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 SOUTH BRISBANE WHARF NEXT TO THE VICTORIA BRIDGE. The vessels that transport the bricks from Tivoli can clearly be seen. Source: Qld Museum
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.