Barbats Foundry

Mr Felix Barbat became the manager of Phoenix Engineering and Rolling Stock Co.  in 1895.  Phoenix Engineering was located at North Ipswich between The Terrace and Lowry Street.

Felix Edward Barbat was a southerner with engineering experience who saw the potential in Ipswich and chose to settle here. He lived on Denmark Hill with his wife and family of sons. Barbat soon became a stalwart of industry in the town. He also became active in social and political circles and was viewed as a local leader.

Shortly into the 20^th century Phoenix began to experience financial problems which led to Messrs. F. E. Barbat and Co. becoming the new owners in October 1902. Felix was the principle of the new firm. 

He extended the plant with the purchase and installation of a British bolt and nut manufacturing machine. Barbats also manufactured Acme agricultural machinery. They had the contract for the erection of the smithy at the Railway Workshops. Barbats also supplied metalwork required for the new St Mary's Church including steel principals for the roof and iron columns for the gallery. The firm produced and supplied a huge steel multitubular boiler for the Moreton Central Sugar Mill at Nambour weighing 14 tons. In 1914 Barbats was contracted jointly by N.S.W. and Queensland governments to construct a bridge to span the Macintyre River at Goondiwindi. Many of these jobs were the largest of their kind ever performed in Ipswich, and sometimes in Queensland. Barbats were responsible for a great deal of local and interstate infrastructure and were a significant firm because of it.

Barbats constructed an elevator tank for Barcaldine’s reticulation scheme,  were responsible for the new Tully River Sugar Mill in 1925, and engineering at the power alcohol works at Sarina.  They also constructed a large railway bridge at Grahams Creek near Maryborough, tram car bodies for the Brisbane Tram Trust,  steel works of the Wintergarden Theatres at Ipswich and Rockhampton, and the structural steel portion of the City Electric Light Company’s power house. 

Felix’s sons worked alongside him in the North Ipswich firm for many years. Son Percy became the new owner/manager of Barbats, North Ipswich in 1929 after his father's death.   Soon after that, Barbats encountered hard times and a float of P.A. Barbat Ltd in 1930 but was unsuccessful. The next year the firm was sent to auction lock, stock and barrel.

The property was eventually acquired by the City Electric Light Co. Ltd and buildings demolished in 1950.