themes

    Monsanto Chemicals, Huntsman Chemical. Co. - Historical Australian Themes

    3 Developing local, regional and national economies
    3.13 Developing an Australian manufacturing capacity

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Brimbank - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study

    Author: G. Vines
    Year: 2000
    Grading: State

    Brimbank - Melbourne Western Region Cultural Heritage Study

    Author: Meredith Walker, Christine Johnston & Carmel Boyce
    Year: 1986
    Grading:

    Brimbank - Melbourne Western Region Industrial Heritage Study

    Author: G. Vines & A. Ward
    Year: 1989
    Grading:

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