Industrial and Social Background

Industrial Traces-general background 

 theme commenced September 2015 

INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH re Faded Signs was planned and started for this site in 2015 and also for a Glimpses of Old Melbourne facebook page. That page has not eventuated. It's hoped to make significant in Ghost Sign posting in 2020 through a revamped Google blog and a web page.

Back in 2015 I was working on a grouping of my signs/historical interests by area and related businesses/communities. Some examples of "industrial and retailing critical mass groupings" from 19&20th centuries Melbourne are:


1. Abbotsford - Tanning, Brick making Leather and Wool, Breweries and Food Production around Victoria Street Abbotsford between Burnley and Church streets- backing on to Yarra river. Key reference: Collingwood Historical Society Walk

2. Richmond - Heavy equipment production, matches, food, shoes, clothing and textiles, yeast, breweries, church organs, metal fabrication. Key Reference: Hard Yakka, Richmond Historical Society etc.,

3. Collingwood and Fitzroy - Textiles, Wool Products conversion, Confectionery, large scale merchandising and distribution of clothes and furniture

4. Hawthorn - Brick-making, Home Preserving Bottling Kits, Department Store, Carriage production

5. Prahran and Surrounds - Biscuit, Cakes and Bread manufacture and distribution

Some of the well known company and brand names I intend to focus on are MacRobertsons, Foy and Gibson, Phoenix Biscuits, Pelaco, Alexanders, Rosella, Bryant and May, Maples, Moran&Cato ----- the list is almost endless but the aim is to demonstrate how the social fabric of the times was heavily influenced by the companies that employed and sometimes housed people.


I have re-started this blog with Richmond, my home since 2016 (and also a short stay in 2013) and have much to post now (2020). They are shown in Pages listed top right and I also have a link there to Guildford Lane in Melbourne City.