BRUNSWICK GAS & COKE CO. RETORT BUILDING (FORMER)

21-35 HOPE STREET, and 2-10 LUX WAY, BRUNSWICK, MORELAND CITY

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Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    BRUNSWICK GAS & COKE CO. RETORT BUILDING (FORMER) - Physical Description 1

    The gas retort building is a large red brick building with a low arched roof. Each end has a curved parapet, which is topped by a small scrolled pediment. Although the gas retort building remains externally intact, it has been almost completely surrounded by other buildings. Its architectural Significance as somewhat of a landmark is now significantly reduced. The roof form and part of the curved parapet are now only just visible.
    
    DESCRIPTION: As constructed the gasworks comprised a large retort house abutting the railway land, a large gas holder near Percy St and a smaller one behind the retort house, a classifying pit for grading the coal, a group of workshops and stores along the southern boundary of the site and an office building on Hope Street. It appears that the present bow string truss roof is a later addition to the retort house, probably added in the mid 1890s. Of these only the retort buildings and some of the workshops at the rear of the site appear to survive. However, these are substantial components of the gas works. The eastern boundary of the site comprises brickwork of the various buildings demonstrating a range of styles including a row of windows with contrasting cream brick arches. The main retort building has an unusually large timber bow string truss with brick walls at either end following the roof line and featuring a large oculus vent surmounted by a decorative moulding. The radial brick patterning around the vent is of note.
    
    Key Architectural Elements: large curved roof form and pediments
    
    Conservation Guidelines: preferably remove surrounding building to expose form of gas retort building
    
    Principal Historic Themes: provision of essential services and urban infrastructure (power, transport, fire prevention, water, lights, sewerage)
    
    Context: The location, adjacent to sidings of the Upfield railway line reflects the work's dependence on coal imported by rail.
    
    Condition and integrity: While the site has suffered the same destructive fate of most Melbourne and Victorian gas works, substantial buildings of the works remain. The retort house is believed to be the only 19th century retort house remaining in Victoria. The front of the works is obscured by brick buildings erected in the last decade.
    
    Comparative Analysis: No comparable gas works building is known to survive in Victoria. The building form of the retort house is itself unusual. A comparable example is the Brunswick Market.

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Moreland - City of Moreland Heritage Review

    Author: Allen Lovell and Associates
    Year: 1999
    Grading: State

    Moreland - Northern Suburbs Factory Study

    Author: Vines, G and M, Churchward
    Year: 1992
    Grading:

    Moreland - Keeping Brunswick's heritage: A Report on the Review of the Brunswick Conservation Study

    Author: Context Pty Ltd
    Year: 1990
    Grading:

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