Mt. Lyell

. Through being associated with a site which is one of a group of large industrial sites n this part of Yarraville, where the processing of agricultural and industrial chemicals commenced in the late nineteenth century, and in part continues today.

. In representing a site which is one of several surviving fertiliser manufacturing complexes in Melbourne's western region.

. Through demonstrating an operation which was established on the site in the early 1900s, to process sulphuric acid and superphosphate fertiliser from the by-products of copper production (and within a short period supplied nearly one third of Australia's nation al superphosphate output). The development of the site continued under successive ownerships, including Imperial Chemical Industrial of Australia & New Zealand (ICIANZ, later ICI and then Orica), which acquired the site in 1936.

The engineering workshop, salt store and No.2 storage shed, which date from the early twentieth century, are also structure of architectural significance due to their form and scale which reflects their storage and workshop use, and in the case of the No. 2 Storage Shed, for its unusual timber arch structure.

Collectively, the three buildings form a prominent group within the former Mt Lyell site, have historically defined the northern boundary of the complex (on Lyell Street), and contribute to the historic industrial character of the site as seen from Whitehall and Lyell Streets.

Statement of Significance from the Incorporated Plan: Former Mt Lyell Site, 295 Whitehall Street, Yarraville: Incorporated Plan.

Group

Manufacturing and Processing

Category

Factory/ Plant