Ross River Meatworks Chimney

The Ross River Meatworks Chimney is a landmark located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the 11th tallest structure in Townsville. It was Built as part of the Ross River Meatworks in 1891, and is now a major landmark as part of Fairfield Waters and part of Lancinis springbank urban village. It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in August 2009.[1][2]

Demolition of the works

In 1995, the Smorgon Meat Processing Company closed the meatworks down after a huge company collapse in early 1994. The Meatworks along with its 40 metre tall stack, stayed empty for two years until the land was bought by the developer of Fairfield waters, who looked upon the stack and the three gable buildings alongside it as something the public would like, had plans of turning the chimney as a public monument and three buildings into a brewery alongside the meatworks. But this never happened because reports showed the three old gable buildings were structurally damaged and were demolished before structure improvements were offered. The chimney which was the only sound feature on the site was left to remain.

2000 - 2010

In 2008, developer Lancini, was planning to demolish it so he could build a resort on the site, as an engineering report commissioned by Lancini Group found it was too unstable and old to preserve, but residents of Townsville didn't believe the report by Lancini Group and began a local fight to save the stack.[3] Jenny Hanlon (Leader of the fight) gained support from the local community via Text to the Editor in the Townsville Bulletin newspaper. This forced ALP State Member Lindy Nelson-Carr to act.[4] She then ordered a professional report into the stacks structural integrity. The report found that the chimney could stay[5] and there was a government fight over who would foot the bill. At the same time, Lindy Nelson-Carr put the chimney on the heritage list and the engineers of Heritage Queensland said it was perfect for the Heritage Register. The Chimney remains standing today and is surrounded by Point Corp's Springbank Urban village. The Chimney cost $200,000 to fix, but the Townsville City Council said it was worth it for the 120-year-old stack.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ross River Meatworks Chimney (entry 602719)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Chimney's heritage stacks up" (Press release). Queensland Heritage Council. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 10 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ Ryan, Lendl (1 September 2008). "Group fights to save historic Townsville meatworks chimney". The Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 2009" (PDF). Hansard. Queensland Parliament. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Engineering report says chimney can stay" (Press release). Townsville City Council. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2010.

Coordinates: 19°18′18.29″S 146°48′15.12″E / 19.3050806°S 146.8042000°E / -19.3050806; 146.8042000

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