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CSR COMPLEX

Other Name COLONIAL SUGAR REFINERY Location 265 WHITEHALL STREET YARRAVILLE, MARIBYRNONG CITY File Number 601249 [ 1 - 2 ] Level Registered

[1/25] CSR COMPLEX SOHE 2008 [2/25] CSR COMPLEX SOHE 2008 [3/25] h01311 1 csr yarraville veiw [4/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [5/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [6/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [7/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [8/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [9/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [10/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [11/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [12/25] h01311 colonial sugar refinery [13/25] h01311 colonial sugar refinery [14/25] h01311 colonial sugar refinery [15/25] h01311 colonial sugar refinery [16/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [17/25] h01311 csr whitehall street [18/25] h01311 csr yarraville plan a [19/25] h01311 csr yarraville plan b [20/25] Colonial Sugar Refinery [21/25] Colonial Sugar Refinery [22/25] 2077_CSR_Complex_HV_Dec2009_2.J [23/25] 2077_CSR_Complex_HV_Dec2009_3.J [24/25] 2077_CSR_Complex_HV_Dec2009_4.J [25/25] 2077_CSR_Complex_HV_Dec2009_1.J

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is comprised of buildings dating from three main periods: the 1870s, 1900s and 1910s. The buildings on the site are predominantly brick, timber or metal framed structures; the pan house is the only structure which utilises stone. The structures are generally roofed using metal or timber framed trusses clad in galvanised sheeting. The former Packing Station, (now drier station) is a five storey building and was constructed c.1913. The structures of the Cistern House and Char Ends exhibit a complete range of the technologies employed in iron and steel frame construction from the 1870s to the 1930s. These buildings were first constructed in 1875 and house original cisterns and kilns. The Pan House comprises the original refinery building constructed to Thomas Watt's design in 1872-73; it is the oldest building on site and exhibits technology from the period. The Retail Packing Station was constructed c.1880 and has a distinctive timber framed structural system. The former Melting House was built in 1902 and has retained its cast iron refabricated internal frame, although now enclosed in concrete. The Golden Syrup and Treacle Packing Store dates from the 1880s and has cast iron columns; this building houses a CSR designed golden syrup filling machine. The former Power House contains machinery which demonstrates the power generating process.

The original refinery building was constructed by the Joshua Brothers Company in 1873 and it was built in direct competition with the Victoria Sugar Company, a sub-company of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. In 1875, the original Victorian Sugar Company Refinery (built c. 1857) burnt down and the company took over the Joshua Bros. and the Yarraville site. Nationally, CSR had a refining monopoly which continued well into the 20th century.

How is it significant?
The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is of historical, scientific (technical) and architectural importance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is historically significant for the strength of its association with the sugar refining industry and in particular, the Colonial Sugar Refining Company which was instrumental in the development of cane growing and sugar refining in Australia.

The CSR Sugar Refinery buildings are historically important for their on-going relationship with major sugar refining companies in Victoria.

The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is historically significant as an early large scale industrial complex in Victoria which still retains its original function.

The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is of architectural significance as a representative example of a nineteenth century industrial complex and as a rare example of a nineteenth century sugar refining plant.

The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is of architectural significance for its remarkable integrity. Other important architectural features are the cast iron and masonry elements and the enormous timber trusses and its unique prefabricated structural systems.

The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is of architectural significance for its association with the architect, Thomas Watts, who designed the first buildings on the site in 1872 and who was also responsible for a number of important industrial and commercial buildings in Victoria.

The CSR Sugar Refinery Complex is of scientific (technical) significance for its retention of early operating systems and machinery particularly those found in the Cistern House, the Char Ends and the Pan House.

As a sugar refining complex CSR Yarraville is both rare and significant at a national level.