Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory |
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The structure in 2015
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| Location | 82 Colmslie Road, Morningside, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory (former), Colmslie Migrant Hostel, Fairmile Naval Base, Hans Continental Smallgoods Factory, HMAS Moreton, Colmslie | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 7 December 2007 |
| Reference no. | 602465 |
| Significant period | 1910s-1920s (fabric) 1910s-1940s (factory) 1940s (military use) 1950s-1960s (migrant accommodation) |
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The Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory is a special heritage-listed factory located in Morningside, Brisbane, Australia. It has had many different uses over the years. It was once known as the Colmslie Migrant Hostel, a naval base called Fairmile Naval Base (or HMAS Moreton, Colmslie), and even a food factory, Hans Continental Smallgoods Factory. This site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2007 because of its important history.
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A Factory for War Efforts
The former Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory at Colmslie includes several brick and timber buildings. These were built between 1917 and 1920. Later, around 1949, two timber buildings were added to house migrants. Since the early 1970s, a company called Hans Continental Smallgoods Pty Ltd has used most of the site. They built a modern factory there, but some of the original buildings are still used for offices and storage. The Brisbane Fish Markets now occupy the northern part of the original factory land.
Australia's Own Defence Factories
During World War I, Australia found it hard to get manufactured goods and weapons from other countries. So, the Australian government decided to build its own defence factories. By 1919, these factories included a small arms factory, a clothing factory, and an explosives factory. The Acetate of Lime Factory at Colmslie, Brisbane, was one of these. Its job was to make "acetate of lime" (also called calcium acetate). This was a key ingredient for making "cordite," which is a type of explosive used in ammunition.
After World War I, the Australian government wanted to protect local industries that had grown during the war. They also wanted to encourage research and development. The idea was that government factories would help private companies learn and grow. This way, Australia could make its own defence supplies if another war happened. This plan helped Australia produce its own light weapons and ammunition by World War II.
Choosing the Colmslie Site
In 1916, a government committee chose the Colmslie site for the Acetate of Lime Factory. It was a good spot because it was close to the Brisbane River. The land was bought in September 1916. A plan for the factory was drawn up in November 1916 by a famous chemist named Auguste de Bavay.
The Genius Behind the Factory
Auguste de Bavay was born in Belgium and was a very clever chemist and bacteriologist. He had worked for many breweries and in the mining industry. In 1914, the Minister of Defence asked him to figure out how to make "acetone." Acetone was needed for cordite. In just two weeks, de Bavay found a way to make it from molasses (a thick syrup from sugar cane). He was then asked to build the Colmslie factory, which had a special chemical and biology lab. His son, Francis Xavier de Bavay, became the factory's first manager.
The factory cost about £120,000 (a lot of money back then!). It started making acetate of lime in 1918 with 30 employees. Production continued even after the war to build up supplies. By early 1922, the factory had made enough acetate of lime to produce 200 tonnes of acetone. This was enough for 1,000 tonnes of cordite, which could make about 400 million rifle cartridges!
How Acetate of Lime Was Made
The process of making acetate of lime started with molasses. This molasses came from sugar mills in North Queensland and was shipped to Brisbane.
- First, the molasses was pumped into a large tank near the river and mixed with water.
- Then, it was heated and cooled in a three-storey building to kill any unwanted bacteria.
- In the "Fermenting House," yeast was added to big wooden vats. This process, called fermentation, turned the molasses into a weak alcohol solution.
- The liquid then went to the "Settling House" to settle.
- Next, in the "Acidifier House," the alcohol was turned into acetic acid (which is like vinegar) over several days.
- In the "Evaporator House," the acetic acid and water were heated and distilled.
- Finally, the acid was mixed with "milk of lime" to create acetate of lime. This was then dried into solid flakes and bagged. The bagged product was sent to another factory to be turned into acetone. Acetone was vital for combining other chemicals to make cordite.
The factory also started making concentrated alcohol in 1919 because there wasn't enough available. From 1924 to 1926, they even tried making "power alcohol" from molasses to use as fuel for vehicles, but it was too expensive.
From Factory to Military Base
After 1926, the factory was mostly closed down and looked after by a caretaker. In 1935, the factory's equipment was moved to other factories in Melbourne. The site was then used by different government departments. For example, the Post Master General's Department used some buildings for radio equipment from 1937.
As World War II approached, the factory site became important for military use.
- In 1939, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) used some buildings for sleeping and storage.
- From 1940 onwards, the Army also used parts of the factory for storage and other purposes.
- By late 1942, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) gradually took over most of the complex. It became part of the Fairmile Naval Base, later known as 'HMAS Moreton, Colmslie'. The factory's jetty became a place for refuelling ships, and the navy built workshops and a repair slipway nearby.
A New Home for Migrants
After World War II, Australia wanted to increase its population. In 1945, the government created the Department of Immigration. The goal was to bring 70,000 migrants to Australia each year. Many people came from the United Kingdom with help from the government, paying only a small fee for their journey.
Australia also invited "Displaced Persons" from Europe, who had been forced from their homes by the war. These included people from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and other parts of Eastern and Central Europe. By 1951, about 170,000 Displaced Persons had moved to Australia.
Colmslie Migrant Hostel
In 1949, the Department of Immigration decided to open "Holding Centres" and "Worker's Hostels" for these new arrivals. Holding Centres were places where families could stay while the main earner of the family worked nearby. Worker's Hostels were for workers, and sometimes their families could live there too.
In mid-1948, it was decided that the old Acetate of Lime Factory would become a Worker's Hostel. It was called the "Colmslie Migrant Hostel." The existing factory buildings were used for accommodation. Also, several new timber huts were added to the site around 1949 to provide more sleeping areas. Two of these huts are still there today.
The Colmslie Migrant Hostel was managed by "Commonwealth Hostels Limited" from 1952. While it was mainly for British migrants, people from other countries like Germany, Finland, Denmark, Yugoslavia, and Russia also lived there in the late 1950s.
Life at the Hostel
Many of the old factory buildings were given new uses as part of the hostel:
- The "Acidifier House" became a dining room and kitchen, as well as accommodation.
- The "Engineer's Office" and "Fitter's Shop" were used for storing luggage and as the Assistant Manager's living area.
- The "Evaporator House" and "Alcohol Still House" were used for sleeping, washing, and recreation.
- The "Engine Room" and "Boiler House" became recreation areas and a laundry.
The Colmslie Migrant Hostel closed on 31 March 1963. Any migrants who still needed a place to stay were moved to another hostel. The site was briefly reopened in 1965 before closing for good. In the early 1970s, Hans Van der Drift, a chef, moved his company, Hans Continental Smallgoods, into the remaining part of the Colmslie hostel site.
Even though some parts of the original factory were demolished over time, many of the main buildings that made acetate of lime are still standing today.
What Remains Today
The former Acetate of Lime Factory is now part of the Hans Continental Smallgoods factory. You can find it on Colmslie Road. A large, modern factory building takes up most of the southern part of the site. The original factory buildings are further north, stepping down a slope towards the Brisbane River.
Some of the original factory buildings you can still see include:
- The Lime Slacking Store and Lime Slacking House: These are brick buildings, now used as a cold room.
- The Excise Office, Fertilizer House and Painters' Shop: This is a timber building with a corrugated iron roof.
- The Evaporator House and Alcohol Still House: These two-storey brick buildings are now used as offices. You can still see the original timber roof supports inside.
- The Engine Room and Boiler House: These brick buildings are now used for storage.
- The Chimney: This tall brick chimney is a very noticeable landmark. It has a steel ring at the top and a large steel door at its base.
- The Winch House and the Engineers' Office and Fitters' Shop: These are brick buildings. The Winch House has an extended roof that acts as a porch for the Fitter's shop.
- Two wooden huts: These one-storey wooden buildings were added around 1949 to house migrants. They are raised on timber stumps and have skillion roofs (a roof that slopes in one direction). Each hut has six doors on one side.
Why This Place is Special
The former Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's very important to Queensland's history.
A Look into Queensland's Past
The remaining buildings show Queensland's role in Australia's early defence industry. They highlight how products from sugar cane were used to help Australia become self-sufficient in making ammunition during World War I. Later, between 1943 and 1948, the factory became a Royal Australian Navy Base. This shows how old government properties could be used for military needs during a crisis.
From 1949 to 1963, and briefly in 1965, the factory buildings were used as a hostel for migrants from Britain and Europe. This shows how Australia adapted its properties to temporarily house many new arrivals after World War II. The factory network was also part of a government plan to share scientific and technical knowledge with Australian private industries.
Unique and Rare
The Acetate of Lime Factory at Colmslie was the only factory of its kind in Australia and the only Commonwealth defence factory built in Queensland before World War II. The two timber huts on the site are also special. They might be some of the last remaining examples of the temporary homes provided for migrants on military properties after World War II.
Beautiful and Important Design
The Acetate of Lime Factory has a strong industrial beauty. Its location near the river also adds to its visual appeal. The tall brick chimney, in particular, is a well-known landmark along the Brisbane River.
Clever Achievements
The factory used an innovative way to make acetate of lime from molasses. This process was developed for the Australian government by the famous chemist Auguste de Bavay, and the factory was built exactly to his plans.
Connected to Important People and Groups
The factory buildings are strongly linked to the chemist Auguste de Bavay. They are also connected to several important government and military groups in Australia's history. These include the Commonwealth Arsenal, the Munitions Supply Board, the Royal Australian Navy, and the government departments that helped migrants come to Australia.
