Bennetts Eucalyptus Distillery, 44 Eucalyptus Road, DEEP LEAD

The former Bennett's Eucalyptus Works, 44 Eucalyptus Road, Deep Lead, is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the establishment of the eucalyptus oil distillery in 1921 by the Bennett brothers - Frank, Jack and George. Although Jack and George Bennett were only involved in the distillery development during the initial years, Frank Bennett continued the operations until the 1940s. During the 1930s, the distillery closed during the depression, but with the onset of World War 2 in 1939 and the subsequent high demand for eucalyptus oil in the manufacture of ammunitions, the distillery re-opened. Most of the existing structures on the site today: rendered brick chimney, underground vat, ruinous steel windmill, ruinous condenser unit and the rudimentary timber dwelling; survive as a legacy of the distillery establishment between the 1920s and the 1940s. The rammed earth and mud brickbuildings, notably the poultry sheds, dairy and cow bale, reflect additional developments in the mid 1930s and 1940s.

The former Bennett's Eucalyptus Works, 44 Eucalyptus Road, Deep Lead, is aesthetically significant at aLOCAL level. It demonstrates important visual qualities. These qualities include the picturesque rural setting beside Welshmen's Dam.

The former Bennett's Eucalyptus Works, 44 Eucalyptus Road, Deep Lead, is scientifically significant at a LOCAL level. Although a number of the structures are in a dilapidated or ruinous condition, collectively the surviving fabric continues to provide an understanding of a small rural interwar distillery process. The brick base to the former steam engine also provides some understanding of the process of the neighbouring cyanide works.

Overall, the former Bennett's Eucalyptus Works, 44 Eucalyptus Road, Deep Lead, are of LOCAL significance.

Group

Forestry and Timber Industry

Category

Eucalyptus still