Spear (City Bricks)

A two for one deal here, not to be confused with Speare in Tempe NSW, A Spear and Sons were a firm of brickmakers located in Victoria Road Upper Hawthorn.  Founded in 1857 by Frederick Spear, who arrived in Victoria aged 34 in 1853 on the ship “Earle Gray” as an assisted migrant.  This means that Frederick had a skill in demand in the colony.  He operated the company until his death on the 21^st of October 1884.  There were only two people working there producing between 8-10,000 per week at the beginning and around 12 when the sons took over.  His widow continued the business with her son T.H Spear and his two brothers Frederick (Jnr) and Harold.  Their bricks were all hand made in the 1800s and they produced between 30-40,000 bricks per week.

Around the turn of the century, Spears became City Bricks with Frederick Jnr as the Company Secretary.  They employed between 80 to 90 staff.  As we know, City Brick was one of the original members of the Co-operative Brick Company.  Their advertising until 1904 referred to City Bricks, late A Spear & Sons.   As well as the works in Hawthorn, they also built a works at Tooronga (Malvern).  This operated until 1963 when it moved to Scoresby.  The pit closed in 1983.