The Wunderlich company was pioneered by brothers Ernest (Henry Charles) Julius (1859-1945), Frederick Otto (1861-1951) and Alfred (1865-1966). Whilst the company is also remembered for its pioneering work with decorative, pressed metal ceilings, the brothers also achieved success in the import and production of terracotta roof tiles. In 1892, the brothers received their first shipment of terracotta roof tiles from Marseilles, France, after another firm in Sydney was unable to finance the purchase of the tiles which lead to the brothers being offered the cargo to purchase by their close friend, Mr. Alfred van Rompaey, who worked at the Belgian Consulate in Sydney (Wunderlich, 1927). By 1897, the Wunderlich’s had become sole agents for tiles imported from Marseilles and continued to successfully market the product in Australia (Walsh, 1990; Wunderlich, 1927). The advent of terracotta roofing tiles would soon transform the dull, grey rooflines of Sydney and many residents would recall how the town was "painted red" by the iconic roof tiles imported by the Wunderlich brothers, thereby changing "the face of Australian colonial cities"(Wunderlich, 1927; Barnes, 1987).
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Ernest Wunderlich c. 1940. Source: (Walsh, 1990). |
The Wunderlich’s remained the most prolific importers of terracotta roof tiles from 1892 until the advent of World War I in 1914, when cargo vessels were no longer available to transport the imported product (Wunderlich, 1927). However, prior success had granted the brothers sufficient capital to expand their operations and by 1904, they expanded their facilities to Melbourne (Wunderlich, 1927). In 1908, a new company, 'Wunderlich Limited', was formed when the brothers joined forces with their primary competitors, the Rocke's (Wunderlich, 1927). To combat the disruption of their import business, the Wunderlich’s commenced manufacture of their own terracotta roof tiles in Australia after their first tile factory was built in Rosehill, Sydney (Wunderlich, 1927). A laboratory was also established by Dr. Frederick Otto (Otto) Wunderlich in Rosehill, Sydney, to "study local clays and glazes" (Wunderlich, 1927).
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Entrance to the Wunderlich factories in Rosehill, Sydney. Source: (Construction, 24th September 1947) The Dr. Otto Wunderlich Research Laboratory in Rosehill, Sydney. Source: (Construction, 24th September 1947) |
1932: A Wunderlich Tile Works Is Established in Vermont
In 1925, a clay pit was established in Vermont in order to obtain clay for the Wunderlich Tile Works in Brunswick (Heritage Council Victoria, 2020). Clay was transported from Vermont to Brunswick by dray until 1932 when the company's Tile Works in Vermont was opened (Sydenham, 1990; Alves, 2010). In 1932, a Wunderlich Tile Works was opened in Mitcham Road, Vermont and provided job opportunities for local residents (Heritage Council Victoria, 2020). During this time, miners would use picks and shovels to obtain clay, with the assistance of explosives to split the clay into smaller fragments (Sydenham, 1990).
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Source: Daily Mail, 20th July 1926. Source: Sunday Mail, 29th April 1934. |
Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Clay pit at the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Clay pit at the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). |
Aerial view of the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Clay pit at the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Clay pit at the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont in the 1920s. Source: Wunderlich Collection: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). |
1940s-1970s: Expansion of the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont
Whilst the Wunderlich Tile Works in Vermont was closed during World War II, the plant was reopened for the "manufacture of tiles and other housing equipment" in February 1946 by Minister for Housing, Mr. Barry (Sydenham, 1990; The Argus, 13th February 1946). Further expansion of the business occurred afterwards (Sydenham, 1990). Between 1970-71, conversion of the original kilns to natural gas and planting of trees took place on the site which alleviated some concerns over the environmental impact of the tile works to nearby residential areas (Sydenham, 1990). By 1977, the process of clay digging was mostly completed with machinery and Wunderlich Tile Works was one of only five clay works still in operation in the Nunawading area in combination with Brick and Pipe Industries (East Burwood), Vitclay Pipes (Blackburn), Daniel Robertson (Nunawading) and Geal Brose (Nunawading) (Sydenham, 1990). |
A 'Wunderlich' stamp as featured on a decorative gable finial . Source: H Kielnhofer |
The Wunderlich Tile Works site in Vermont itself, is also significant in terms of its architectural heritage. The curved roof of the main building which housed the kilns, is comprised of Belfast lattice timber roof trusses which were assessed by Heritage Council Victoria as a "rare industrial roof form and the only known extant example of this type of truss in Victoria" (Heritage Council Victoria, 2020). It is thought that the roof itself may have been relocated from the Wunderlich Tile Works in Brunswick (Heritage Council Victoria, 2020). The down draught kiln was also deemed "the earliest known survivor of its type" by Heritage Council Victoria in its assessment of the site in 2020 (Heritage Council Victoria, 2020).
Unfortunately, in 1993-1994, an attempt by the Council to save the remaining Wunderlich chimneys failed based on safety concerns should the structures be retained (Shambrook, 2010). Some years later in 2008, parts of the original structures were demolished.
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The Wunderlich chimney and iconic roof structure featuring Belfast lattice timber roof trusses following demolition works in 2008. |
Uniting Vermont Residents With Their Local HistoryPlease fell free to contact us with any memories of Vermont and the surrounding area that you wish to share, or with any feedback on the website.
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