Treasures can become landfill.
And, so too can memories.
​
unless in safe hands....
Evert van Dreven
has safe hands...
Evert's amazing Fyansford Cementies' collection
could easily have been lost (just as other treasures from the Cementies' Museum have disappeared).
Evert, custodian to many rare memories from days long forgotten, continues to share his memory-filled images on
Geelong in Historic Pictures.
​
Fyansford.com is pleased to presents this still-growing gallery of Evert's photographs.
First works erected in 1890 on the South side of (Hyland St.) High Street. Under the supervision of Richard Taylor. This photo shows the Original Vertical Kiln Plant against the hillside at Fyansford in 1911, noting the tall stack at the top of the hill.
View of the plant in 1930.
First works erected in 1890 on the South side of (Hyland St.) High Street. Under the supervision of Richard Taylor. This photo shows the Original Vertical Kiln Plant against the hillside at Fyansford in 1911, noting the tall stack at the top of the hill.
Remember: Click the image
to view full-size photos and their links...
Ca. 1900 - 1920
Source: Geelong in Historical Pictures
It's all
in the detail
the faces tell the story
I can't help but think about any living descendants...
Click photo to see full image
Interesting Comparisons...
Possibly 1920s
A.C.L. employees in front of chimney base for No. 3 Kiln on High Street (Hyland St.) Ca. late’20s-early ‘30s From Gelong in Historical Pictures
Remains of chimney base for No. 3 Kiln - Fyansford cement works
Possibly 1920s
Story behind Evert's amazing collection
1935 The old blue-stone Glastonbury Geelong Protestant Orphanage ceased to operate.
1939 The building was purchased by the cement works and used as a recreational hub for its workers.
1975 The Glastonbury Geelong Protestant Orphanage, as the old Orphanage building on McCurdy road was at the time called, was classified by the National Trust.
1976 The Geelong Cement Retirees' Museum was established in the orphanage building. The brainchild of Fred Dolder (an employee of the cement works and a well-respected member of the Manifold Heights community, the museum held a substantial collection of heritage and general-interest items; all contributed by members of the Fyansford community and ACL. The displays, spread over numerous rooms and hallways, focussed on the operation and history of the cement works, the local primary school, the orphanage and the Fyansford district. Souvenirs, artifacts, photographs and all sorts of personal /historic items graced the premises. Returned servicemen, servicewomen and those who gave their lives for their country were especially honoured. The facility, manned by volunteers, was a highly valued, very popular and integral part of Fyansford's history
2001 Owners of Geelong Cement Company decided to cease production and sell the plant to a developer. While the operational complex was disassembled and removed, the old building housing the Geelong Cement Retirees' Museum was, because of its heritage listing, saved from demolition.
​
2013 The building having deteriorated steadily and being deemed unsafe was no longer open to the public. Evert van Dreven, a 'cementite' of 30+ years observed that the character-filled building, with its rooms dizzyingly bursting with photos, diaries, machinery, equipment, tools, uniforms, fossils trinkets and souvenirs should be, "restored for the sake of Geelong's history and for the sake of the children who lived at the orphanage." "There's a tremendous amount of history in the place," observed John Malthouse ('cementite' and Museum president). Graeme Palmer, the Museum committee treasurer and secretary (a 'cementite' for 35 years) urged strongly that the collection stay together, "It's very important. It can't be broken up." Despite their pleas, that is exactly what happened. Evert was out of the country when most of the items were "lost". However, he did manage to save his now irreplaceable collection of photos.
Source: Meagan Rooth, Geelong Advertiser, 28 September, 2013
​
Some insight into the glory days of the old Geelong Cement Retirees' Museum can be appreciated by visiting this page.
I have been assured that every attempt was made at the time to contact original contributors to the museum and to place items appropriately, e.g. Geelong RSL. However, I suspect the passage of time, altered or out-of-date contact details, bereavements and inadequate recordkeeping severely hampered these efforts.
I extend an invitation to anyone with links to the old Fyansford cement works or the museum to search their dust-gathering
collections of family memorabilia for memories
they might share with us.. I'm not asking you to give up
your items, just that I might photograph them. Also,
if you can identify photographers of any of these images,
I'd love to give credit to them...
Remember to click initial image in gallery to maximise size
1920s Looking toward Fyansford
1986 Power Station concrete stack being dismantled on the corner of Hyland St. and Deviation Rd.
Here we see a replacement section of shell for No. 4 kiln, in order to boost its capacity with a larger burning zone
I took this shot of the vapour coming off No. 8 cement kiln during a thunderstorm in the ‘90s.
The construction of No. 7 kiln precipitator July 1962.
A picture of No. 22 & 23 raw mills 16 July
This photo shows the Batesford limestone quarry in flood, with two steam face shovels on the quarry floor and one on top for stripping the overburden.
This view shows part of the limestone quarry at Batesford.
Australian Cement Limited, Fyansford Late 1930s. Bill Haines (centre) mixing concrete at the limestone quarry for the Moorabool River diversion #2 Evert van Dreven June 23
Jill Fry GCBC club has been a wonderful community club for over 90 years & still going strong
This photo was taken in the early 1900s showing workers on site with two dogs
Showing part of No. 3 stack and kiln on Hyland St., and some ladies and gentlemen having a briefing before some sightseeing of the plant.
Men, up-close-n-comfortable
A happy employee, mobile crane operator Les (Crazy Horse) Clarke
Pat Carmody & Bob Butcher at the limestone quarry, with a 773 Cat Truck and Komatsu Excavator
Men, up-close-n-comfortable
Australian Cement Limited c. 1950
Another one of Tom Ryan in the works F100.
This photo shows the construction of the old plant against the side of the hill, east of (Hyland St.) High St. well underway.
The old plant under construction on the east side of (Hyland St.) High Street.
Evert took this photo of Vanessa Hynam in charge of the canteen May 1999.
This photo shows the construction of the old plant against the side of the hill, east of (Hyland St.) High St. well underway.
the
Evert van Dreven gallery
First works erected in 1890 on the South side of (Hyland St.) High Street. Under the supervision of Richard Taylor
Photo taken from underneath the bridge (EvD)
Power Station
From Evert van Dreven Collection
Click image to see at full size
2019
