Blomeley's Foundry
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Also known as Blomely, and Bromley and Co. Blomeley's Foundry was an iron foundry on Windermere Street in 1887.[1]
Background
Blomeley Brothers were iron and Brass founders. Battery work was a specialty and the manufactured columns, friezes, brackets, ballustradings, crestings, cast-iron fireplaces, register grates, gate mountings, swedge blocks, doors, grates and dampers, sash weights, grave railings, crab winches, truck bearings, battery stampers, hall stands, umbrella stands, hall tables, door porters ad door scrapers. [2]
History
Bromeley and Co. operated an iron foundry on Windermere Street, Ballarat around 1870.[3]
In 1876 he advertised on his letterhead that he made "fancy castings in iron and brass made on the shortest notice".[4]
- BLOMELEY'S IRON AND BRASS FOUNDRY.
- Ballarat is famous for its foundries, but there is one modest establishment in Windermere street south, where a large quantity of ornamental iron work is turned out during the year, which has not yet been brought into prominent public notice.
- Those who are interested in iron and brass work of an artistic character, and who recognise the utility of supporting a local industry, would do well to pay a visit to the establishment in question, and inspect the numerous samples of friezework, verandah columns, baloony railings, ornaments for churches and public buildings, &c_.that have from time to time been executed there. At present the firm is engaged in the production of large handsome gates and railings for the Ballarat New Cemetery, from improved designs, by Mr Caselli, of the Old Cemetery gates; and, in addition, they have just completed the iron posts and friezework of the very fine verandah and balcony now being erected in front of Fussell's hotel, from designs by Messrs James and Creber. Shortly they will commence the ornamental ironwork of Bishop O'Connor's new residence; and not long ago they constructed an elaborate verandah and balcony for Mr Alexander Wilson, of Mount Emu; the fine verandahs at Mitchell's buildings and other prominent places in Ballarat ; a very graceful and neatly designed verandah for the private residence of Mr Dickenson, of Sebastopol; and choir and altar railings, pew seats, &c, for one of our leading churches; and intricate balustrades and staircases for our principal drapery firms and other places of business. We are pleased to know that the Blomeley Foundry is patronised by residents of Stawell, Ararat, and many other towns in this district ; and as we have seen work turned out there that would do credit to Quentin Matsys, or old Tubal Cain himself, we hope the foundry will expand and flourish.[5]
Site
Windermere Street, Redan.
Innovations
Community Involvement
Works Produced
Gates on the Ballarat New Cemetery.[6]
Former Ballarat Post Office 'fan-like' window detail.
Cast iron verandah on Mitchell's Buildings, corner of Sturt Street and AArmstrong Street, Ballarat.
Workplace Relations
The People
Legacies
See also
Dixon
Rowe
Further Notes
- ... The windows in the front of both the new and old [Post Office] buildings are of a very pretty shape, with fan-lights at the top, the windows themselves opening like folding doors. The iron-castings for the fan-lights are the work of Mr William Blomley [sic], iron and brassfounder, of Windermere Street. They are very pretty, and the workmanship is spoken well of by the contractor. ...
- ...A flight of self-supporting or hanging bluestone stairs leads from the lobby opposite the main entrance, to the second story. The balusters are of cast-iron, ornamental, and very strong. They were also made by Mr Blomley, of Windermere Street. They are fixed by screws and nuts to holdfasts let into the end of the stone steps. ...[7]
- BALLARAT, Tuesday.
- A fire occurred at Blomeley's iron foundry, Windemere-street, today, and the rear portion of the building was destroyed, together with a number of patterns. The property is insured for £400.[8]
- A BOY ENTOMBED.
- A remarkable escape from a terrible death occurred in Ballarat South on Saturday afternoon. Three boys, named Ernest Denier, Wykes (a son of ex-mayor of the city), and Lowdie, were amusing themselves by digging gravel from under the mullock heap on the claim of the old Golden Reef Company. The heap is 20 feet in height, and has been rendered very crumbly by the recent heavy rain.
- The boy Denier, who is only eight years of age, had taken his turn with the spade under the huge pile of stuff, his companions standing a few feet away, watching the operations. Suddenly the mullock broke away immediately over the spot where the boy was digging, and coming, down with a crash, entombed him in the excavation in which he was working. His playmates, each about twelve years of age, seeing the gravity of his situation, rushed off to seek assistance, and the alarm was promptly responded to by Messrs. Dixon and Rowe, employees at Blomley's Foundry. When they arrived at the mullock heap young Denier was completely covered by about 2ft of dirt, and it was thought that he had been smothered. Messrs Dixon and Rowe, nevertheless, set to work to remove the dirt by which the lad had been enveloped, and accomplished this just in time to save his life. When rescued the boy was unconscious. He was frothing from the mouth, and was black in the face. Restoratives were applied by his rescuers successfully and by Constables Stallard and Hooley, and on being taken to his home the little fellow was placed in a hot bath and other remedies were applied. It is believed the patient will make a speedy recovery, provided there are no internal injuries.[9]
References
- ↑ William Bramwell Withers. The History of Ballarat from the First Pastoral Settlement to the Present Time. Ballarat: F. W. Niven and Co., 1887, page 293. [University of Ballarat, Mt Helen Library]; Ballarat School of Mines Apprentices' Handbook, c1960.
- ↑ South Street Eisteddfod Official Guide, 1907.
- ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~carrick/Ballarat%20a%20to%20b.html accessed 15 March 2013.
- ↑ University of Ballarat Historical Collection, invoice dated 01 March 1876 [Cat.No. 5488].
- ↑ Ballarat Courier, 5 January 1877.
- ↑ J. E. Skilbeck. Foundries of Ballarat's Past. Ballarat: 1950. [Australiana Room, Central Ballarat Library]
- ↑ Ballarat Star, 13 January 1871.
- ↑ The Argus, 13 December 1899.
- ↑ Albury Banner, 13 September 1901.
Further Reading
External Links
--C.K.Gervasoni 14:15, 14 February 2013 (EST); --Beth Kicinski 13:40, 24 April 2013 (EST); --Clare K.Gervasoni 14:43, 20 October 2015 (AEDT); --Clare K.Gervasoni 13:05, 5 February 2016 (AEDT)