Keep Brothers & Wood workshop and showroom, Franklin Street. 1903
A horse carriage workshop that evolved into a motor car production plant.
It was in an earlier building on this site that James Harrison invented the world’s first ice making machine in the 1850’s, an important development in refrigeration, which paved the way for the global shipping of meat and other perishables.
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I’ll explore the fascinating post-industrial area north of Victoria Street soon, but for now back into the city.
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Women’s Christian Temperance Union Drinking Fountain, 1901.
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1887, modelled after a similar organisation in the United States. They advocated for female suffrage (which they won in Victoria in 1908), alcohol prohibition, and amongst other things clean public drinking water.
Thankfully they only achieved two of these goals.
The fountain itself was donated to the city by the Temperance Union, and designed by J. Churchman and Sons, who were mainly responsible for making tombstones at the Melbourne Cemetery, explaining the funereal elements of the fountain
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Late 1920’s shops on Elizabeth st
You’ve probably seen enough photos of Queen Victoria Markets elsewhere, but maybe I’ll explore them another time.
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Waring Bros Motor Body Builders & Show Room, Elizabeth st. c. 1905.
At the start of the 20th century, cars had to be imported in small parts by ship from European manufacturers, with local body builders like the Waring Bros re-assembling the cars by hand for local buyers.
The building is now a backpacker hostel, giving space to imported German tourists instead of motor parts.
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Melbourne Fragments needs a few million dollars to restore various buildings across the city, including these Edwardian ones on Elizabeth st.
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shops along Elizabeth st. c. 1870’s
Commonwealth Motors, A’Beckett st, built 1936
