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H.L. Cecil
The Cementies
Charles Daniel Pratt
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Robert Pockley
The Cementies
W. M. Langford
The Cementies
Les Brown ~ Copyright 1968

The

Cementies'

Processing Plant

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Peter McCann registered Australian Portland Cement Co. Ltd in 1889

The company was liquidated in 1895. 

McCann set up another company which was liquidated in 1904.

In 1905 he formed the Australian Portland Cement Co. Pty Ltd.  

Adelaide Brighton Cement later acquired the cement works.

It was finally closed in 2001.

J. Lockwood Ca. 1912-20
J. Lockwood Ca. 1912-20

Works Layout

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Changing Perspectives...

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Robert Pockley Studios

What's left internally...

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Others have explored the abandoned and partially demolished cement works at FyansfordLink 1 Link 2
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 Childhood

Memories...

Does anyone else have memories of ~
  • exploring the caves that used to be roundabout  here?
  • entering the concealed shaft that lead deep into the works...
 In those days I'd head off with my mates for day-long adventures exploring the Moorabool valley.
As parents we wouldn't dare let our kids do it nowadays... Scary even thinking about it....

Charles Daniel Pratt

A 1926 airview of the Cement Works, Fyansford  (4 glass negatives)

Cement Works Fyansford
Cement Works Fyansford
Cement Works Fyansford
Cement Works Fyansford
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Robert Pockley Studio

For more detail see Robert Pockley Studio

 

Images from...

jfimages.com

Fyansford Gallery

 

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This image was taken by Stuart McDonald.

Possibly taken from above Buckleys Falls.

Note the helicopter

Chimneys' last stand

"... The first chimney, built in 1958, is 97.53 metres tall and weighs 1660 tonnes.

The second, built nine years later, is 106.68 metres tall and weighs 1860 tonnes.

The third, built in 1968, also reaches 106.68 metres. It weighs 2442 tonnes...."

By Chris Evans (June 6, 2004),

 

The chimneys that refused to go without a fight

“All three were supposed to fall simultaneously but, after three deafening blasts, only one chimney leaned before collapsing in a cloud of dust. The others stood defiantly…As hundreds of Geelong residents watched, driver Derek Robinson fearlessly manoeuvred a 160-tonne excavator to budge the obstinate pair. …”

By Martin Boulton (June 7, 2004)

 

"The three historic chimney stacks at the former Fyansford cement works were consigned to history on Sunday when they were demolished in preparation for a residential redevelopment on the land..."”

Source: Geelong News 9/6/2004…

A not-so-famous last stand

The Cement Stacks Coming Down...

 

                                             

 

                                           Uploaded by GEST Media on Jun 19, 2008

Fyansford Cement Works dominate the skyline with chimney and smoke, Geelong                                      Joyce Evans

Down they come…

Stacks Demolition by Jimbo Johnstone

 

An amazing gallery of 8 images

from 2004

​

From Geelong in Historical Pictures

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A Moorabool River Add-on?

Anyone who has walked the vacinity of the confluence of the Moorabool and Barwon rivers will have noticed the seemingly un-natural detour of the Moorabool River (not far from where it joins with the Barwon). 

I have vague memories from my childhood days of exploring this area and accepting it as a man-made construction with something to do with the cement works; possibly a waste-water outflow or something similar. 

Can anyone throw light on this stretch of what, I believe, was once a deliberate add-on to the Moorabool river?

No help here...

Hmmm!

A closer look at the detail

in one of Charles Daniel Pratt's 1926 images might hold a clue.

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All images courtesy of Gerry van der Meer

I love a touch of mystery....

Can anyone tell me anything about the history of this picture?

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Individual Recollections:

                  Thanks, Evert van Dreven...

As posted in Geelong in Historical Pictures...

See also  Evert's pAGE

I would really love to find:

  • a pre-1908 photograph...

  • a 2001 - 2004 photograph...

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For more detail ~ See here...

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