Farming history
As the settlement of Melbourne grew, so did populations east of Melbourne. The area of Burwood had its early origins in the village of Ballyshannassy, which was later named Norwood and by 1879 was renamed Burwood.
The Australian handbook of 1903 describes Burwood as “environed by farms and market gardens” with an undulating country of sandy and clay formation, which would later prove beneficial to the establishment of a brick factory.
By 1930 the Burwood area was known as a fruit and vegetable growing district. The Burwood Brickworks site itself and surrounding areas were once home to orchards of Red Williams pear trees, apples, cherries and daffodils.
Original brickworks
The New Northcote Company purchased 40 acres of land on Middleborough Road and Burwood Highway in 1937, with a view to expanding its brick manufacturing operations.
The area’s clay formation was pivotal to the success and expansion of the New Northcote Company’s brick production and by 1950, 100,000 bricks were being produced on site each week.
New Northcote Company produced the ‘Nubrik’ brand of bricks in cream, reds and tan colours that became so prevalent across Melbourne’s suburbs during the post-war boom. Nubriks soon became the preferred material for brick veneer homes, especially across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs where many ‘Nubrik’ homes still stand.
The current Burwood Brickworks shopping centre features salvaged Nubriks originally produced on the site. One hundred of these bricks have been inscribed with inspiring messages contributed by the community and now feature along the walkway of the western entrance.
New Northcote Company changed its name to Brick Industries in 1962 and then Brick & Pipe Industries in 1964, when it became the largest brick manufacturer in Victoria.
The company was acquired by Melbourne businessman Abe Goldberg in 1988 and brick production wound down.
Fit for purpose
The former Brick & Pipe Industries site underwent a number of handovers during the economically turbulent late 80s and early 90s. The brickworks ceased operation and the site became vacant and unused.
By 1996 Reading Entertainment Australia had acquired the site and started working on bold new plans for the ideal location east of Melbourne that would include a mix of residential and commercial space.
The 20-hectare site, which over time had become a local eyesore, was rezoned as a priority development site in 2006. In December 2008 Whitehorse City Council drew up a development plan for the site and Reading Entertainment unveiled an $800 million proposal for 700 new homes, a 20,000sqm office space, a 3,000-seat cinema complex, 10-lane bowling alley, gym and childcare centre.
Plans stalled when Reading Entertainment announced in May 2010 that it was seeking to sell the land, rather than push ahead with the development proposal.
It took a further four years, but the site was eventually purchased by Australand in June 2014 for $65 million. That same year Frasers Property Limited acquired Australand, which now included control of the former brickworks site.
Vision to fruition
Frasers Property Australia set to work rethinking how it could create a thriving mixed-use community. The first stage included filling in the disused quarry, mined for clay in the former brickworks.
Frasers Property lodged a masterplan with Whitehorse City Council in 2016 , with plans for 700 new homes, a 13,000sqm shopping centre and ‘eat street’, urban plaza and parklands, a medical centre and 120-place childcare centre. The bold plan included a 2,500sqm rooftop urban farm. A portion of the site was sold to Ryman Healthcare to develop a new retirement village.
The new Burwood Brickworks residential community would include a range of housing types from vacant land lots, detached and semi-detached townhomes, and apartments.
Whitehorse City Council approved the development on May 23, 2018. A tree planting on June 12, 2018, marked the start of construction of the retail centre. In December 2019, Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre opened to the local community and the next incarnation of the historic site was born.
