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MELBOURNE OMNIBUS COMPANY AND IRON FOUNDRY ARCHAEOLOGY SITE

Location

36-58 MACAULAY ROAD NORTH MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

Level

Heritage Inventory Site

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The surviving built component of the Melbourne Omnibus Company premises have been assessed as being of state significance and are accordingly listed on the VHR as H1810. This significance is based on both the historical association with the Melbourne Omnibus Company and that the building is the earliest and only known surviving structure associated with the Melbourne Omnibus Company. 
It should be expected that if archaeological remains associated with the Omnibus phase remain, they would also be considered to hold some significance based on their historical associations, but the degree to which they survive is unknown. 
The site then had a later phase of use associated with operating as an iron foundry and manufacturing premises. Again, the degree to which archaeological traces of this survive is unknown.
How is it significant?
The built heritage aspects of the Melbourne Omnibus Company premises have already been assessed as being of state significance. The archaeological components of this are tentatively assessed as being of local to state significance and this will, to a degree be determined by the condition of the archaeology. 
Any archaeology associated with the iron foundry phase of the site is considered to be of local significance.
Why is it significant?
The archaeology of the Melbourne Omnibus Company is considered to hold some significance for its connection to early public transport and communication in Victoria (Theme 3 in Victoria's framework of historical themes). 
The archaeology of the foundry site is considered to hold some significance as a location that employed a significant number of local people producing a variety of metal furnishings for hospitals and houses (Theme 5.2 'developing a manufacturing capacity' in Victoria's framework of historical themes).

Group

Manufacturing and Processing

Category

Foundry Iron/Brass