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New Breed Furniture (original Austral Paper Mills)
16 Gregory Avenue, NEWTOWN VIC 3220 - Property No 202203
Rocky Point Heritage Area

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Statement of Significance

B Listed - Regional Significance

The importance of this site relates to extant c1891 structure associated originally with the Austral Paper Mills that is prominent on the site and the associations with later wool scouring and milling activities on the site by Redpaths company. The original structure represents an unsuccessful paper works, which later became part of a complex of works and plant that represented an important woollen industry in the area. . The site has important historical associations in terms of pioneering individuals and families in the locality. Links with Robert Smith, William Hughes, W. R. s R. W. Redpath and their associations with nearby sites and other woollen mills combine to enrich the sites important evolution over time and add to its qualities for interpretation.

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    • Physical Description 1

      New Breed Furniture (original Austral Paper Mills) - Physical Description 1

      This site contains evidence of three major buildings and two types of industrial activity. The earliest building, the original double storey brick structure of the Austral Paper Mills, dates from c1891 and is substantially intact externally. Prominently sited, overlooking the river valley, the former paper mill is a substantial structure in red brick with polychrome brick surrounding window and door openings, with decoration of corbelled brickwork accentuating the line of the gabled elevation to the river. It is a simple gable roofed structure otherwise with significant historical associations with prominent local individuals and families. It represents an attempt to establish a papermaking industry in Geelong. Economic conditions at the time ensured that it never commenced production unfortunately.

      An adjacent addition in brick is the only surviving evidence of later wool scouring activity. Evidence of Redpath's Woollen Mills and any scouring-milling activity associated with post c1934 operations is almost completely destroyed. A floor area with some surface modelling and a part-wall elevation is all that remains above ground of this part of the sites history. The activities of Redpath's on the site are arguably the most important in terms of site use and development and the fact that little remains of this aspect makes any assessment of site remains difficult.

      Some important outbuildings/structures remain, the most notable being the brick chimney minus the flue and the boiler room.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Greater Geelong - Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study

      Author: Allan Willingham
      Year: 1986
      Grading: B

      Greater Geelong - City of Newtown Urban Conservation Study

      Author: Context Pty Ltd
      Year: 1991
      Grading: B

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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