Former Geelong Cement First Head Office

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - Head Office

The first Geelong Cement Head Office, constructed in 1923 it is aesthetically significant at a Regional level for the relatively rare use of the Interwar Georgian Revival style for commercial building. This includes the form, materials and encircling 'colonial' verandah supported by concrete columns and fence.

It is historically significant at a Regional level for its association with the production of cement in Geelong for over 100 years, and its status as the first purpose built concrete commercial interwar Georgian Revival head office for this company.

It is scientifically significant at a Local level for its unusual external and internal concrete construction.

Overall, the first Geelong Cement Head Office and fence at 180 McCurdy Road is of Regional Significance.

Recommendation:
That a Conservation Management Plan be carried out on the site, and comparative analysis with similar sites in Victoria.

REFERENCES

1.Historical Information from the Cement Works Museum.
2. Shire of Corio Rate Books.
3. Investigator magazine.
4. Geelong Advertiser.
5. Geelong Waterworks & Sewerage Trust Maps, Barwon Water.
6. John McNeill, A Journey to Destiny 1890 - 1990, 100 years of cement manufacturing at Fyansford, Australian Cement Limited, p41

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - Processing Plant

The Geelong Cement Processing Plant at Fyansford is scientifically significant at a Regional level for its potential to yield evidence in the form of archaeological deposits which are likely to contain evidence of technological value with particular regard to the former processing plant and of changes to the cement making processes and machinery, over a period of 100 years.

It is historically significant at a Regional level for its association with Fyansford and Geelong communities in the production of cement in one of Geelong's oldest and largest industrial plants, for over 100 years,. It is also significant for its evolution of the production of Portland cement of one hundred years. The cement works has been integrally related to one of Geelong's most pioneering industrial families, the McCann family business, since they purchased it in 1888. From 1912 the first rotary kiln plant was built on the original site with a complete change of process.

It is socially significant at a Local level for its association with thousands of families, often several generations of each family, for whom most of their livelihood was gained as employees. Employees also had a strong recreation club and sporting clubs, and a museum over a long period. The close association of the local community was reinforced by the strong visual presence of the plant from within Fyansford and to as far as the chimney stacks are visible around Geelong.

Overall, the Geelong Cement Processing Plant is of Regional Significance.

Recommendation:
That a Conservation Management Plan be carried out on the site, which should further investigate the industrial archaeological potential of the site and comparative analysis with similar sites in Victoria and Australia and the impact on these things if the plant is closed and developed for other purposes. Further investigation by an Industrial Archaeologist is most important. Also see Note under Description.

REFERENCES

1. Wynd, So Fine A Country: A History of the Shire of Corio, p.88.
2. Information from Geelong Cement Museum.
3. Geelong Advertiser.
4. John McNeill, A Journey to Destiny 1890 - 1990, Australian Cement Limited, 1990.

Group

Commercial

Category

Office building