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Dawson's Foundry at Circular Quay c1854

Dawson's Foundry at Circular Quay c1854

By

Frederick Garling

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Detail of 'Circular Quay' )

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Richard Dawson's Australian Foundry

Subjects

Americans Boats Secondary industry Shipping

Organisation

Australian Foundry

Places

Circular Quay

People

Dawson, Richard (Dicky)

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Garling, Frederick

Customs official and marine artist.

State Library of New South Wales

Richard Dawson's Australian Foundry

Dawson's Foundry (the Australian Foundry) at George Street and Sydney Cove was the colony's first important iron foundry and a machining and engineering works that operated for four decades. This leading colonial manufactory played an important role in transferring iron trade and engineering technology from England to the Antipodes. Surviving cast iron artefacts represent the industry of the site, which was both a factory and the owner's residence.

Shipping

Secondary industry

Americans

Boats

Australian Foundry

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Iron foundry and factory established by Richard Dawson in 1833 which employed blacksmiths and ironmongers to create a huge range of household and construction items. Diversification into steam engines and ship ownership followed as Dawson attempted to secure the mechanism and supplies to ensure success. The site, that included Dawson's house, was on lower George Street near the Quay. The business was sold to Thomas Mort in 1872.

Circular Quay

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Area of Sydney's central business district that surrounds the quays built on reclaimed land from the 1830s.

Dawson, Richard (Dicky)

Engineer and ironmaster who established a foundry near Sydney Cove in 1833 and spent four decades improving process and product despite financial problems. His innovations and transfer of technologies made him an industrial leader of the time.

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