Usually, when I put together one of these stories, it
involves countless hours hunched over musty tomes and developing RSI when
transcribing lots of information. This
one is different. Robert Smith was one
of those enterprising characters of the age who tried and failed. And boy did he try. His story is documented fairly well in the
local papers of the day so I will let them tell the story. In November 1852, Robert Smith arrived in
Melbourne aboard the sailing ship “John Bunyan.” He joined the throng of new arrivals and made his way to
Ballarat. After trying his hand at
mining, he began working as a builder.
In August 1856, Robert was invited to become a Councillor
for the Municipality of Ballarat. He
was described as being a Stonemason and Builder. In December 1857, he tendered for work as a mason and plasterer
for the Wesleyan Church. By 1857 he had
been elected to Council.
This article appeared on page 2 of The Star on Saturday the 19th of June 1858.
“BRICKMAKING BY STEAM
At
length, the enterprise of a well-known resident has succeeded in accomplishing
what has hitherto proved a failure in the district-the making of bricks by
steam machinery. The works were set in
operation yesterday by Mr. Robert Smith, the spirited proprietor, and prove in
every respect to be most efficient. The yard is situated at the junction of the
Mopoke Gully and Black Hill flat, where the double advantage is secured of an
adequate and never failing supply of water and a bed of the finest and purest
clay in the district, of an average depth of
some
sixteen feet over the area enclosed, which covers about two acres in extent.
The arrangements for carrying out the various processes of the manufacture, and
at the same time for securing economy in the application of manual labor, are
in rapid process of completion, and when finished will, undoubtedly, prove the
best and most extensive to be found in the Ballaratdistrict. The patent brick making machine is one of
Beart's of Ipswich, and is driven by one of Clayton and Shuttleworth's
ten-horse power portable steam engines. The machine is calculated to turn out
from 800 to 1,000 bricks per hour,' and in all its parts is of a most efficient
character. The amount of labor saved by the process which the use of this mode
of manufacture necessitates is very considerable, or rather-to put the matter
in its true form--the additional amount of work which this process enables a
certain number of men to accomplish, is very great; while the article manufactured
is of a quality not only superior to what is produced by the old-fashioned
ordinary way of making bricks, but one which cannot be approached by the most
skilful hand labor. The bricks themselves are one tenth larger in size than the
ordinary standard brick, while their density is more than doubled, enabling
them to sustain twice the amount of pressure under dead weight. They also
present the novel feature of being perforated, so that a building constructed
of them by proper design in their arrangement, can be ventilated in the most
perfect manner. They also possess the quality of resisting moisture, and being
great non-conductors, the walls, when only a single brick in thickness; will
almost completely deaden the sound-hitherto an insuperable inconvenience in the
use of ordinary buildings. The economy
of labour will be manifest- in the process of manufacture by this machinery we
state that three men, three boys and an engine driver are able, by the use of
it to raise the clay from its 'native bed, and deliver ready for burning at the
kiln, 1,000 bricks per hour.
Claytons Steam Brick Making Machine
The
clay after being dug out and heaped is saturated with water, turned over once,
and allowed to soak for forty-eight hours. ' It is then drawn by the engine
from the pit by means of an incline portable tramway and tracks, and deposited
in the machine, which, after pugging it, forces it in a firm compact perforated
mass through the moulds, in lengths which are afterwards divided by wires into
the size required by a simple turn of a hand cutter, and the bricks are then
rapidly transferred by boys to the hand-barrows, and delivered by the wheelers
to the drying floor preparatory to burning. The process of drying is rapid and
exten¡sive. The floor of the shed in which they are deposited has been
artificially constructed of brick and sand, two enormous flues being carried
under the entire length which when heated will thoroughly dry 10,000 bricks in
a day, winter and summer, more effectually and with less loss than can be
accomplished in three weeks by the usual method of stacking them in open sheds.
It is Mr. Smith's intention to perfect still further the designs of the
patentees, and ultimately the bricks will be delivered from the machine, dried,
and passed into the kiln in one continuous stream, without being handled until
they are finally built up in the kiln itself. Already Mr. Smith has contracts
for the delivery of half a million of these bricks, and there is little doubt
that as their superior value and the economy of their use become better known
they will be in very general demand, and that others will in conjunction with
this enterprising manufacturer share in the advantages to be derived from what
is in this district at least a new source of industry.”
The following article appeared on page
3 of the Geelong Advertiser on Wednesday the 9th of November
1859. It had been reprinted from the
Ballarat Times.
“At the recent Agricultural
Society's Show some very good specimens of pottery were exhibited by Mr. Robert
Smith, of Lydiard Street, who had but a few days previously commenced the
manufacture of earthenware vessels of all descriptions in connection with his
brick making yard in Mopoke Gully. The fine articles exhibited on that occasion
were so very generally praised, that we made a visit to the pottery works of
Mr.. Smith yesterday, with the hope of being able to furnish some interesting
particulars of the process of manufacture; but whilst the personal inspection
we have made has gratified our own curiosity, and satisfied us of the operative
success of the undertaking, the manner in which the vessels are fashioned is so
unattractive, except from its simplicity, that we cannot hope to interest our
readers very much by the following report:- The pottery works of Mr. Smith are
situated in Mopoke Gullv, at a distance from Soldiers' Hill of less than a
quarter of a mile, and may be distinguished by the appearance of three kilns -
two round and one square-within a fence enclosing two or three acres of ground-
Within this fence the work of brick and tile making, and the manufacture of
earthen articles for divers uses are proceeded with, both by hand and
machinery, under the notice of all who may casually pass that way. But the
fashioning of the earthenware vessels is not so exposed to the idle gaze of
all; that branch of novel industry on Ballarat is prosecuted in a wooden
tenement, from which we supposed upon our entry that the appliances for making
the handsome results exhibited at the recent show had been removed; for besides
two shallow wooden bins, both thickly coated with clay, and each having a
miniature round table standing within it, a heap of worked clay, and some well
finished, earthen vessels, there was nothing to indicate how, or by what means
those articles-had made. And yet we have enumerated, with the exception of the
kiln, all things necessary to the production of ware superior to any made
elsewhere in the colony and equal at least to that of English manufacture.
After hearing some praise of the ware, in which we fully concurred, and some
remarks which were unintelligible to us because unenlightened on the process of
manufacture, we made known our ignorance, and profited by the humility which
allowed such an acknowledgment. The tradesman engaged for the work by Mr..
Smith, with so much consideration as to avoid even a mute expression of
surprise at our ignorance, took a lump of clay from the heap, tempered it a
little in his hand, laid it on the centre of the small round table, which,
acted upon by a cord pulled by an urchin at the opposite end of the bin, spun
round quickly or slowly as was desired. The tradesman having now wet his hands
joined them round the clay, and by contracting or enlarging their space,
depressing or elevating his thumbs in the top of his material, brought it speedily
to such outward shape as he desired. He then by indenting his right hand thumb
into the centre of the clay, and by gradual expansion of it by outward gentle
and steady pressure, widened the apertures sufficiently to admit his fingers,
when with those of one hand inside, and with nice manipulation of the of hand
on the outside, he formed a very handsome flower put in a few minutes.
Subsequently in a similar manner he made a handsome bottle, bringing forth neck
and mouth to a good shape by gradually compressing with the outer hand until
withdrawing the inner one till within the orifice remained the under linger
only. Thus briefly may be described the process of fashioning the clay for
vessels, which may not be known to many who are fully capable of appreciating
the art displayed in the elaborately finished vases which issue from modern
pottery works in imitation of similar articles of antique origin. We had also
the satisfaction of examining yestcrday, some excellent butter and bread jars
which were highly glazed, and smooth as glass; and, what was fully as pleasing,
learned that there was local demand for the productions of the pottery which
cleared the stock as far as manufactured and got ready for sale. We should
mention that the foreman, who has had thirty one years' experience' at the work
in England, states that the clay is far superior to that at Melbourne or
Geelong, and at least equal to the very best he has seen in Britain. It is
however necessary to select it, and that of a strong description mixed with the
darker, kind of puddle from the machines is found to be the most suitable for
the purpose. The kiln used for drying the pottery is different from a brick
kiln in this respect, that it is arched within like a baker's oven where it
commences to taper, and that the side aperture is smaller, and all for the
purpose, it appeared to us, of rendering the evaporation more slow and gradual,
and the heat more equable. This,
however, is a conjecture on our part, and we must refer those who are as
curious on the subject as we have been to pay the works a visit, and we doubt
not but that they will be received with a courtesy similar to that which we
have now pleasure in acknowledging. After this indirect acknowledgement of our
incompetency to fully describe the pottery art, we will further only say that
much credit is duo to Mr.. Robert Smith for the enterprise he has displayed in
the matter, and we hope that a ready and large
sale will recompense him for his efforts.”
Beehive Kiln
In
January 1860, Robert became insolvent owing £64-13-6 due to “depression of trade and fear of imprisonment.” Robert resigned as a Counsillor on the 1st
of November 1860.
This
article appeared on page 4 of the Ballarat Star, Saturday the 8th of
June 1867.
“Mitchison v Robert Smith, £99-19-3,
value of bricks sold in 1861,the defendant having in the interim been out of
the colony. Mr.Hardy for the
plaintiff, Mr.Cuthbert for the defendant. The defence was the statute of
limitations. The plaintiff said be sold on 20th May, 1861, and that the
defendant, a brick maker and builder, was insolvent about April, 1861. Being
un certificated, Smith asked the plaintiff to let him take a certain contract in
the name of Wilson and the plaintiff, having no objection to his earning his
own living, consented. Under that contract the bricks were sold to the
defendant, Mr. C. Dyte, as agent for De Young for whom the defendant was
building, giving to the plaintiff a guaranty which, however, was bad. The
guaranty was sued on, but a non suit was entered on the ground that no
consideration was given. In reply to these particulars, it was averred that the
sale took place in February, 1861, and that the plaintiff might have recovered
on the guaranty by or from Dyte, as the defendant gave notice to the plaintiff
of the completion of the building contract, and that moneys lay in Dyte's
hands. His Honor said the guaranty had failed, and the plaintiff bad a right to
fall back upon the debtor. The defendant deposed that he was insolvent on 26th
January, 1861, and the sale of the bricks to him took place in February, 1861,
the delivery being completed at the beginning of May that year. Shortly after that he went to Sydney, thence
to Queensland, and had only just returned to Victoria. His Honor—The Statute of Limitations having
once commenced to run, continues to run.
Josiah Rice deposed that he and the defendant had a brick contract, in
1861, with the plaintiff, and when the defendant became insolvent witness had
control over the bricks, and gave delivery at the plaintiff's order. He did not
know that he had any orders left now, but (reads from his delivery-book) he
began to deliver to the defendant on 21st February, 1861, delivery being
completed on 7th May, 41,600 in all, the number sued for. His Honor said he
thought, from the evidence for the defence, the plaintiff's memory must have
failed him as to the dates, the action being for goods sold "and
delivered." If the plaintiff sought to amend his form of action it was a
different matter. Mr.. Hardy asked leave to amend, but Mr.. Cuthbert objected,
as the defendant had pleaded the statute, and both cases had closed. His Honor
concurred, and said the plaintiff might elect to be non suited, though there
was a nice question of law as to when a contract is complete. Mr. Hardy
accepted a verdict for the defendant without costs.”
OK,
so where did things go wrong? This
letter in THE STAR on Saturday the 9th of May 1863 may give an
answer.
“THE BRICKMAKERS' GRIEVANCE. |
SIR,-I beg to call your attention
to the following matters in reference to the brick makers in Ballarat. During the last few days the brickmakers in
Mopoke Gully, Inkermann, Black Hill Flat, and Native Youth near Brown Hill,
hare been visited by policemen "license hunting," and threatened that
if they do not take out a license for each brick yard,and pay £10 per year,
that they will be summoned for being in illegal occupation of Crown lands. The fact of the matter seems to be this,
that Mr. Duffy's new Land Act states that parties can take up two acres each
for brick making purposes on Crown lands on payment of £10 per annum; hut it
does not statewhether it is intended to be in or out ot the municipal
boundary. The brick makers of Ballarat
have been in the occupation of their yards for making bricks for various terms
ranging from one to ten years, and do not on an average- occupy more than a
quarter of an acre each for brickmaking purposes, and that of the most
worthless land in the town, and unfit for residence or digging-purposes. In fact, in Mopoke Gully they are working
ground which is nothing better than a sludge channel, and are even converting
the sludge into bricks, &c; and by some oversight of the law they must pay
at the rate of £40 per acre per annum for it, or much more in one year than
would buy a freehold allotment of land in a better situation. To show you the
hardship this would be to the brickmakers, I haye been told of nine or ten
owners of yards who would be obliged to give up brickmaking altogether, as at
the present' time owing to the great competition, bricks are selling
for-scarcely as much as will pay common day laborers' wages, and owing to the
great changes of the weather they are sometimes reduced to great straits to
make both ends meet. 'Summer, time
being the only time that they can depend upon, and then they have to work
twelve or fourteen hours per1 day to make wages. They all or most of them have miners rights and pay heavy
municipal rates, and, in Mopoke Gully especially, have had for years' past to
make their own roads and bridges at an expense during the last six years of
from £40 to £60 for every brick yard, besides their own, labor. The above arrangement if carried out will
drive fifty or sixty men out of employment at once, and will indirectly prevent
the greater use of bricks for building purposes in Ballarat, and will cause more; bluestone to be used, the
difference in price between the two
being very slight. By your advocating thé above cause' you will oblige; for self and the rest of the brickmakers, .
Yours
&c
Mat.
Gowland”
This obituary was published in “The
Star” on Friday the 9th of October 1868.
"THE LATE MR. ROBERT SMITH
Another of our earlier citizens,
and. one who in his time had taken a prominent part in public life here died at
his residence in Skipton street between four and five o'clock on Thursday
morning, 8th October, the event being soon made public by the flags
flyinghalf-mast high at the town-halls and the Water-Supply office. We refer to the late Mr. Robert Smith who
was once a member of the Ballarat West Municipal Council, was the first
president of the Benevolent Asylum, an enterprising man of business, and at the
time of his death held the office of foreman of wages under the Ballarat
Water-Supply Committee. The deceased was a builder and contractor, and in that
capacity saw the rise of many of the buildings that now grace the town. When
the Eureka stockade tragedy threw a glamour of lurid light over Ballarat and
the colony generally, and while occasional bullets from insurgent rifles were
flying from the flat to the Western township, Mr. Smith was busy with his men
building a little temple of peace, the first ecclesiastical structure of
permanent materials that was erected in Ballarat West. That was the building
which lately stood on the site of the present Wesleyan school at the corner of
Lydiard and Dana streets. It was built
of sandstone from the Black Hill; and when the building was taken down because
of the subsidence of adjacent ground caused by mining there, the stone in the
old building, on which the builders had carved "Wesleyan School,
1S55," was replaced in its old position in the new house, where it may be
seen now by the "moderns."
Mr. Smith was born near
Furness Abbey, in Lancashire, and was a builder in Liverpool before he emigrated.
He sailed from Liverpool in 1852, in the John Bunyan, Messrs Southward and
Sumpton and John Mc Causland, of Ballarat, being among liis fellow
passengers. After working awhile at the
then new Town-Hall, Melbourne, he came to Ballarat and had good luck in mining,
one of his claims being near the famous jewellers' shops on the Canadian Lead.
Mr. Smith soon after that began business in Ballarat as a builder, one of his
earliest contracts being the Wesleyan school already mentioned. He built and
owned Smith’s Buildings, Lydiard street, and the brick dwelling in Ligar street
over looking the Eastern Recreation Reserve, and now occupied by the editor of
this journal. The deceased built, as contractor, the Theatre Royal in Sturt
Street, the foundation-stone of which was laid by G. V.Brooke, the famous
tragedian, who played so touching a part in that mournful tragedy when the
London went down in the Bay of Biscay and only a few souls escaped to tell the
tale of woe. As a shrewd, steady, upright man of business, the deceased throve
in general esteem, and he succeeded in his business till his enterprise
outstripped safe limits, as events proved, and reverses came. The first
municipal council of Ballarat West held its first sitting on 15th January,
1856, and from 1857 to 1S59 the deceased sat in the council. While a councillor
of the municipality, he, in conjunction with Mr. Lynn, Mr.Diamant, Mr. Dimsey,
and some others, projected the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum, and Mr. Smith was the first
president of that institution, as also a trustee and life-governor. Old
citizens will remember from what small beginnings that excellent public charity
has risen to its present position. In those earlier days the Press echoed the
feeling of many philanthropists here, and agitated for a Servants' Home, but
Mr. Smith and his coadjutors extended the view, and initiated the asylum. In
connection with that building Mr. Smith became acquainted with its architect,
Mr. Christopher Porter, of Geelong, and that gentleman induced him to adventure
upon the manufacture of tiles and hollow bricks. This was the origin of the
kilns and yards at the bottom of Mopoke Gully, now traversed by Peel and Rowe
streets, and more or less taken up by the spread of population in that
direction. In this adventure Mr.
Smith was before his time a little, and
while he made tiles that now lie before the Criterion drapery establishment in
Sturt street, and ill other products of his kilns, gave new materials for
architectural use, he was overtaken by a cloud of misfortune, and he left the
colony for Sydney in the year 1802. After a sojourn of 2A years there he went
to Brisbane, and was engaged on several public works there. But there, too,
misfortune again fell upon him. When the general commercial collapse came upon
Queensland the deceased was reduced to comparative poverty again, and had to
seek a new sphere, or at least to make a fresh essay in an old one. Thus, about a year or so ago, the deceased
left his wife and family ill Brisbane, and came back to Ballarat, where he was
appointed clerk of works at Pincott's dam by the Water-Supply Committee. He
superintended the whole of that work, and then acted up to the time of his
death as foreman of other works connected with the Ballarat Water-Supply. Exactly twelve months ago, to the very day
on which he died, his youngest child died in Queensland, and the expenses of
family sickness and the funeral, added to the reverses of fortune in Brisbane,
brought him to penury, in which sad condition lie now has left a widow and four
children, the eldest of whom is only 12 years of age. The deceased was 42 years
old, and we learn from his medical attendant, Mr. W. P. Whitcombe, that he had
suffered for eight years from urinary calculus, and for fourteen days from
uremia, of which he died after lying by for two months nearly, during the
greater part of which he endured great pain. Originally a Wesleyan, and married
in Ballarat by the late Rev. Theophilus Taylor of that church, the deceased
joined the Primitive Methodist Church in Brisbane, and was a local preacher in
that body at the time of his death. During his sickness he was visited by
ministers of both churches, and we learn that he was sensible to the last, and
died "in hope of everlasting life."
The remains of the deceased will be buried on Saturday afternoon. We may mention, in conclusion, that Mr. Smith is the first of the Ballarat
West councilors who died a natural death. Two others died before him, one of
whom, Mr. Carver, committed suicide, and the other, Mr. Rankin, was drowned in
the Bay."
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