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YARRALUMLA BRICKWORKS BACKGROUND

History: The history of the Brickworks re-development

Governments have struggled over what to do with the site for over 30 years. The first re-development was proposed in 1976, when the Brickworks were closed. Work commenced on the re-development that same year as a tourist complex with some residential housing. The Brickworks eventually became a tourist attraction in 1979.

The operator of the site surrendered the lease in 1984, and expressions of interest were called to re-redevelop the Brickworks again in October 1988.

(The Yarralumla Residents Association was also formed in 1988, amid concern that a draft policy plan for the site had been hastily prepared and did not address key issues.)

As a result of that process, LJ Hooker was invited to take up the lease in December 1989. They were unable to do so however, because they had gone into voluntary liquidation, but it was not until 1992 that the ACT government officially declared they had missed their opportunity.

Next, Allied Projects submitted a housing proposal in 1996, but the Carnell ACT government said it was not competitive and the offer was withdrawn.

In 1998, the Lake Burley Griffin Local Area Planning Advisory Committee was asked by the Carnell government to develop a proposal. Their report said the Brickworks should be developed as a heritage centre and industrial archaeological park, and also provide for limited housing of 15 residences per hectare.

Their ideas never came to fruitition.

More Brickworks history compiled by the ACT Library Service

Key events regarding the Brickworks from its construction in 1910 to 2004, prepared by the ACT Planning Authority

Yarralumla Brickworks entry to the ACT Heritage Register

Yarralumla Brickworks and Environs Planning Review, ACT Planning Authority. Prepared by Susan Conroy & Munns Sly Architects March 2005