BRICKWORKS & POTTERIES
OF THE IPSWICH (Qld) REGION

  Alister J Cameron       

Waterstown Brickworks

Waterstown Brick, Tile and Pottery Co., Waterstown Coal & Coke Co. Ltd

History

TIMELINE

1884:   Waterstown Brick, Tile and Pottery Co. Ltd established; brickworks in production by 1885
By 1888:  All, including tramway complete
1892:  Company went into liquidation
     Then taken over by Waterstown Coal & Coke Co. owned by John Johnson.
     Then became Waterstown Coal & Coke Co. Ltd owned by several people.
1905:   Company went into liquidation. This was probably when production of bricks ceased.

WATERSTOWN BRICKWORKS SITE 1992 Source: Ipswich Heritage Study

Location

WATERSTOWN ESTATE LATE 1800s Source: R.L. Whitmore "Coal in Queensland"
MINING MAP OF WATERSTOWN AREA 1899 Map by Walter E Cameron
1946 AERIAL WATERSTOWN AREA (A) Part-way down tramway towards Bremer River and site of Waterstown Brickworks. (B) Deep cutting at bottom of tramway site. Ipswich City Council Series 1946 1 Jan 1946 QImagery
WATERSTOWN AREA FROM ABOVE PRESENT DAY Underlay: Qld Globe (Ausmap) Overlay: QGIS Vectors (Alister J Cameron)

The Site Now

LOOKING EAST ACROSS BLACK ST TOWARDS BRICKWORKS SITE 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
LOOKING NORTH ACROSS BLACK ST TOWARDS THE SITE 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
OTHER SIDE OF BLACK ST LOOKING NORTH-WEST 2014 Photo: Alister J Cameron
IN AMONGST HEAVY VEGETATION AT BRICKWORKS SITE 2018 Brick with the 'W' is a classic Waterstown brick. Photo: Alister J Cameron
STILL-MORTARED CLUMP OF BRICKS IN THIS AREA 2018 Molten parts suggest it was part of an oven. Photo: Alister J Cameron
LARGE BOULDER IN THE AREA 2018 Possibly a former masonry block Photo: Alister J Cameron
LOOKING WEST OVER THE FORMER TRAMWAY CUTTING 2018 Photo: Alister J Cameron
LOOKING SOUTH-EAST ALONG TRAMWAY CUTTING TOWARDS THE RIVER WHERE A WHARF ONCE STOOD 2018 Photo: Alister J Cameron

Bricks

Description:  Dark, mottled brick.
Condition:  Crumbled.
Type:  House Brick
Frog:  Rectangular, slightly-angular frog on front.  On rear another shallow frog.
Inscription:  “W” (indented).  One small, raised nob on left.  Screw marks each end of frog.
Origin:  Rear garden of former CWA Hostel, Limestone St, Ipswich.
Current Location:  My Collection

Description:  Brown brick.
Condition:  Crumbled edges.
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Flat, slightly-angled frog with inscription on front.  On rear:  shallow, angular frog with two screw marks and two large raised circles outside them.
Inscription:  “W” (indented) with a screw mark each side.  Also tiny circles.
Origin:  Rear garden of former CWA Hostel, Limestone St, Ipswich.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Orange brick with black specks.
Condition:  Fully intact.
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Rectangular, shallow, rounded frog with inscription.  No frog on rear.
Inscription:  “W” (indented) with raised circle or screw mark each side. Small raised nob directly underneath each.  Flat with screw marks on rear.
Origin:  Mihi Colliery area north of Ipswich Railway Workshops.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Pink-grey brick.
Condition:  Broken in two during handling.  Other cracks as well.
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Large, shallow, rectangular frog with inscription.
Inscription:  “W” (imprinted) with two raised, tiny nobs either side.
Origin:  Donnybrook Colliery area.

Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Light-coloured, mottled, sandy brick.  Molten one end.
Condition:  Largely intact on non-molten end.
Type:  House or Kiln Brick (probably used in a coke oven).
Frog:  Shallow, slightly-rounded frog with inscription.  Flat on rear with screw mark.
Inscription:  “W”  (indented) with screw mark and small, raised nob on side.
Origin:  Abermain Coke Ovens site.
Current Location:  My Collection.

Description:  Orange, grainy brick.
Condition:  Very crumbled and corner broken off.
Type:  House Brick.
Frog:  Rectangular depression with inscription one side.  Other side flat with screw marks.
Inscription:  “W”.
Origin:  Donnybrook Colliery area.
Current Location:  My Collection.