Yarralumla Brickworks
History
Yarralumla Brickworks is located in Canberra ACT. It opened in 1913. The brickworks closed during the Depression (1932-35) and part of World War II (1942-44), with only limited production in between. In the 1950s, three new kilns were required to maintain production levels for a revitalised building industry, but by the mid 1960s more houses were being built of other materials and one of the kilns was closed. By 1974 the brickworks was surrounded by suburbia, raw materials had long been brought from elsewhere, and it was decided to construct a new works at Mitchell. The old works closed in 1976. The brickworks today is closed to the public but has had various uses over the past 20 years. The site is an important piece of Canberra’s history. The red bricks built the city’s oldest homes and were famously produced at the Brickworks site, as were bricks for the original Parliament House. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarralumla_brickworks and https://www.library.act.gov.au/find/history/frequentlyaskedquestions/Place_Stories/brickworks
The Explore
Chris and I were the first in the NSW urbex group to put the place on the map. We knew of its existence for a while, but only went for the first time in November 2020. Chris has been as recently as April 2021 to confirm it's still around. It is located in a residential area of Canberra. We parked in one of the cul-de-sacs near the Brickworks and did a perimeter walk around the place. There was a giant tall black fence around it - not unclimbable, but definitely would make for a challenge, especially if we got spotted by locals (Canberra is full of Karens - you are guaranteed to have cops called on you). Fortunately, as we followed the fence, we found a part where someone has cut the lock (convenient for us - that part was right in the middle of the bush where we were hidden). Chris tells me that since we've last been in January 2021, the fence lock got fixed and he and a mate had to climb under the fence where there was a hole - big enough for a skinny human to fit through. Once we were in - we cautiously explored the place. There were warnings on fences about the place being monitored by security, but we didn't come across any and didn't see any cameras. The place was pretty huge and so, so fun to explore! There was hardly any graffiti there and the place looked like it hasn't been disturbed in a long time. Fun fact: there was a room set up in one of the upstairs bits, with chairs around a bonfire pit, and bongs everywhere xD We climbed pretty much everything. There was a bus hidden in one of the side thingos. Unfortunately we couldn't climb the chimney, as there was no access. We didn't come across any other people.
Since we put the place on the map - the place has had more visitors and there is significantly more graffiti now. The bus got locked in and is no longer accessible
Also, unfortunately the Brickworks is planned for redevelopment beginning November 2021 If you're in the area at some point in the future, you're welcome to message me to see if the place is still around so you don't waste a trip. Otherwise, if you get the chance, it's a really fun explore! Would definitely go again if I can.
Difficulty: Medium.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments
(Just an imitation of a local Aussie junkie, nothing to see here xD)
History
Yarralumla Brickworks is located in Canberra ACT. It opened in 1913. The brickworks closed during the Depression (1932-35) and part of World War II (1942-44), with only limited production in between. In the 1950s, three new kilns were required to maintain production levels for a revitalised building industry, but by the mid 1960s more houses were being built of other materials and one of the kilns was closed. By 1974 the brickworks was surrounded by suburbia, raw materials had long been brought from elsewhere, and it was decided to construct a new works at Mitchell. The old works closed in 1976. The brickworks today is closed to the public but has had various uses over the past 20 years. The site is an important piece of Canberra’s history. The red bricks built the city’s oldest homes and were famously produced at the Brickworks site, as were bricks for the original Parliament House. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarralumla_brickworks and https://www.library.act.gov.au/find/history/frequentlyaskedquestions/Place_Stories/brickworks
The Explore
Chris and I were the first in the NSW urbex group to put the place on the map. We knew of its existence for a while, but only went for the first time in November 2020. Chris has been as recently as April 2021 to confirm it's still around. It is located in a residential area of Canberra. We parked in one of the cul-de-sacs near the Brickworks and did a perimeter walk around the place. There was a giant tall black fence around it - not unclimbable, but definitely would make for a challenge, especially if we got spotted by locals (Canberra is full of Karens - you are guaranteed to have cops called on you). Fortunately, as we followed the fence, we found a part where someone has cut the lock (convenient for us - that part was right in the middle of the bush where we were hidden). Chris tells me that since we've last been in January 2021, the fence lock got fixed and he and a mate had to climb under the fence where there was a hole - big enough for a skinny human to fit through. Once we were in - we cautiously explored the place. There were warnings on fences about the place being monitored by security, but we didn't come across any and didn't see any cameras. The place was pretty huge and so, so fun to explore! There was hardly any graffiti there and the place looked like it hasn't been disturbed in a long time. Fun fact: there was a room set up in one of the upstairs bits, with chairs around a bonfire pit, and bongs everywhere xD We climbed pretty much everything. There was a bus hidden in one of the side thingos. Unfortunately we couldn't climb the chimney, as there was no access. We didn't come across any other people.
Since we put the place on the map - the place has had more visitors and there is significantly more graffiti now. The bus got locked in and is no longer accessible
Also, unfortunately the Brickworks is planned for redevelopment beginning November 2021 If you're in the area at some point in the future, you're welcome to message me to see if the place is still around so you don't waste a trip. Otherwise, if you get the chance, it's a really fun explore! Would definitely go again if I can.Difficulty: Medium.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments
(Just an imitation of a local Aussie junkie, nothing to see here xD)
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