History
History of BYFAS and Area.
The BYFAS building is subject to a Heritage overlay, more about this, and the history of the site, can be found at: http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/102810?print=true
Yarra Falls Spinning Company, later Yarra Falls Ltd, built its first mill for spinning woollen yarn on Johnston Street in 1918. In 1922 a wool weaving mill was erected at 80 - 110 Trenerry Crescent and in 1928 the Austral Silk and Cotton Mills erected a mill at 112 Trenerry Crescent.
Austral Silk and Cotton Mills, Abbotsford, associated with Australian Knitting Mills, in 1929 became a subsidiary of the Bradford Cotton Group.
Joseph Plottel designed BYFAS in the inter war Moderne style. In 1937 construction of the BYFAS Building (Bradford Yarra Falls Austral Silk) commenced. The large red brick three-storey building is an interesting composition which incorporates distinctive elements including narrow brick string courses, streamlining, narrow bands of windows and dentilated and dog toothed brick work.
The original art deco style signage and the flagpole remain on the facade.
Plottel was also responsible for the St Kilda Synagogue, Newport Masonic Lodge and the former Footscray Town Hall. He put factories into garden settings and designed houses, offices, shops, warehouses and powerhouses across Melbourne. Plottel has been described as a man ahead of his time.
During World War II, BYFAS housed a silk mill where parachute silk was manufactured.
Yarra Falls was a public company listed on the stock exchange until the 1970s when it was taken over by W. R. Carpenter and Company and again in the 1980s by the Griffin group.
The 1990s saw significant rationalisation of the textile industry in Australia and other developed countries. Australian Country Spinners was formed in 1991 through the merger of Wangaratta Woollen Mills, Cleckheaton and Panda Yarns. In 1998 ACS experienced further growth with the acquisition of Yarra Falls.
In the last two decades of the twentieth century, these large industrial and mill buildings along Trenerry Crescent, were gradually decommissioned and recycled for commercial or residential uses.
A 2.5 hectare site was acquired in early 1980 by Trenerry Crescent Properties, a company associated with estate agent Peter Alexander. In June 1980 a further three hectares were added to the original purchase. The property holding covered the bulk of the land between Johnston Street, Trenerry Crescent, the Eastern Freeway and the Yarra. New and transformed buildings have progressively emerged in the area over the past ten or so years.
Architect, Edgard Pirotta was commissioned to design the regeneration of BYFAS from industrial use to apartment living. The redevelopment started in 2004 and was completed in mid 2005 when the first residents moved in to the 38 apartments.
Austral Silk and Cotton Mills, Abbotsford, associated with Australian Knitting Mills, in 1929 became a subsidiary of the Bradford Cotton Group.
Joseph Plottel designed BYFAS in the inter war Moderne style. In 1937 construction of the BYFAS Building (Bradford Yarra Falls Austral Silk) commenced. The large red brick three-storey building is an interesting composition which incorporates distinctive elements including narrow brick string courses, streamlining, narrow bands of windows and dentilated and dog toothed brick work.
The original art deco style signage and the flagpole remain on the facade.
Plottel was also responsible for the St Kilda Synagogue, Newport Masonic Lodge and the former Footscray Town Hall. He put factories into garden settings and designed houses, offices, shops, warehouses and powerhouses across Melbourne. Plottel has been described as a man ahead of his time.
During World War II, BYFAS housed a silk mill where parachute silk was manufactured.
Yarra Falls was a public company listed on the stock exchange until the 1970s when it was taken over by W. R. Carpenter and Company and again in the 1980s by the Griffin group.
The 1990s saw significant rationalisation of the textile industry in Australia and other developed countries. Australian Country Spinners was formed in 1991 through the merger of Wangaratta Woollen Mills, Cleckheaton and Panda Yarns. In 1998 ACS experienced further growth with the acquisition of Yarra Falls.
In the last two decades of the twentieth century, these large industrial and mill buildings along Trenerry Crescent, were gradually decommissioned and recycled for commercial or residential uses.
A 2.5 hectare site was acquired in early 1980 by Trenerry Crescent Properties, a company associated with estate agent Peter Alexander. In June 1980 a further three hectares were added to the original purchase. The property holding covered the bulk of the land between Johnston Street, Trenerry Crescent, the Eastern Freeway and the Yarra. New and transformed buildings have progressively emerged in the area over the past ten or so years.
Architect, Edgard Pirotta was commissioned to design the regeneration of BYFAS from industrial use to apartment living. The redevelopment started in 2004 and was completed in mid 2005 when the first residents moved in to the 38 apartments.
The Great Wall of Abbotsford
Late November 1934, 350 mm of rain fell in 48 hours over the Yarra catchment, with 140 mm falling over the Melbourne metropolitan area. Flooding was widespread across the region. Six thousand people were left homeless and eighteen people died. Flood water reached a level of 15 metres, the highest known. The severity of the flood was such that a wooden flood wall, designed to protect the Yarra Falls properties, was swept away by the torrent.
In 1941, Yarra Falls Ltd obtained approval to construct a concrete river wall to replace the former timber structure. It was erected at a cost of $80,000 and still stands today. The top of the concrete wall is 12.9 metres above the river’s usual level.
Construction of dams and other works since the 1950s have given authorities far greater control of the Yarra River flows, so that the prospect of any future flooding in our area seems very remote.
In 1941, Yarra Falls Ltd obtained approval to construct a concrete river wall to replace the former timber structure. It was erected at a cost of $80,000 and still stands today. The top of the concrete wall is 12.9 metres above the river’s usual level.
Construction of dams and other works since the 1950s have given authorities far greater control of the Yarra River flows, so that the prospect of any future flooding in our area seems very remote.
