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Cast iron in Brisbane

Cast iron is an important decorative feature of many heritage places in Brisbane. Many of these buildings date from the late 1800s to the early 1900s when cast iron production was at its peak. Early cast iron The earliest cast iron in Australia dates from around the 1830s when it was first imported from England. By the 1870s most of the cast iron was manufactured locally with the first cast iron patterns were registered in Queensland. It was mostly used for decorative elements – from columns, balustrades and the laced brackets framing porches and verandahs to fencing and gates of many buildings.

Ironwork specimens: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, pg 2, 8, no date, State Library of Queensland

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Ironwork specimens: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, pg 2, 8, no date, State Library of Queensland Iron foundries in Brisbane In May 1882 the Queenslander reported on the rapid growth of the iron foundries in Brisbane. By then there were two large foundries employing nearly 300 men with several smaller foundries employing between 50 and 60 workers. This changed with the 1890s recession which led to a steady decline in the number of foundries. By the 1920s there was very little decorative ironwork manufactured because of the increasing availability of cheaper decorative timberwork.

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Catalogue back cover: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, no date, State Library of Queensland Decorative ironwork Early cast iron designs were mostly fine decorative work developed from earlier elaborately shaped wrought ironwork. Ironwork specimens: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, pg 7 and 9, no date, State Library of Queensland

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1860s-1890s

Australian designs, echoing traditional classical and floral motifs, featured in decorative ironwork with designs reflecting the opulence of the Victorian era

Ironwork specimens: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, pg 19, no date, State Library of Queensland

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Decorative cast iron: Regatta Hotel, Toowong, circa 1940, was designed by architect Richard Gailey in 1885, State Library of Queensland 1890s-early 1900s

Art Nouveau curves and organic forms were a source of inspiration while the Federation’s nationalistic spirit promoted a wide use of native flora and fauna design elements

Ironwork specimen: John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, pg 13, no date, State Library of Queensland

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Ironwork specimen: Cast iron decoration: a world survey, pg 338, 1994 By 1910

cast iron decoration became simpler and cast iron became less fashionable Manufacturers

Contact Council’s Heritage Unit for information on early foundries as well as existing foundries, production workshops, pattern makers and suppliers in Brisbane

Valley foundry: staff standing outside RC Verney & Sons’ factory, Doggett Street, Fortitude Valley, 1902, State Library of Queensland

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Old Catalogues

John Crase & Co, New book of designs of ironwork, Warren Street, Fortitude Valley, no date, State Library of Queensland

Further reading

Campbell, M, ‘Iron Working Production and Techniques’ in Decorative Ironwork, Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1997

Robertson E G & J, Cast iron decoration: a world survey, Thames & Hudson Australia, 1994

Stapleton, I, ‘Cast iron lace’ in How to restore the old Aussie house, Flannel Flower Press, 1991

For more information contact Council’s Heritage Unit.