ETA Foods Factory facts for kids
The ETA Foods Factory is a special old building in Braybrook, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It was built in 1957 and is known for its cool, modern design. People call it a "Modernist" building because of its unique glass walls. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's important to keep and protect.
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Who Designed This Cool Building?
The ETA factory was designed by a famous architect named Frederick Romberg. He worked with a company called Grounds Romberg and Boyd. They designed it for the original owner, Nut Foods.
The front of the building, which faced Ballarat Road, had a special "curtain wall." Imagine a wall made almost entirely of glass! This made the factory look very modern and stylish in the years after World War II. It had stripes of clear and black glass, with shiny gold metal bars crisscrossing. These bars looked a bit like classic columns.
Even though the factory isn't used anymore and is a bit run down, it's still considered one of the best factories built in Victoria from that time. The front office building was separate from the main factory area. They were linked by a covered loading area, forming a nice courtyard garden in the middle.
The glass and metal design continued all around the building, making it look complete and modern from every angle. Inside, there was a "floating" staircase that seemed to hang in the air, surrounded by glass. A tall tower on the roof originally showed the ETA brand name.
Gardens and Art at the Factory
The factory wasn't just about machines; it also had a beautiful outdoor space. There was an inner garden courtyard with a rock pool and a fountain. This garden was designed by John Stevens.
The company also asked an artist named Teisutis Zikaras to create a sculpture. It was made of two curved concrete pieces, carefully balanced on top of each other. They sat on a large rock in a round pool of water. There were also copper discs that were supposed to spray water onto the sculpture, but they don't work anymore. You can still see parts of the original garden design, like some cactus plants and zig-zag paths.
Why This Building Is So Important
The ETA factory is famous because its front looked like a giant billboard. The long glass wall facing Ballarat Road, with its dark glass panels, had diagonal gold bars that pointed towards the factory's name. It was designed to catch your eye!
The car park and entrance canopy were also very wide and impressive. They were held up by special cables connected to the building and the ground. The factory also used innovative tubular steel roof trusses, designed by engineer John Connell, which were very strong and modern for their time.
The ETA factory even became famous around the world! It was the only Australian building featured in a big book called Industriebau in 1962. This book was about important industrial designs from all over the world.
In the 1960s, the factory used to put on a special Christmas light show. They had a scene of the North Pole above the entrance, with Father Christmas appearing on his sled.
Looking After the Factory
Even though the ETA factory is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (meaning it's protected), it has fallen into disrepair. Some parts have been damaged, and all the glass panes were removed around 2008.
A car dealer bought the site in the late 1990s and wanted to turn it into a showroom. But they put it up for sale again in 2008. Then, in 2011, a property developer bought it. They are now required to restore some parts of the original buildings.
