(1) Before the tall apartment building was built. the corner of Dundas St & Plenty Rd had been the site of a significant small goods business since 1862. This and the Huttons ham factory (nearby in Oakover Rd) and with the various tanning businesses further along led to Preston being dubbed the ‘Porkopolis’ of Melbourne.
By the 1990s the Junction site was little used. When the author took the photos in 2010 the site was abandoned and closed – soon for demolition.
These pictures record arguably the most important site for smallgoods production in Victoria, if not Australia.
Site inspection images taken July 2010:
Description of brick buildings still standing. Numbers refer to images.
(2, 3) ‘Wurth’ building (2003 / 2010). Part of the sign had been removed.
(4) Main entrance to the site was beside the ‘Wurth building fronting Dundas St. This image is looking south (towards Dundas St) from within the site. On the right is a two storey building behind the Wurth building, with garage and the central pork processing building at centre of site (left). In the background can be seen part of a long building that was adjacent to Dundas St.
(5) The long building housed some administration and a boiler (tall chimney). Back of the buildings were on Dundas St.
(6) The boiler was the largest piece of equipment still on the site. A number of steam pipes still connected buildings. Note rudimentary corrugated iron roof and bearers. Boiler provided steam for steaming meats, sterilising and cleaning of meat products and equipment through out the site.
(7) At the centre of the site this two storey building may have been where curing took place. Note long vents on top of roof. Vented windows for airing. Steam pipes connecting it to boiler (right) and main building (left). This building is a hotch-potch with at least two latter extensions. (Like many structures – has been added / altered over many decades.)
(8) There was little left inside this central building. Site was ‘decorated’ with graffiti.
(9) Some ‘interesting’ graffiti on the outside ‘European Delicacies’ painted sign.
This is a selection of pictures taken.
Sources: All images – P Michell
pmich@hotmail.com
