Victoria Foundry Archive
The Victoria Foundry was originally established by William Robertson and Company in 1874 in Mackay before Robertson decided to relocate it to Ross Island, Townsville in 1892. This move entailed several trips by the steamer, Dove, and a small schooner to move the foundry’s 400 tons of plant equipment and machinery which was landed at the mouth of the Ross River.
William Robertson (b.22 July 1845, Elgin, Scotland; d.17 February 1929, Townsville, Qld)
Travelling on the ship, the Light Brigade, Robertson departed Scotland in 1869 with his wife Mary Ann (nee Mainland), and baby daughter (later Mrs McKay, of Brisbane). Having arrived in Brisbane, they continued on their journey to Rockhampton. Robertson worked for a short time at Gracemere until, while on a short stroll near the wharves, he noticed machinery lying around and chanced to speak with the owner. This led to a position on a Barcoo station, Ennisskillen. After this, Robertson worked in Maryborough before eventually moving on to Mackay where, in February 1874, he established his own business as an engineer and millwright “prepared to erect and repair all kinds of Machinery, and…merit the support of Planters and others in the district.” Robertson, who served three terms as an Alderman on the Mackay council (1884-5; 1888; 1890) and was elected Mayor on 2 March 1889, lived out his remaining years in Townsville.
Archive Location: 176R
Detailed Listing
VF/Notebook/1 Carbon copy note book. Entries dated August 1906 to 9 November 1908. Inscription inside front cover, “Presented to W Robertson By Mr J Whitson August 7th 1906.”VF/Notebook/2 Carbon copy note book. Entries dated 17 April 1912 to 17 April 1922
VF/Minute book/1 Minutes of annual meetings. Entries dated 15 September 1900 to 24 August 1912. Cover has title, “William Robertson and Company Limited.”
Includes two enclosed reports:
- Front of book. A typed report on “Victoria Foundry, Ross River” letterhead, titled “Report on Workings of Company, Townsville. 28th February 1901.” Includes handwritten note, “read at shareholders meeting 22.3.1901.”5p
- Between pages 119 and 120. A handwritten, three-page report titled “Managers Report,” signed Wm Robertson, Managing Director,” and another single page titled “To The Chairman & Directors,” dated 1 August 1905. 4p
VF/Minute book/2 Minutes of annual meetings. Entries dated 24 August 1912 to 19 June 1943. The last entry concerns the company’s liquidation.
Includes sixteen enclosed letters and/or envelopes:
- Envelope, without stamp or postage mark, addressed to Mr M Whitson, No. 6 Soule Street, Hermit Park, Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Samuel Charles Ball appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, Samuel Ball, and witnessed, 7 June 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Mr M Whitson, 6 Soule Street, Hermit Park. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Margaret Dearness appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, M Dearness, and witnessed, 31 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to William Robertson & Co Ltd, TownsvilleTyped statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, [no name supplied] appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, C G Cordingley, and witnessed, 1943.
- “Frank Fraser Pty Ltd, Ingham,” envelope, stamp removed, addressed to William Robertson & Co Ltd, Victoria Foundry, South Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Francis Fraser appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, Frank Fraser, and witnessed, 24 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, no postage mark, addressed to Mr M Whitson, Soule Street, Townsville. Sealed, but empty.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Mr M Whitson, 6 Soule Street, Hermit Park. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, William Dearness appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, William Dearness, and witnessed, 22 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to The Managing Director, Wm Robertson & Coy Ltd, Soule Street, Hermit Park. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Thomas Rushton Cordingley appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, T R Cordingley, and witnessed, 27 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Mr M Whitson, 6 Soule Street, Hermit Park. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, R H Cleland appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, R H Cleland, and witnessed, 2 June 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to W Robertson & Co Ltd, Box 259, GPO Townsville. Typed statement signed by D G Baillie re return on shares from Liquidators of William Robertson & Company Limited, 1943. Also, handwritten letter from D G Baillie, Ivanhoe, Vic, to “Dear Maitland,” expressing his pleasure at being in contact again and requesting to hear “all about them as soon as you can” as he is “now an old man” and “very ill in hospital.”
- Envelope, stamp intact, addressed to M Whitson, Messrs William Robertson & Co Ltd, Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Gladys E Williams appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, Gladys E Williams, and witnessed, 25 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Messrs William Robertson & Co Ltd, Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Dora Eveline Cordingley appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, Dora E Cordingley, and witnessed, 26 May 1943.
- Handwritten note, “moved by J A McRay and seconded by V E Ayer.”
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Messrs William Robertson & Coy Ltd, Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Grace Marion Bridge appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, Grace M Bridge, and witnessed, 27 May 1943.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Messrs William Robertson & Co Ltd, Townsville. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Frank Joseph Tanner, t’tee of the estate of Alfred Taylor dec, appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, F J Tanner, and witnessed, 26 May 1943. Also, typed letter on letterhead, “Frank J. Tanner Solicitor,” from F J Tanner to the Liquidator, William Robertson & Co Ltd, re Estate of Alfred Taylor decd, consent.
- “Roberts, Leu & North, Solicitors, Townsville,” envelope, stamp removed, addressed to Mr J Whitson, Liquidator, Wm Robertson & Co Ltd, Soule Street, Hermit Park, Townsville. Handwritten letter from Mabel Noonan (nee Baillie) re letter of sympathy on death of her father, D G Baillie, and instructions on where to send cheque, 23 March 1944.
- Envelope, stamp removed, addressed to M Whitson Esq, 6 Soule Street, Hermit Park. Typed statement re: William Robertson & Company Limited, Francis Taylor Guthrie appoints William Robertson Maitland Whitson as proxy to vote. Signed, F T Guthrie, and witnessed, 24 May 1943.
VF/Catalogue/1 Engineering Supply Company of Australia Ltd, Complete Catalogue and Guide Book, 2nd edition (1911). Label affixed inside front cover, “Messrs W. Robertson & Co., South Townsville.”
Enclosed within volume:
- On illustrated letterhead, “Leone’s Cycle & Motor Works, Flinders Street, Townsville,” to Robertson’s Foundry re just landed shipment of “hexagon headed bright steel American bolts, complete with nuts, in various sizes” with size and price list [incomplete due to damage]
- On illustrated letterhead, “Chas. W. Pettman, Mechanical Engineer, Queen Street, Brisbane,” to Robertson and Coy re quotations for “‘Teesco’ cast iron gun metal globe valves” with size and price list. 3p [incomplete due to damage]
- On letterhead, “Office of Inspector of Machinery and Scaffolding,” Hughenden, to W Robertson & Co re Robertson’s enquiry re who had boilers for sale, dated 10 May 1919. 2p
- Telegram from Allen Bros, Merlin, Prairie, to Robinson (sic) & Co, Iron Foundry, Townsville, re a twelve horsepower boiler for sale, 20 May 1919.
VF/Catalogue/2 Engineering Supply Company of Australia Ltd. customer invoice to Mr A Hunter, C/o Star Office, City, for 45 foot garden hose delivered to Mr J Stein, Alexandra Street, North Ward, dated 17 October 1934
VF/Photographs/1 Portrait of William Robertson, prominent Townsville businessman [image also held in State Library of Queensland]
VF/Photographs/2 Uncovered railway wagon on partially built track.
VF/Photographs/3 Portrait of unidentified man; photographer – J S Wiley Queen Studios Brisbane.
VF/Photographs/4 Portrait of William Robertson.
VF/Photographs/5 Group of men – no details [identical photograph can be found in the QME Co Archive, 340L-R, with label, “Freezing Room Hands”]
VF/Photographs/6 Group of men – no details [identical photograph can be found in the QME Co Archive, 340L-R, with label, “Butchery”]
VF/Photographs/7 Industrial building with group of workmen, including one on roof [photograph is fragile, faded and damaged]
VF/Photographs/8 Large, double-storey industrial building housing machinery; group of eight workmen posing in front - one with oilcan, one with shovel.
VF/Photographs/9 Group of workmen posing in front of machinery; William Robertson standing centre back wearing hat, tie, vest.
VF/Photographs/10 Three workmen posing with plant/machinery indoors.
