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THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS
5 PARKER STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS SOHE 2008
THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS SOHE 2008
THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS SOHE 2008
THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS SOHE 2008
1 thompsons kelly & lewis engineering works parker street castlemaine side view jan1998
thomsons plan.JPG
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
Thompson's Foundry was established in 1875 as an engineering workshop by brothers David and James Thompson. They set up their foundry beside the buildings they had been using as a flour mill since 1864, expanding the facilities in 1879 and 1881 to meet growing demand. Between 1912 and 1915 the premises increased considerably in size to accommodate workshops for the manufacture of steam locomotives for the Victorian Railways. The corrugated iron foundry building dates from this period. The large brick chimney stack was built in 1919. A section of the two storey, tuck-pointed brick building, now housing the main office, was part of the original flour mill complex on the site. It was gutted by fire in 1905 and extended and altered in later years. The brick Rail Fastener Shop was originally built as a Brass Foundry by the Commonwealth government during the Second World War. During the war the engineering works was engaged in the production of marine engines, steam turbines, forgings, armaments and munitions. At that time eight hundred men were employed on the premises.

Thompsons became a limited liability company in 1913. In 1924-25 the Thompson family surrendered control of the company and it was restructured as Thompson's Engineering and Pipe Company. After several changes of ownership since 1947, the company is now known as Thompsons, Kelly & Lewis Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of BTR Nylex Ltd) formed in 1987 by the merger of Thompsons with another heavy engineering firm of long standing, Kelly & Lewis.

How is it significant?
Thompson's Foundry has historical, scientific and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
Thompson's Engineering Works has historical significance for the important role it has played in the development of an engineering and manufacturing industry in Australia. The company became one of the major manufacturing industries in Victoria and throughout Australasia, designing and manufacturing machinery, sluicing and dredging equipment for the mining industry, pumping plants and equipment (including equipment for the Spotswood Pumping Station), railway points and crossings and steam locomotives. The company continues to operate as a major designer, manufacturer and supplier of pumps and railway products in Australia. It is one of only a few survivors of the many engineering companies formed in nineteenth century Victoria, the then hub of manufacturing.

The engineering works has associations with notable figures in the history of engineering in Victoria. David Thompson (1828-1889) arrived in Australia from his native Ireland in 1852 and was joined by his brother James the following year. The brothers set up the foundry in 1875. David Thompson Jnr (1865-1916) served his apprenticeship at the works, eventually becoming manager after the death of his uncle in 1910. He developed the business into one of the largest and best equipped engineering works in Australia. An early works manager at Thompsons, E P Lewis, was one of the founders of another important engineering firm, Kelly & Lewis (merged with Thompsons in 1987). John Gurner Burnell (1885-1967) was General Manager of the works from 1925 to 1957. The development of Thompsons as a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency pumps owes much to JG Burnell's technical expertise and leadership.

Thompson's Engineering Works has architectural significance as a large and prominently situated factory complex built and extended over a period of more than 120 years. The extensive buildings demonstrate the development of this important engineering works, one of the largest of its kind in the state. The towering 1919 chimney stack, a prominent landmark in Castlemaine, is architecturally significant for its fine brickwork.

The 1919 chimney stack with its associated boiler and engine house is scientifically and historically significant for its long association with generation of power for the site.
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    • History

      THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS - History

      Associated People: Owner D & J THOMPSON;
      Owner D & J THOMPSON;

      Permit Exemptions

      THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS - 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.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable. Interior - All interior alterations are permit exempt if they do not impact on the exterior.
       Exterior - * Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
      * The fixing and refixing of corrugated roofing iron on the walls and roofs of the buildings, the rebuilding of walls and roofs using corrugated galvanised steel or corrugated unpainted zincalume.
      * The removal of corrugated asbestos cement sheeting and its replacement with corrugated compressed cement sheeting or corrugated iron.
      * The repair of multi-pane windows and roof lights provided they are reinstalled in original locations and retained to their existing design.
      * Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      THOMPSONS KELLY & LEWIS ENGINEERING WORKS - Permit Exemption Policy

      Policy
      The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works which do not impact on the significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. The interior of the complex has been extensively altered and will continue to be upgraded with new equipment and machinery. The exterior of the complex has also undergone some alterations, although the early form survives. Alterations to the interior of the complex which do not impact on the exterior are permit exempt. Alterations to the exterior are permit exempt when like is replaced with like. Alterations which impact on the significance of the original form of the exterior should be subject to permit applications.

  • Notes See all notes

    WWII - An Essential Service to the war effort

    21/06/17

    It would be good to note the valuable contribution Thompson's Foundry had for the Second World War My grandfather was a Slinger/ Dogman and I have a photo of him standing at the bottom of the rudder for the ship Queen Mary which had been damaged in the war. He was not allowed; like many of his fellow workers, as they were considered an essential service

    Images See all images

    Tours involving this place See all tours

    Castlemaine Central Walking Tour

    04/01/12

    Former Shop And Residence - Theatre Royal - Former Military Quarters - Tute's Cottage (formerly Hannan's) - Thompsons Kelly & Lewis Engineering Works - Former Castlemaine Court House - Castlemaine Botanical Gardens - Castlemaine Railway Precinct (murray Valley Rlwy, Melbourne To Echuca) - Castlemaine Railway Precinct (murray Valley Rlwy, Melbourne To Echuca) - Former School Of Mines - Court House - Former Gold Warden's Office - Concrete Truss Footbridge - Castlemaine Art Gallery And Historic Museum - Buda - Imperial Hotel - Castlemaine Market - Bank Of New South Wales - Presbyterian Church - Former State Savings Bank

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

WWII - An Essential Service to the war effort

21/06/17

It would be good to note the valuable contribution Thompson's Foundry had for the Second World War My grandfather was a Slinger/ Dogman and I have a photo of him standing at the bottom of the rudder for the ship Queen Mary which had been damaged in the war. He was not allowed; like many of his fellow workers, as they were considered an essential service

Images See all images

Tours involving this place See all tours

Castlemaine Central Walking Tour

04/01/12

Former Shop And Residence - Theatre Royal - Former Military Quarters - Tute's Cottage (formerly Hannan's) - Thompsons Kelly & Lewis Engineering Works - Former Castlemaine Court House - Castlemaine Botanical Gardens - Castlemaine Railway Precinct (murray Valley Rlwy, Melbourne To Echuca) - Castlemaine Railway Precinct (murray Valley Rlwy, Melbourne To Echuca) - Former School Of Mines - Court House - Former Gold Warden's Office - Concrete Truss Footbridge - Castlemaine Art Gallery And Historic Museum - Buda - Imperial Hotel - Castlemaine Market - Bank Of New South Wales - Presbyterian Church - Former State Savings Bank

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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