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Melbourne Meat Preserving Co - Hume Pipe Co
Other NamesPipemakers Park , Raleigh's Boiling Down Works , Australian Frozen Meat Export Company LocationVan Ness Avenue MARIBYRNONG, Maribyrnong City
File Number20245LevelIncluded in Heritage Overlay |
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Statement of Significance
The place is of national historical, social and architectural significance as some of the oldest and most substantial early industrial structures associated with at least five different innovations in Manufacture. The boiling down works was one of the first of its type in Australia and the largest in Victoria, the Melbourne Meat Preserving Co. pioneered meat preserving by the vacuum process, as the Australian Frozen Meat Export Co. pioneered bulk freezing and is credited with the first successful frozen meat export in the world, Robertson Martin & Smith were the makers of the first locomotive for the first railway in Australia and utilised part of the site to fulfil this contract; and Hume Pipes were an innovator in the field of concrete pipe manufacture, being the first Australian company to export a manufacturing technology as opposed to a raw material or product. The site shows a range of cultural features relating to five separate innovative industries stretching over 140 years. (Criteria A3, A4 &D2) Several technological innovations took place here including boiling down, meat preserving, meat freezing, and concrete pipe manufacture. (Criterion F1) Architecturally, the buildings represent early fire proof construction techniques. The boiling down and meat industries have disappeared from Melbourne and industrial buildings of any kind from the mid nineteenth century are exceptionally rare in Melbourne. (Criterion B2) The river location demonstrates the importance of maritime communication to early industry as well as the need for a water source and drain. This site encapsulates the history of industrial development in Melbourne and represents some of its major phases. Several significant historical figures are associated with the site including Joseph Raleigh, Samuel Sextus Ritchie (proprietor of the MMPC) and Walter Hume. (Criterion H1) Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) criteria The Australian Heritage Commission criteria consist of a set of eight criteria which cover social, aesthetic, scientific, and historic values. Each criterion has sub-criteria written specifically for cultural or natural values. The relevant criteria are: A.3 richness and diversity of cultural features A.4 demonstrates well the course and pattern of history, important historic events B.2 rarity C.2 research potential D.2 good example of type E.1 aesthetic importance to the community or cultural group F.1 design or technological achievement . G.1 social importance to the community H.1 association with important person or group
Group
Manufacturing and Processing
Category
Abattoir/ Meat Processing