A special collection of photos and other memorabilia from the former Gulson’s Brickworks will soon be available for public viewing.
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It is thanks to a generous loan to the Goulburn Library by former brickworks’ owner Jeff Gulson.
Local Studies Officer Fran O’Flynn said Mr Gulson expressed an interest in donating his material to the library late last year.
The Gulson family played an important role in the development of Goulburn.
- Fran O'Flynn
She and Museums Officer Claire Baddeley met with him to determine the best storage location for the collection.
“Library volunteer, Tom Bryant, has sorted the collection and it will very soon be available for viewing by appointment,” Ms O’Flynn said.
She said the collection has items dating from the 1880s right through to 2013, with information on the family going back to the 18th Century and the County of Essex, England.
“The collection consists of four archive boxes, and three archival photo albums. The boxes contain information on the history of the brickworks and associated businesses, Gulson family history, other local and national brickworks,” she said.
“There is also an ephemera collection, which includes many newspaper articles.
“The Gulson family played an important role in the development of Goulburn, through their involvement in business and community organisations.
“They were also a major employer in Goulburn. The brickworks holds great historical significance on a national, state and local level.
“Bricks manufactured at the site were used to construct the majority of the buildings in Goulburn and many major public buildings in Canberra.
“Until they ceased production, it was the oldest family-owned and operated brickworks in Australia.
“Four generations of the family had owned, managed and worked there until 1990.”
Ms O’Flynn said a special talk on the historic brickworks would be held at the library on March 11 at 4pm.
“Researcher John Scannell is giving a talk on Gulson’s Brickworks of Goulburn as part of the Our Living History Festival,” she said.
Former Gulson’s Brickworks owner Jeff Gulson said he was pleased to assist to ensure the material was archived.
“I have donated a heap of photos and information. It details a lot of the history of the brickworks from 1884 onward,” he said.