Thompsons of Castlemaine - Engineering Heritage National Marker Maldon, Victoria, Australia
By
Team MavEtJu on 10-Jan-18. Waypoint GA11558
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Virtual |
| Container: | Virtual |
| Coordinates: | S36° 59.870' E144° 4.305' (WGS 84) |
| 55H 239416E 5901358N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 349 m |
| Local Government Area: | Mount Alexander |
/144.07175,-36.997833,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
Thompsons of Castlemaine - Engineering Heritage National Marker
The Thompson Foundry was one of the largest engineering works in Australia during the period following the Gold Rush and during a time when Australia aspired to develop manufacturing industries to support the nation. The presence of this large industry in Castlemaine assisted in consolidating the growth of the city following the Gold Rush. Thompson’s of Castlemaine established a reputation as a significantly accomplished manufacturing business.
During its early years it specialised in the production of equipment for the mining and pumping industry, pioneering hydraulic gold sluicing systems, but after receiving a contract for the manufacture of locomotives in 1913 there was an emphasis on this work alongside of the production of machinery, sluicing and dredging equipment for the mining industry, pumping plants and equipment, railway points and crossings. Later the focused turned to engines, pumps and turbines.
The Thompsons of Castlemaine manufactured high quality product and established a reputation far beyond most Australian engineering works. The company manufactured everything from locomotives to the main towers for Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge (Quick, 2006). It was one of the principal manufacturers of railway locomotives for the Victorian and Commonwealth Railways during a key period of railway development in Australia.
Thompsons Foundry’s ultimate success is in fact noted for its ability to diversify through working with the mining companies, railways, pumping industries, WWII munitions supply, the Australian Navy and power plants. The foundries ability to move with the market enabled it to continue to employ the locals of Castlemaine, to support the economy and develop Castlemaine into the town it is now.
The foundry site remains mostly intact, however most of the machinery and original fit out is no longer present.
When logging this virtual, please add a photo of yourself and/or your GPSr in the log!
Note: The marker is confirmed to be at the museum, but the exact location is not known. When you have found it, please let me know so I can adjust the location.
For more information, you can see the website at https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/heritage/thompsons-castlemaine.
