BRICKWORKS & POTTERIES
OF THE IPSWICH (Qld) REGION

  Alister J Cameron       

Brittains Bricks

Aka: Boral Darra

By 2014 the Brickworks were closed. 

They have since been demolished and the site is in the process of redevelopment.

Darra and Oxley Sites

THE NEW BRITTAINS COMPLEX; DARRA 1908 Source: Ipswich And Bundamba; by Queensland Government Intelligence and Tourist Bureau.
WORKING PLAN BRITTAINS RAILWAY SIDING 1925 It allows us to identify the buildings in the 1908 photo.
CADASTRAL MAP OF THE BRICKWORKS AREA 1942 Source: geospatial.information.qld.gov.au
AERIAL PHOTO OF BRICKWORKS 1946
AERIAL PHOTOS OF THE TWO BRITTAINS BRICK COMPLEXES 1970 Source: QImagery, QAP2144028
SAME AREA IN 1982 Source: QImagery, QAP4019111
1979 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP SHOWING BOTH LOCATIONS OF BRITTAINS BRICKS Source: /gisservices.information.qld.gov.au
THE SAME SITES IN 1993 Source: gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/
AERIAL PHOTO OF THE BRITTAINS DARRA SITE 2007 Source: Google Earth
AERIAL PHOTO OF THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE BRICKWORKS 2009 Source: Google Earth
THE INAUGURAL E.M.U. APPROACHING DARRA STATION 1978 The two tall brick chimneys at the brickworks can clearly be seen. Source: Tom Kelly
A VIEW OF THE NORTH-WEST EDGE OF THE BRICKWORKS 2010. The two tall chimneys are gone and replaced by two short metal ones that were associated with the tunnel kiln. The siding would have branched off the main line on the curve at the end of the embankment. Source: Luke Cossins.
TUNNEL KILN VIEWED FROM THE RAILWAY 2012 Photo: Alister J Cameron.
VIEWED FROM THE RAILWAY OFFICE BUILDING IS ON LEFT AND KILN ON THE RIGHT 2012 Yellow sign says "PLANT 3 BRICK WORKS". Photo: Alister J Cameron
COMPLEX NORTH-EAST OF OFFICE 2012 Photo: Alister J Cameron
FURTHER ALONG PALLETS OF BRICKS AWAIT DISTRIBUTION 2012 Photo: Alister J Cameron
FURTHER NORTH-EAST 2012 On the left is the edge of a brick storage area Photo: Alister J Cameron
THE VERY EXTENSIVE MAIN BRICK STORAGE AREA 2012 Photo: Alister J Cameron
IN 2014 THE STORED BRICKS ARE NOW LARGELY GONE EXPOSING THE BUILDINGS AT THE REAR. The former office is far right. Photo: Alister J Cameron
FURTHER NORTH-EAST IN 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
SAME AREA IN 2014 Further evidence of the beginning of the end. Photo: Alister J Cameron
SITE OF TUNNEL KILN LATER IN 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
IN LATE 2014 ONLY THE FORMER OFFICE REMAINS. Probably used as a base for the demolition crews. Photo: Alister J Cameron
A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE LATE 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
A NEW ERA IN 2019 Modern industrial buildings have replaced the old brickworks complex.

Bricks

Description:  Light yellow with brown discolouring.
Condition:  Many tiny fissures.
Type:  House or Kiln Brick.
Frog:  Rounded with inscription.  Shallow, rectangular frog on rear with two screw marks.
Inscription:  “BRITTAIN” (indented).
Origin:  Eclipse 1 Colliery site, Tivoli
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Brown & black speckled.
Condition:  Some crumbling
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Totally smooth, rounded frog with inscription.  Shallow, rectangular frog on back with two large, raised nobs.
Inscription:  “BRITTAIN” (indented).
Origin:  Residential home. Bergin St, Booval
Current Location:  My Collection

Description:  Orange colour.
Condition:  Corner of one end broken off.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Rectangular, angular frog with inscription, two screw marks in the middle plus one tiny indent: one face.  Flat on rear. 
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (indented)
Origin:  Probably Rothwell-Haigh Colliery site, Tivoli
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Light orange colour
Condition:  Crumbled edges.
Type:
Frog:  Angular frog with heavily indented inscription. Two screw marks in middle with five tiny, raised nobs in between.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (indented)
Origin:  Morris Woollen Mills site, Redbank
Current Location:  My Collection

Description:Smooth, orange brick.  Black smudges and paint streaks.
Condition:  Many fissures.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Angular frog with inscription and two screw marks in the centre.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (broad indent) plus two, raised angled lines in middle.
Origin:  Residence, Bergin St, Booval.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Light-orange, smooth brick.
Condition:  Some crumbling.
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Deep, angular frog with inscription.  Two tiny screw marks in middle of frog.  Flat on rear.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (indented).  Roman numeral “I” in middle (raised).
Origin:  Auction of bricks in Brisbane.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Orange, smooth brick.  Some mortar is attached.  Red patch on side.
Condition:  Slight crumbling.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Angular frog with inscription.  Two screw marks in middle.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (indented); plus raised roman numeral: “II”  Flat on rear side.
Origin:  Unknown
Current Location:  Ipswich Historical Society Collection

Description: Smooth, tan brick with some pink colouring on the back.
Condition:  Some crumbling.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Angular frog with inscription and two screw marks in the middle.  Flat on rear face.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA” (indented); plus raised roman numeral: “IV”
Origin:  Residence at Bergin St, Booval.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Orange, smooth brick.
Condition:  Many fissures & some crumbling.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Deep, angular frog with inscription and two screw marks in the middle.  Flat on rear face.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA 1961”
Origin:  Residence, Soudan St, North Booval.
Current Location:  My Collection

Description:  Orange, smooth brick.  Some small patches of mortar
Condition:
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Rectangular, angular frog with two screw marks in the middle.  Flat on rear.
Inscription:  “BRITTAINS”  “DARRA 1962” (indented).  Three tiny raised nobs in middle.
Origin:  Site of Rosehill & Coronation Collieries east of Bundamba Racecourse.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Light brown colour.
Condition:  Many fissures and some crumbling.
Type:
Frog:  Small, rectangular, flat frog with inscription.  Large, flat frog with two screw marks on rear.
Inscription:  “R B” (indented).
Origin:  Residential home, Northcote St, Booval.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Dark brown brick.
Condition:  Some crumbling and fissures.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Deep, rounded frog with inscription on front.  Flat on rear.
Inscription:  “RALPH”  “BRITTAIN” (indented)
Origin:  Old Borehole Colliery Siding area, Bundamba.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Smooth, orange brick with tiny specks.  
Condition:  One long crack on front.  On rear: raised circle in middle and small nobs each end.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Large, rectangular, angular frog with inscription.  Flat on rear face.
Inscription:  “RALPH”  “BRITTAIN” (raised)
Origin:  Residence at Bergin St, Booval.
Current Location:  My Collection