Historical information

The Deer Park ICI Employees Housing Estate was built in stages from the 1920s to the 1950s to house workers and managers of the Nobel/ICI explosives and chemical works.

It is now recognised as a State‑significant company town precinct for its rare surviving examples of employer‑built housing in Victoria.

When Nobel merged into ICIANZ (Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand) in 1928, the company expanded the housing program.

Sassella Park, centre left was sold to the Shire of Braybrook by Mr. Antonio Sassella in 1925. In December 1929, Sassella Park officially opened as a sports ground, thus Sassella Park predating the ICI housing estate expansion, the post‑war suburban development and the 1950s–60s civic infrastructure boom throughout Deer Park.

Significance

This photograph captures one of the few purpose‑built industrial housing estates in Victoria. ICI deliberately built a company‑town layout with , Recreation Reserve, Deer Park Hall, the Hunt Club Hotel was used as an ICI training Centre, Social Club and Community Facilities.

Physical description

Digital black & white photograph

Inscriptions & markings

The factories and Employee's houses connected with these works cover an area of 1 1/2 square miles