Perth's small buildings on BIG roads
Ever noticed a castle at Dog Swamp in Yokine? Ever noticed a windmill in Victoria Park? How about a tiny cottage next to Great Eastern Highway in Belmont? While spread over the metro area, these tiny structures on main roads are related. They’re the remains of a marketing stunt that spanned from the 1930s to the 80s. A company called H.L Brisbane and Co (later called Brisbane and Wunderlich, and then finally Bristile) built tile display parks as playgrounds - usually with a fairytale theme. This way, the parents could inspect some nice tile or brick to include in their new home build, while the kids could play. Fun for the whole family! A few other locations on my master list have been ticked off for this video too, since they tie into the story. The Ascot Kilns was a major manufacturing hub for the company, while they also bought out the Calyx Porcelain Company in Subiaco.
Sources:
Relating to the company & High Lance Brisbane:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickworks_(company)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_Brisbane
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85150250?searchTerm=%22belmont%22%20%22wunderlich%22
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127509941/hugh_lancelot-brisbane
Ascot:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot_Brick_Works
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/67a74768-189d-428b-9a8c-528d526fcabc
https://www.6pr.com.au/mystery-guerrilla-artwork-pops-up-in-perth-suburb/
Belmont Dollhouse:
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/c1107329-6c49-431f-93f4-7f0fb2e6649e
https://www.belmont.wa.gov.au/docs/ecm/museum-heritage-series-working-together.pdf
Bassendean Wishing Well
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/a1f50d50-50c1-43ad-9830-07f4b4d8601e
Victoria Park Windmill & Wishing Well:
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/public/inventory/details/886d9523-0311-4cb7-a8e2-b4ba5ea53b77
https://www.historicvictoriapark.au/victoria-park-lion/
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Windmill_and_Wishing_Well,_Victoria_Park
The Land of Make Believe (Nedlands)
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/admin/api/file/80dc2902-05da-417c-b071-a65353f6abf5 (Page 18)
The Land of Make Believe (Yokine/Dog Swamp)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wyrmworld/albums/72157612950803981/
Subiaco:
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/0136c2df-e0dd-414e-a446-da612a8e88b1
https://www.nisbets.com.au/australian-fine-china/_/a33-1
Images Used:
Belmont Dollhouse
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8397960
Victoria Park from Asquith Street, 1962
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3708066_1
Victoria Park Aerial 1974 1/2
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2442752_2
Victoria Park Aerial 1974 2/2
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2442752_1
Claremont Windmill
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2830751
Bristile Park Claremont Competition Adverts
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/2875739
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32839890?searchTerm=%22bristile%20park%22
Aerial of Bassendean 1971
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2431367_3
Aerial of Bassendean 1977 (after by-pass construction)
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3135177_1
Wunderlich Advert for asbestos-cement
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/14520028
Bristile Brickworks 1935
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1750671_1
Yokine 1981
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b6432070_1
Yokine 1985
The Land of Make Believe - Nedlands (Lost Perth)
Aerial of Nedlands, 1956
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2397171_1
Making roofing tiles at H.L. Brisbane and Wunderlich, Belmont (1956)
Wunderlich factory East Perth, 1935
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2386256_1
Newcastle Street west from Lord Street, Perth, 1955
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2491832_1
Calyx Pottery, 1935
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2386271_1
Power unit and pottery pieces 1953
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2314483_1
Video Used:
Modern day Bristile showroom: https://youtu.be/QDYd49oZLlU?si=O0MkhUlLB_WfOuPt