On The Homefront: Industry & Manufacturing

In 1938-1939 Ipswich was thought to have some 51 manufacturing establishments, employing over 3,000 workers who produced almost £2 million worth of goods. The major establishments were, as expected, the Railway Workshops, and the two woollen mills. Over the period of the war, the number of Ipswich factories actually rose, with 57 establishments employing 4,525 workers who produced goods valued at almost £3.6 million. The post-war period then saw a dramatic rise in Ipswich manufacturing. Less than a decade after the end of the War, Ipswich in 1953 had 118 factories, employing 5,250 workers who produced almost £9.4 million worth of goods.

The war years saw heavy demands on Ipswich manufacturers, especially those in the foundry and engineering sector, and those making materials for military use.

The Ipswich Railway Workshops produced gun barrels and water evaporation units for naval corvettes, and munitions, mainly shells for 25-pound guns. In 1941, the Commonwealth Government set up a munitions factory at Rocklea. Tools for accurate mass-production were required for the factory and the Commonwealth entered into a joint arrangement with the State Government to build a new Tool and Gauge Shop at Ipswich Railway Workshops. The State built the shop and the Commonwealth equipped it with £75,000 worth of tools. The new Tool and Gauge Shop enabled production of tools, gauges, jigs and fixtures necessary for mass production. Some aircraft parts were also produced. Several hundred men were employed in shifts and strict security was enforced – all workmen were issued with a pass and Commonwealth Police guarded the doors. Post-war, the Workshops continued to build steam locomotives, the last in 1952.

Barbat’s Foundry in North Ipswich had closed during the Depression years, but from September 1941 to May 1943 the Ipswich Railway Workshops took over the foundry. Cast here were locomotive brake blocks, firebars, and wagon and carriage axle boxes, cylinders and sundry fittings for marine engines, distilling machinery for defence force ships, and lathe beds for the production of gun barrels.

Forrers Pty Ltd, engineers in Wharf Street, manufactured cylinders for steam engines of corvettes and frigates, and carried out large repairs on diesel marine plants. After the war the company was busy supplying plant and equipment for Queensland’s rollout of the electricity grid, as well as mining machinery and domestic appliances such as washing machines for a rapidly growing population.

Scotts was contracted by the Commonwealth to cast cases for hand grenades – 1.4 million of them – as well as other munitions components. The company also undertook other foundry work for the Australian and United States Navies, and the Air Force and Army. Coal was of course an essential wartime supply, so work continued on equipment for the coal mines. The company was contracted to manufacture sewerage pumps for military camps in Australia, and machines for the Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company which was making cotton yarn for the Indian Army. Beginning from the early 1950s, Scotts operations were gradually shifted to a West Ipswich site where company could embark upon large-scale production of coal washing plants as well as large numbers of railway wagons. The company’s long-range plans involved shifting all foundry and engineering operations to West Ipswich.

The woollen mills were heavily involved in the war effort. Morris Woollen Mills at Redbank operated round the clock, producing materials for blankets and uniforms for the military.  It expanded after the war, eventually employing over 1000 people in the 1950s, the largest private employer in Ipswich at this time. After the war it returned to normal production of fashion goods, dress and suit materials, and knitting yarns. Ipswich Woollen Mills in East Ipswich manufactured tartans for the Cameron Highlanders; after the war a new building was added to manufacture worsted, a high-quality suit fabric.

The availability of labour in Ipswich saw the establishment of new companies and industries here, and the relocation of a number of manufacturers to Ipswich. One such company was Hamilton’s canvas works in Brisbane Street, which manufactured water bags, stretcher covers, awnings, tents, car covers, and flags. The proprietor Mr J.M. Hamilton told the Queensland Times in February 1950, that the works were opened in Ipswich in c.1945 because the labour position was better here. “The girls were good, conscientious workers.” If he were able to obtain greater supplies of canvas and duck he would be able to expand his activities. Mr. Hamilton went on to say that he would “then foster his firm in Ipswich rather than Brisbane, because labour was more suitable and stable”. And at Rosewood the NARM slipper company's factory opened during the war.

During the war years, a number of Ipswich women had been travelling to Brisbane to work in the shoe factories there. In c. 1945 four Brisbane shoe manufacturers cooperated to open an “upper closing room” in East Street. Here, nineteen workers sewed the pre-cut leather uppers which then were returned to Brisbane to be made up into the finished product by shoemakers, G. Bennett, F. T. Morris, C. H. Fulcher and T. C. Dixon & Sons.

A number of Ipswich manufacturing businesses reaped the rewards of the postwar building boom. Hancocks timber mill at North Ipswich was kept busy during this time. By 1950, 25% of all the flush doors in Australia were being made by Hancocks using plywood. The Grandchester Sawmill was established in 1941 by the Gillam Brothers. Duce Joinery manufactured furniture, and after the war, timber frames and windows.

Other businesses did not fare so well in a post-war era of changing demand and tastes.

Bishop & Woodward was established by Francis George Woodward and James Gracie Bishop in c. 1911 to purchase the retailing arm of Queensland Woollen Mills in North Ipswich. The business thrived for four decades, but at the end of 1951 dwindling orders for military uniforms caused the layoff of 30 workers. The business eventually closed in 1958. George Bishop explained that they could not compete with the big southern manufacturers, and added that the firm had received little support from Ipswich retailers.