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SHOT TOWER
94 ALEXANDRA PARADE CLIFTON HILL, YARRA CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
SHOT TOWER SOHE 2008
SHOT TOWER SOHE 2008
SHOT TOWER SOHE 2008
1 shot tower alexandra parade clifton hill tower view
shot tower alexandra parade clifton hill front view
h00709 plan h0709
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

 The Shot Tower in Alexandra Parade Clifton Hill was constructed circa 1882 for Richard Hodgson. Alfred Harber and Simon Hughes were the owners in 1887 before Walter Coop, from the well-known Melbourne shot manufacturing family, purchased the premises in 1896. The Shot Tower is a brick tower 68.97 metres high,circular in plan and resembling a tall chimney. The walls are punctuated at regular intervals by semi-circular arched windows and decorative brick bands. The shaft is finely decorated around the openings, and at various levels, with polychrome patterns, and is topped by a small pavilion. 
 

How is it significant?

 The Shot Tower is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
 

Why is it significant?

 The Shot Tower is of historical significance as a fine example of a rare and distinctive building type and as evidence of an early industrial process. It is probably the largest shot tower in Australia and is certainly taller than the tower now incorporated in the Melbourne Central development. It is also the earliest of the two surviving Victorian shot towers. The tower provides tangible evidence of the process of lead shot production. Its form reflects the shot production process: the shot was produced by dropping molten lead through sieves at the top of the tower into water at the bottom. The height of the tower was necessary to allow the shot to form correctly before reaching the bottom.
 
 The Shot Tower is of historical significance for its long association with the Coop family, who had extensive interests in shot manufacture and smelting they owned both of the two remaining towers in Melbourne and as a local landmark for more than a century. 
 
 The Shot Tower is of architectural significance as a particularly fine example of an industrial building of the late 19th century. The tower is largely intact and in good condition, a testament to the high quality of the original brickwork. The decorative brickwork is indicative of the pride and investment that went into this industrial structure and as such is symbolic of the significant economic and urban expansion that occurred in Melbourne during the 1880s.
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    • History

      SHOT TOWER - History

      Associated People: Tenant COOP FAMILY;

      Plaque Citation

      SHOT TOWER - Plaque Citation

      The shot tower was built in 1882 for Richard Hodgson to manufacture lead shot for a munitions factory in Deer Park. Shot was made by dropping molten lead from the top of the tower into water at its base. Hodgson, Harber & Hughes made shot here until 1896; then the Coop family made shot here until 1947.

      Permit Exemptions

      SHOT TOWER - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

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