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RUSSELL BROS. TANNERY (FORMER)

Other Name

Fletcher Chemical Company

Location

27-57 ROONEY STREET,, RICHMOND VIC 3121 - Property No 329580

File Number

Y2011:9920

Level

Recommended for Heritage Overlay

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RICHMOND ROONEY STREET

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The former Russell Bros. Burnley Tannery at 27-57 Rooney Street, Richmond is significant. It is a two-storey building constructed of brick (now over-painted), which is built to the front and side boundaries. There are two longitudinal gable roofs, which are concealed by a parapet, with large rectangular pediment flanked by scrolls at the front. The parapet steps down in the side elevations. There are evenly spaced windows on both levels, which have segmental brick arched lintels and brick cills.

Non-original alterations and additions to the building and other buildings on the site are not significant.

How it is significant?
The former Russell Bros. Burnley Tannery at 27-57 Rooney Street, Richmond is of local historic and scientific significance to the City of Yarra.

Why it is significant?
The former Russell Bros. Burnley Tannery is historically significant as tangible evidence of the historic development of of the river flats of Richmond for 'noxious' trades such as tanning and fellmongering, which were supported by Richmond Council as an important source of local employment. In the nineteenth century and early twentieth century tanneries were a major industry in Richmond and the majority of tanneries (and other related 'noxious' industries such as fellmongering) were situated in River Street, Yarraberg and Rooney Street, Burnley because of the proximity of these two areas to the Yarra River both as a supply of water and for disposal of waste and (at least prior to the late nineteenth century) the relative isolation from developed areas. The significance of the former Russell Bros. Burnley Tannery is enhanced by its rarity value as one of only two known surviving tannery buildings in Richmond. (Criteria A & B)

The former Russell Bros. Burnley Tannery is of scientific (archaeological) significance for the potential to contain archaeological deposits such as remains of tanning pits shown on the 1895 MMBW plan that would provide further information about the processes used in the tanning industry in the nineteenth century. (Criterion C)

Group

Manufacturing and Processing