Martin Stoneware Pipe Company

One of the more interesting companies in Ballarat was the Martin Stoneware Pipe Company.  Before Martins came into being, the original company on the site was the Ballarat Pottery Company started by George Marks.  Their old chimney still stands in the Bunnings car park. 

George Marks was one of the early potters in Ballarat.  Unlike so many others, he had not made his way to the goldfields in search of riches.  Like so many others, this did not happen, although he became a shareholder in the Windsor Gold Mining Company in August 1864 and the Nairnshire Gold Mining Company in 1871.  He had accepted an offer to work in Brunswick, Victoria as a potter.  Although a Londoner, George had trained at the Doulton and Sons pottery in Staffordshire.

In 1861, George Marks established his first Ballarat Pottery Works on Creswick Road in Ballarat, near the Old Cemetery. There with the help of four boys he produced salt-glazed drain pipes, chimney pots and tiles for Ballarat builders as well as a quantity of wheel-thrown jars, flower pots and saucers, water monkeys, bread pans, butter pots, ginger beer bottles, etc. The business flourished and the building of the railway through his property gave him the opportunity to relocate closer to town at 306 Creswick Road.    Principally, the reason was that he could not obtain title to the land near the cemetery.  Clay was obtained from a number of sites around Ballarat.   

The first building on the new site was a two-storey timber framed construction of 47 feet by 90 feet.  The triple fronted timber building with the square chimney was later built.  (Square chimneys are usually of Welsh manufacture whereas circular chimneys are usually Cornish.)  Another chimney was built on top of a circular two-storey kiln containing three furnaces.  This wood and coal kiln was used to fire flower pots and chimney ornaments.  A second coal only fired kiln nearby was lined with firebricks made by Taylors Brickworks at Black Hill.

A ten-horsepower horizontal steam engine was also installed to operate the machinery at the plant.   The initial processing of the clay was carried out at the rear of the property by a horse drawn pug mill.  Different products required different grades of clay.   The pug mill worked the clay to a proper consistency that was then moved in large lumps into sheds ready to be converted into various articles.  The clay that is now pretty solid and “stiff” is then placed in a small press with a perforated bottom.  The press was worked by hand, and after the clay had passed through the perforated bottom it was almost free from stones and fit to be made into the rougher articles, such as flower-pots and tiles.  The clay from which ginger-beer bottles, water monkeys, preserve pots etcetera, were made was all carefully washed in tubs and worked up by hand before it was put upon the potter’s lathe.

Rather than rehash what has already been written about that company, I will simply reproduce this article that appeared in “The Star” on the 16^th of August 1870, headed “The Ballarat Pottery”.

  “If not one of the most important of our local industries, the Ballarat Pottery is certainly one of the most interesting.  The pottery, which is carried on by Mr George marks, is situated on the Creswick road, near the Old Cemetery, and was established in 1861.  The Mr Marks commenced with a remarkably capital, and has since worked steadily on until he has established a good business.  Very little is known of the pottery, although the articles manufactured there are in pretty general use in Ballarat.  All that the visitor sees of Mr Marks establishment from the outside is the round top of the kiln and a few sheds, but the work carried on within is interesting.  The clay of which drain pipes, tiles, chimney pots, and jars are manufactured is procured from different claims in the neighbourhood, and the first process it undergoes is being put through a pugmill worked by horsepower.  In the pugmill it is worked up to a proper consistency, and is then removed in large lumps into sheds ready to be converted into various articles.  The clay which is now pretty solid and “stiff” is then placed in a small press with a perforated bottom.  The press is worked by hand, and after the clay has passed through the perforated bottom it is tolerably free from stones and fit to be made into the rougher articles, such as flower pots and tiles.  That from which ginger-beer bottles, water monkeys, preserve pots &c, are to be made is all carefully washed in tubs and worked up by hand before it is put upon the potter’s lathe.  The chief work carried on at the Ballarat pottery is the manufacture of drain pipes of all sizes, from 2 inches in diameter to 16 inches.  When these are to be made, the clay is put in the press before referred to, but the perforated bottom is removed, and in its place a mould is fixed, according to the size of the pipes to be made.  The press is raised from the ground about three feet, and after the clay has been put in, a wooden table, running with weighted cords placed over pulleys in the roof of the shed, is allowed to run up close to the bottom of the press.  Then the operator sets the press in motion and as the pipe is forced through the mould, its weight forces the table down.  When the pipe is long enough it is cut off with a piece of string and removed, and the weights cause the table to rise up ready to receive another pipe.  This is carried on until all the clay in the press is exhausted; and the press having been refilled with clay the operation is repeated, the moulds being altered as pipes of different sizes are required.  The making of these pipes is the chief business carried on at the pottery, but by far the most interesting of the work is that done by Mr Marks on the potters lathe or wheel.  The potter’s wheel is a small iron table made to revolve by means of cog-wheels upon a handle like that of a windlass being turned.  Upon this wheel, or revolving table, the potter makes flower pots and saucers, water monkeys, bread pans, butter pots, ginger beer bottles, and various other things.  The potter from practice knows the size of the piece of clay he will require for any particular article.  He takes this lum of clay, puts it on the wheel, dips his hands in water, and the boy in attendance sets the table revolving rapidly.  In a few seconds the operator, using only his hands and a small piece of tin for a scraper will turn out such small articles such as ginger-beer bottles, blacking pots, and small jars of all shapes and so quickly does he do it that the operation appears like a sort of magic to one who knows nothing of the work.  The larger articles, such as 6 and 7 gallon butter jars, or large bread pans capable of holding five or six loaves, are more difficult and take longer to make, but Mr Marks turns out any of these out, perfectly formed, in less than five minutes.  The trueness of curve and shape generally in all these things seems wonderful, for the potter does his work with great speed and has only his hands and eyes to guide him.  Chimney pots of all sizes and shapes are made by Mr Marks.  The plain round ones are made with the press in the same manner as the pipes, but the octagonal pots, moulded in the ordinary way with wooded moulds, and the sectional pieces are afterwards joined together.  Some of the designs here for chimney pots are very pretty, and there were all kinds of wonderful inventions for doing away with the smoky chimneys.  Some of the Ballarat builders deal largely with Mr Marks for chimney pots, and he turns out a large number weekly.  The clay for the manufacture of the rougher kinds of wares, such as pipes and chimney pots does not need to be very fine, and after a very slight preparation it is ready for use.  Great care, however, has to be taken in the preparation of the clay for the manufacture of such things as preserve jars, water monkeys &c.  The clay for these things is put through the pug-mill, then puddled in a tub, and when it is of proper consistency it is placed on a wooded table and worked up like dough only much more carefully.  Every little stone is picked out and the clay is worked for hours before it is fit for the potter’s wheel.  After all the smaller articles are made on the wheel they can be removed by hand, but the larger vessels being soft cannot be handles.  Before they are made, therefore a piece of wood is fixed in the wheel and the vessel after it is made, are removed together.  The next process is the drying.  Drainpipes, tiles, bottles and jars, are all stacked, and allowed to dry for a certain time until they are ready for baking in the kiln.  The drain pipes and chimney pots are burned in a kiln by themselves.  This kiln holds about 8000 drain pipes, and a large number of chimney pots, and if the  pottery was in full work two kilns per week of these articles could be baked.  This kiln has six fire holes, and costs £8 per week for fuel, both coal and wood.  A glaze is put on the pots and pipes by a large quantity of common salt being thrown in the kiln at the top.  The flower pots and other small articles are baked in a separate kiln, as they are of a frail and delicate nature, and will not stand rough handling.  The kiln set apart for them is a small one, and is divided into small compartments, made with large, flat, clay tiles.  The flower pots are not glazed, but the jam jars and ginger-beer bottles are glazed in the same manner as the drain pipes.  The small sized drain pipes are sold in large quantities to farmers and others in the district, and there is a good demand for flower pots among the gardeners and nurserymen.  Mr Marks says he can manufacture drain pipes, flower pots, plain and ornamental chimney pots, and jars of all kinds at a much lower rate than these articles can be imported for.  The Lextonshire and Avoca shire councils purchase large numbers of the 26-inch drain pipes for culverts.  Mr Marks’ chief difficulty is the want of good clay for the making of the finer sorts of pottery ware, and he is at present experimenting with various kinds of clay obtained from different parts of the district.  Most of the finer articles he has made up to the present time have been made more by way of experiment than with the hope of immediate profit, although Mr Marks is confident that the proper material he can turn out wares that will be cheaper and of as good quality as imported wares.  He carries on the pottery himself, assisted by four boys.”

Ballarat Pottery just after Martins Stoneware Pipes took over and before the fire in 1922.  The site is now the car park at Bunnings, Ballarat.  The chimney (at centre) is still there.

In 1878, George left to work at the Adelaide Pottery and Drainpipe Works, at Brompton and Caversham, leaving the running of the Ballarat Pottery mostly to his new partner Samuel Coyte.  The owner of this company was William Martin who would later buy out the Ballarat Pottery Company in 1921.  There had been a huge expansion of the sewage system in Adelaide and George was in the position to satisfy this demand.  Martins were a well known family in Adelaide, as James Martin had been a major manufacturer of farm machinery.  George died in Adelaide in 1918.  Within a few years the Ballarat Pottery had ceased to produce domestic wares although it continued making pipes and fittings until 1921, when it was taken over by William Martin and became Martin Stoneware Pipe Pty Ltd.  It is impossible to accurately identify the pottery output of this pottery because so few pieces were ever marked.  This appears to be a common element amongst the makers in and around Ballarat.

In 1922, the old works were destroyed by fire and Martin’s rebuilt.  Martins had their own way of making pipes. 

The Creswick Brick, Tile and Potteries Company that Martins then leased in 1925 began its short life in the gold mining town of Creswick in Victoria.  Many sought gold, but others provided services.  This company came along as the gold was petering out.   In late 1920, the idea of a brick and pottery works was floated. They were located on Railway Parade, opposite the North Creswick Station, occupying the area now partly occupied by the Creswick Knitting Mills.  A paint works had previously operated on the site for a short period.  Some of the buildings used by the old paint works were re-purposed and other new buildings constructed.

The company ran into difficulties almost immediately.  From the mid 1920's through to the early 1930's there was a severe down turn in the building industry and the supply from the roofing tile industry, which by this time had increased to 20 manufacturers, greatly exceeded demand.  Within months they had stopped making bricks.  Selkirk and Taylors in Ballarat had the lions share of the brick market and the infrastructure to deliver almost anywhere.  The low-volume kilns of Creswick simply could not compete.  Roofing tiles were also an issue.  The Company was confident that their distinctive coloured tiles would be a big seller.  They weren’t.  Soon, their only product was drainage tiles. 

By late 1924, the Company was calling on Shareholders for additional funds.  These were not forthcoming.  In late 1924, the company was sold and the equipment sold off. Buildings, machinery, plant and stock were sold for £2310.  the company (or rather one of the directors) retained title to the property until 1947.   In mid-1925, the Company was leased to Martins Stoneware Pipe Company.  Martin Stoneware were manufacturers of stoneware pipes, sewerage fittings, building bricks, agricultural drain pipes and tiles, fire bricks, fire blocks, ornamental bricks and chimney pots.

In February 1926, following the successful production of pipes at Creswick, Martin Stoneware Pipe Pty Ltd was formed to acquire the assets of Michael Martin, Michael Andre and William Martin at North Creswick.  25,000 £1 shares were issued and these three men became directors of the new company.

Mr Martin was a qualified Engineer and Surveyor, having surveyed the site for the Moorabool Reservoir early in his career.  His early education was at the Christian Brothers School in Skipton Street, Ballarat.  Later at St Patricks College.  He became a Land, Mining, Civil and Hydraulic Engineer.

In 1926 Mr Martin accepted an invitation from the W.S Brownless, the Engineer for the Federal Capital Commission, Water Supply and Sewerage to visit Canberra about the supply of pipes.  These pipes were tested to a pressure of 200 lb per square inch and were used in the Ballarat Sewerage system.  This was remarkable as they only had one downdraught kiln operating at the time.  The Creswick works had circular kilns.

In 1935/36, Mr Martin served his first term as Mayor of Ballarat.

 In 1938, Martin Stoneware Ltd also had a depot office at 12 Main Street Ballarat East and had incorporated Ballarat Pottery and the Black Hill Brick Company.

In 1939, Martins successfully claimed forfeiture of a mining lease at Daltons Flat, Canadian.  The respondents were the Eureka Tile and Pottery Company.  Martins alleged that Eureka had failed to comply with the terms of the lease and the court agreed.

In 1940/41 Mr Martin served his second term as Mayor of Ballarat.  He had been a Councilor for the Black Hill ward since 1929.    

In 1941, Martins purchased a machine to make pipes with a diameter of up to 18 inches.

On Friday the 12^th of June 1942 after several weeks of serious illness, Michael Martin passed away at his home, Craigs’ Hotel, his wife (No2) being the proprietor.  He left her a widow and they had one child, a daughter.

Some of his achievements included;

• Repair of Mildura Irrigation channeling
• Survey of Red Cliffs
• Lake Lonsdale Water Storage
• Eildon Water Storage
• Moorabool Reservoir for Ballarat Water Storage Commission
• Member, Public Health Commission.

In 1943, Martins made a loss due to the stoppage of building and of sewerage installation works across Victoria due to the second world war. 

In 1944 Defense contracts were starting to dry up.  Most of their business was coming from the Murray Valley Irrigation and Drainage Scheme.  This year the company made a small profit, compared to a larger loss the previous year. And an even bigger loss the year before.

In 1944, there were 50 employees.  Many works were either closed or operating on greatly reduced capacity because most of their workers had left to join the services.  It was a time when women filled the gaps at many of the works, but no records are available to tell if this was so for Martins.

In 1947, Grenfell College, formerly Victors Ballarat Collegiate School, original built in 1860 was demolished to make way for offices at Martins Stoneware.  Notable former pupils were Prime Ministers Robert Menzies and John Curtin.

In 1947, Martins constructed two new kilns and a 70-foot high chimney.  They also built a new clay shed and a building over the kilns.  These were rectangular downdraught kilns.  The height of the chimney was to draw the air through the kiln to dissipate the heat throughout the kiln.

In 1948, they began enclosing the works with a brick wall.  Ninety feet was laid.  A Panel Room was built also.  A panel room is for electrical panels.

In 1949 and extension to the factory was built

In 1953, another five hundred feet of brick wall was built.  An Administration Office was also built. 

In 1955, another brick kiln was built and the factory further expanded.  This was also a rectangular downdraught kiln.

In 1957 the company had expanded its operations and opened a new factory next to their old works in Creswick road. 

In 1959, an oil burning kiln was installed at the works and they started preparing for expanding on the site of the former flax mill on a forty-acre site at Wendouree.  A Swindell-Dressler Tunnel Kiln was built as were automatic horizontal pipe extruders.   This type of kiln is also known as a continuous kiln.  It is a long kiln in which only the centre section is heated.  From the opening, the pipes were slowly moved through the tunnel and the temperature increased until it got to the centre or hottest part where the firing happened.  As it moved through, the temperature reduced until they left the kiln considerably cooler.  It is an energy efficient way of recycling because the heat given off during cooling is recycled to pre-heat the incoming pipes.  New driers using the heat from the tunnel kiln were installed.

A decision was made to expand using a site in Wendouree. Unfortunately, additional capital was needed and the company then became a wholly owned subsidiary of Humes Ltd.

In 1962 a shelter for pipe testing machine was built.  Pressure testing and hydrostatic testing of pipes is essential to ensure quality is maintained.

In February 1963, work on the vitrified clay pipe factory began.  It was completed in September 1963. Vitrified clay pipe is made from a blend of clay and shale that has been subjected to a high temperature to achieve vitrification, resulting in a hard, inert ceramic resulting in a pipe that is resistant to all domestic and industrial sewage, particularly sulphuric acid, generated by hydrogen sulphids, a common component of sewage.

In 1965, two 5,000 gallon (2 x 22,250Lt) oil tanks were installed at the Creswick Road works.  Mr Kevin White, the Technical Supervisor for Martins went to Canberra to demonstrate a new method of laying pipes with rubber seals that could be backfilled immediately.  Martins had been awarded a two-year contract with the Commonwealth Government.

  

In July 1969, the company was renamed Humes Ltd, Vitclay Division.  On the first of April 1971, Humes Ltd and Rocla Industries and Brick and Pipe industries merged their stoneware pipe divisions to form Vitclay Pipes Pty Ltd.  This was to rationalize marketing and to pool expertise.  After these conversions, production had increased by 36%.  Production was expected to increase by 14%.  There were 127 people employed at the plant, plus clerical and executive staff.

By 1973 over $300,000 had been spent on the Wendouree property and the works had been converted to natural gas.  New sewerage fittings were being produced.  Vitclay closed in Victoria and moved to Western Australia where it still operates.

In August 1973, J.B. Cameron demolished the works.  This local family owned company began in 1895 to service the mining industry.  They broadened their business but today are mainly involved with plumbing and industrial hardware and operate throughout western Victoria.

In 1977 Permewan Wright (a grocery company) constructed a warehouse connected to a shop.  This company began in Geelong in 1854 as general carriers.  John Permewan, a former employee became a partner in 1861.  They became Permewan wright in 1881, having diversified as general merchants. In 1976 they were taken over by Herosa Nominees Ltd, now deregistered.

In 1980, a residence and outbuildings were demolished.

On the second of April 2010, the name “Martin Stonware Pipe Proprietary Limited” was also deregistered.  Their original company seal is now held at the Gold Museum in Ballarat.

The final piece of the end of Martin story in Creswick Road happened on the 2nd of November 2014 when the properties at 2 to 8 Ronald Street were consolidated into one.  They are now the garden centre at Bunnings.