“This building was erected in 1890 for the firm A. Horne & Son as Fitzroy Ironworks. Alexander Horne, the founder, established his blacksmith shop in Smith St. in 1858, and subsequently the firm operated at 302 Gore St. (just north of Greeves St), before moving around the corner to this building. Their main products were domestic and builders’ ironwork.” Lina Favrin – Yarra Past Port
“In 1924, this building was taken over by the company Crankless Engines (Aust.) Ltd. and was used as a workshop and design office for developing and testing prototypes of a novel engine, a crankless engine , invented by the well- known Melbourne consulting engineer A.G.M. Mitchell. By the late 1930s this building had been taken over by the Kent Equipment Manufacturing Co., who produced office stationery and furnishings.” – Lina Favrin – Yarra Past Port
Recently I met the amazing Peter Hogan, who drafted the following article for the Fitzroy History Society Newsletter (February 2023) – it is such a deep history of Michell, and one of my favourite articles. It includes references to Richard Casey (Lord Casey), Anthony George Maldon Michell (George Michell), Thomas Louis Sherman, Sterling Engine Co., Phil Irving, Vic Wilson, H H Holt and A R Code.
The following are additional photos from the 1970s and perhaps 1990s of the building:
