In the Sunshine Advocate of 21/03/1925 it is reported that Wunderlich Ltd decided to establish works in Sunshine for the manufacture of terra cotta and faience for the facing of city buildings. The product was intended to imitate granite, which would give a brighter appearance to concrete walls. A stone surface finish to the terra cotta could be achieved by applying a variety of colour combinations of glazes with a special 'spackle' gun. A building that is still standing and has the imitation granite finish terra cotta is the Nicholas Building at 21 - 47 Swanston Street, Melbourne. The Nicholas Building was designed by Harry Norris for Alfred Nicholas (Aspro fame), and was built during 1925 - 1926. The building is classified by the National Trust (B4079) and has the Victorian Heritage Register (H2119). During my employment in the factory from 1964 to 1969 the tiles were generally faced with single colour glazes. For some small jobs a light coloured mottled finish was achieved by spattering a white glaze over a cream coloured background or vice versa. There were no imitation granite jobs done, probably because of changing attitudes to the intended appearance of buildings. The green coloured tile in our collection is an unfinished (untrimmed) retain tile typical of the green coloured tiles that were made for the two stages of the Commonwealth Centre Building (colloquially known as the Green Latrine), that was once located on the corner of Spring and Victoria Streets in Melbourne. Similar coloured tiles were also used on some shop fronts. The Commonwealth Centre Building no longer exists, however the Century Building at 125 - 133 Swanston Street, Melbourne is covered with single coloured tiles (white). The Century Building was built in 1939, with the architect being Marcus Barlow. The Building is classified by the National Trust (B4045). Our tile along with several others were headed for dumping among the asbestos waste at the rear of the two Wunderlich factories (Circa 1968). With permission from the Factory Superintendent of the Terra Cotta factory they were saved and taken home. Several are still in use as pavers around a barbecue in Melton from where our tile was obtained. It should be noted that the Wunderlich Architectural Terra Cotta factory in Sunshine did not manufacture terra cotta roofing tiles, as reported in the Brimbank City Council Post-contact Heritage Study HO 073 former Wunderlich now West End Market. Wunderlich terra cotta roofing tiles were manufactured at their factory in Mitcham Road, Vermont. Document HO 073 contains at least 3 errors. Other References: (1). http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74726224. (2). Armstrong, J. 'Investigating the historic and current use, manufacture and conservation of architectural terra cotta and faience USA & UK'. This tile is an example of the type of facing that was applied to city buildings for over 40 years from the mid 1920's. As building techniques changed the need for this type of facing diminished, and so the factory was eventually sold and demolished. A free standing tall chimney stack which serviced two of the kilns was a significant feature of the North Sunshine skyline. A part of the history of Sunshine disappeared with the demolition of the factory and the chimney stack. Only the façade of the finishing section of the factory where tiles were trimmed and stored remains. Off-white/beige architectural terra cotta tile with green coloured vitreous glaze on the face of tile. The rear of tile is ribbed. wunderlich limited, terra cotta, architectural, commonwealth centre, spring street, sunshine, mcintyre, victoria street, faience, faence, imitation granite, nicholas building, century building

Article in Whitehorse Gazette re subdivision and rezoning of the former Wunderlich site in Mitcham Road, Mitcham.Wunderlich site in Mitcham Road,land subdivision, redlands properties, wunderlich limited, mitcham road, mitcham

Article in Whitehorse Gazette about subdivision of former Wunderlich site in MitchamArticle in Whitehorse Gazette about subdivision of former Wunderlich site in Mitchamtile factories, wunderlich limited, redlands properties

Manuscript information re the history of the land owned by the Wunderlich Tile Company. It had been owned by a Mr. Alfred Matthew Kirkpatrick and his wife Lucy (nee Hall) from about 1914-1927. An anecdote about Lucy Kirkpatrick as a child at Vermont state School is included. From 1927 a Mr. & Mrs. Behan lived in the house. Information is included about a Miss Mary Kirkpatrick and a Mrs. Henderson of Halls Parade. The information was given by Lucy Warren (nee Kirkpatrick) to Frances Warren and recorded by her.kirkpatrick, alfred matthew;, hall, lucy, behan, mrs, warren, mr, wunderlich limited, frances

Photocopy of Certificate of Title Vol 3739 Fol 747798, fifty-five acres fronting Mitcham Road, Vermont being part Crown Portion 121 at Mitcham, Parish of Nunawading, County of Bourke in the name of William George Kirkpatrick and Alfred Matthew Kirkpatrick, 1 November 1913. Transfer to Wunderlich Ltd 31 July 1928; Australian Industry Development Corporation 19 October 1983 and leased to Monier Ltd.kirkpatrick, william george, alfred matthew, wunderlich limited, monier limited, australian industry development corporation, mitcham road, vermont, land sales

Coloured photo of Memorial Cross, Mt. Macedon. Original tiles from Wunderlich Tile Works.wunderlich limited

Coloured photo of Chimney at Wunderlich Site.victorian heritage register, wunderlich limited

Coloured photo of Chimney at former Wunderlich site. Chimney classified by Victorian Heritage Register.victorian heritage register, wunderlich limited

Coloured photo of Ovens at former Wunderlich Site. Classified by Victorian Heritage Register.victorian heritage register, wunderlich limited

Coloured photo of Chimney at former Wunderlich Site. Classified by Victorian Heritage Register.victorian heritage register, wunderlich limited

Black and white photo of Wunderlich Works & Tileswunderlich limited

Sketch map of location of potteries in the area bounded by Middleborough, Springfield, Mitcham Roads and Burwood Highway.Sketch map of location of potteries in the area bounded by Middleborough, Springfield, Mitcham Roads and Burwood Highway.potteries, vitclay pipes pty ltd, blackburn brick and tile co., geal bros., wunderlich limited, australian tesselated tile co. pty ltd., daniel robertson australia pty ltd