Information

Brittain Bricks was founded in 1887 by William Brittain, and English immigrant. He started the brick-making business in Ipswich, but after 20 years his clay supply ran out and he moved operations to Darra and established a quarry there. The business expanded and another plant was installed to manufacture clay piping. The Brittain family also established another brick-making operation nearby on a 200-acre site near Douglas Street, Oxley, in 1899, where there was also a small quarry. A clay hole on that site covered about 1.5 acres and was 25 metres deep. This supplied clay for the plant to produce up to 50,000 bricks per day. The tall kiln stack off Douglas Street remained intact for years after production stopped, and in the mid-1990s the structure was removed because it was attracting lighting strikes.

Citations

Brisbane Courier, 23 June 1915; Ralph Fones, ‘Oxley! A mind of its own: a history of a suburb with attitude. 1850–1950’, Oxley-Chelmer History Group, 2006.

Image Citations

Brittain Bricks’ original plant at Dinmore, circa 1890. Boral (www.boral.com.au/history/ch3_12.html)

Map References

QSA. QSA Series ID 2043 City of Brisbane and Suburbs Maps – A1A Series. 4 chains to the inch. Brisbane and suburbs. Sheet 1. 4 chains to the inch. Brisbane, Survey Office.. 634532