Historical information

Olympic Cables began as part of Olympic Tyres in Footscray in 1940, became Olympic Cables Ltd in 1946, and later merged with Nylex in 1973 to form Olex Cables.

The Tottenham site functioned as a major cable manufacturing and distribution facility, operating through the 1950s–1990s as part of the Olympic, Olex, National Cables and Nexans lineage.

In 1981, Pacific Dunlop purchased Olex Cables. They also acquired Burton Cables and Spinaway Cables, merging all three operations.

In 1994, Burton and Spinaway were merged into National Cables by the Pacific Dunlop.

In 1999, a management buyout created an independent Cables Group and in 2006, Nexans (France) acquired Olex, forming Nexans Olex.

The Tottenham site’s industrial footprint gradually wound down as operations consolidated into newer facilities at other sites.

The Tottenham site was progressively decommissioned; buildings were demolished or repurposed.

The site today is a large shipping container and transport hub.

Significance

This aerial photograph not only shows the expansive Olympic Cables Factory site, but in the foreground, the White City Railway Station, in the centre, the City of Footscray Quarry, and at top, the Somerville Road Wool Stores and Smorgans.

Physical description

Digital black & white photograph