BRICKWORKS & POTTERIES
OF THE IPSWICH (Qld) REGION
Alister J Cameron
BRICKWORKS & POTTERIES
OF THE IPSWICH (Qld) REGION
Alister J Cameron
West Moreton Pottery Works and Richard Rogers & Co. – Both of these large enterprises were owned by builder, Richard Hoggslpesh Rogers. Rogers arrived in Ipswich in 1874 where he commenced work for William Hancock as a building contractor. After a number of years in this field of work Rogers became aware of a shortage of good quality brick materials in the Ipswich area and decided to establish a brickyard. So, having purchased a large block of land at Brassall on Holt Street in 1885 he went into production as West Moreton Pottery Works. After producing a high quantity of bricks Rogers came to realise that the clay he was using was of perfect composition to be transformed into fine pottery objects and pipes.
His pottery business took off in 1886 and he was quickly overrun with orders, including the production of 150,000 bricks for the then new railway station on Union Street. He was also employing up to 20 workers to produce bricks using the hand press methods that involved the use of a portable press, with the boys producing up to 1300 bricks a day! Due to the sudden influx Rogers decided to undertake a partnership in 1887 with Henry E. Wyman, and changed the name of the company to reflect this to: Richard Rogers & Co. Along with this partnership a number of alterations were made to the pottery works with the company installing a delf and slip kiln which were used to produce stoneware objects.
Throughout their time in the business Rogers and Wyman produced many fine examples of glazed pottery which were entered into national and international exhibits and competitions including the ‘Centennial International Exhibition’ in Melbourne. In 1889 the company entered into a partnership with a local business to sell their wears to the local residents. They also advertised water filters, butter coolers and bread pans in the Queensland Times. One of the biggest projects that Richard Rogers & Co. undertook, however was the production of a grand 1.2 metre water fountain on behalf of the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society in 1896 which contained three interconnected bowls and was presented to Lord Lamington at the opening of the Ipswich Show. By 1898 the firm was no longer in business. It it is not known what caused the sudden cease in production; however the 1893 Flood could have been a contributing factor.
Source: “Brickworks & Potteries of Ipswich”; Ipswich City Council Library.
Description: Sandy, orange brick.
Condition: Frog very worn.
Type: House Brick.
Frog: Angular frog with inscription.
Inscription: “ROGERS” “IPSWICH” (indented).
Origin: Unknown.
Current Location: Ipswich Historical Society Collection.
