87-89 LINDSAY STREET

VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS GRAIN SILOS, INVERESK

The silos in Lindsay Street, on the “North Bank”, close to where the North Esk joins the Tamar, are undergoing a radical redevelopment into a luxury hotel, so its probably timely to record them as “they are” but probably will soon no longer be.

They are frequently referred to as “an eyesore” (perhaps especially by those favouring the hotel development) but I have never seen them that way. Perhaps because I have never seen the landscape without them they have always seemed to belong just where they are.

The silos were being used for grain storage into this century, but were sold to a private company, The Tasmanian Grain Elevators Board, by the Tasmanian government in 2004. They sold to Tas Silos, who in turn sold to Roberts. The silos were subsequently acquired by the Launceston City Council for “flood protection.” It was later decided that they were not actually needed for this purpose, and so were sold back to Roberts, the previous owners who on-sold them to the current owners Old Launceston Sea Port Pty Ltd.

I have spent quite some time looking for an on-line reference providing more information about the history of the silos prior to this time with little luck, other from newspaper articles.

An article in The Advocate in 1951 refers to the construction of wheat silos by the Tasmanian government and the employment of Victorian consultant engineers to this end, and The Examiner of 7^th September 1951 reported the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works had recommended the construction of silos at the southern end of Kings Wharf at an estimated cost of 553 thousand pounds. At that stage, it was intended that the marine board would manufacture the concrete foundations. In 1953 construction still hadn't commenced, as test drilling had proved “unsatisfactory.” In February the following year, engineers had still not been able to find stable ground upon which suitable foundations could be built. Modernismtas.blogspot.com.au mentions that the silos were designed in the “late 1950s.”

In short, I don't have a date, but assume late fifties/early sixties would be accurate. I gather that the “grain” stored in the silos was wheat, but don't know whether or not other grains were stored, nor do I know who ended up designing the silos or building them or even how they “worked” in terms of pick up and delivery Perhaps someone could help with more information?

3-7 GEORGE STREET WAREHOUSE

GHOST SIGN

CASCADE HOUSE, GEORGE STREET

Although they have now relocated, this warehouse in George Street was for most current-day Launceston residents the home of Tulloch's Auctions.

Broomby and Dent were agricultural agents – involved in the sale of everything from animal feed, to flowers. They already had the warehouse when they purchased adjoining property on the corner of the street in 1909 – one suspects the current building has evolved into its current form over time.

(A picture of how it looked around 1907 can be seen in Michael Simco and Pete Jermy's little book “Launceston on old Picture Postcards”)

A newspaper report from February 1894 says that “Broomby and Dent have taken possession of the store in lower George.street until recently occupied by Messrs R. Newey and Sons. Both men had worked in the field for some time and proposed to store and sell wheat, hay and corn as well as engines to drive chaff cutters, crushing machines and more. At the time it was opened the building enjoyed the advantage of being close to both the railway station and the wharves. In this regard times have certainly changed! Newey's had been hay and product merchants in Launceston since the 1850s, the business having been founded by Richard Newey, who died in 1891.

Instead of Broomby and Dent, the inscription on the front of the building now reads :Irvine and McEachern. They were wine and spirit merchants and also sold cigars and tea, and had previously operated from 128 Brisbane Street. Rather confusingly the building has “Cascade House” on the front, but most newspaper references give the address of “Cascade House” as 38 Charles Street! Presumably there were two buildings with that title, both operated by the same company. I suspect someone out there will know whether or not the title was simply an association with Irvine and McEachern's business, or was related to the brewery in a more direct way. (All input welcome!!!!!)

Among the many enticing products wholesaled by Irvine and McEarchern was AB Tonic wine, advertised extensively in the 1930s. It was said to not only relieve exhaustion, lassitude and depression but to feed “the wasted tissues” and built up the system after influenza and other illness. All this for only 3 shillings!

As far as I can tell this building is not on the Heritage Register, but it stands as a reminder of Launceston's agricultural and commercial history and has a certain solid appeal, that paint aside, has not been overly damaged by overenthusiastic “development.”