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WITTICK, William Thomas

WITTICK, William Thomas

Male 1857 - 1939  (82 years)   Has 10 ancestors and 56 descendants in this family tree.


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  • Name WITTICK, William Thomas
    Birth 6 Feb 1857  Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Brooks Lane 
    • Reg No. 362 under the spelling of WHITTICK.
    Christening 2 Apr 1857  Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male
    Occupation 13 Sep 1887  Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Brick Manufacturer 
    • A brick manufacturing operation was established by William Thomas Wittick in partnership with Thomas Ackers, and later David Mitchel.

      DARLEY REFRACTORIES PTY LTD Centenary 1902-2002

      A manufacturing operation to produce bricks was established at the Darley site in 1893 by a partnership between Mr. Thomas Akers and William Wittick. In 1898 David Mitchell - builder of note and supplier of building products - father of Da lie Melba - joined the consortium with an input of funds to maintain operations. It was realised that the vast clay deposit was eminently suitable for making high quality firebricks and with a further injection of money for expansion in 1902, Th e Darley Firebrick Company Pty. Ltd. was formed on the 9th of May, with David Mitchell the majority shareholder.

      At this time a downdraught kiln and a 30 meter high chimney were built and a steam engine to drive shafts for a pug mill and grinding equipment was installed. By 1907, 4 kilns had been built and a second square chimney for the steam enginer ected. The third chimney to the north was not built until the mid 1940's along with two extra kilns. Some literature suggests this was done in 1909 but photographs dated around 1942 do not show these structures.

      The Darley Firebrick Company Pty Ltd. continued to trade under this name until the 13th of August 1982 when the name was changed to Darley Refractories Pty. Ltd. This was done to reflect the extended range of products supplied after the purchas e of the assets of the South Yarra Firebrick Company,
      leaving Darley to be the only producer of firebricks in Victoria.

      From the earliest times the clay used was tunnelled from a 3 meter high seam 200 by 500 meters in area, some 17 meters underground. The clay was blasted with gelignite, broken up with mattocks and loaded by hand into skips to be hauled to the st ockpile by winch. In 1965 the clay pit was open cut with the removal of around 60,000 tonnes of overburden to expose the fireclay seam. In 1986 the last 15,000 tonnes of clay were removed to a stockpile and the large quarry hole was consequentl y filled with refuse by the local Shire.

      The general method of making firebricks has altered little over a hundred years although the grinding, extruding and pressing equipment has become much more sophisticated. Clays are still ground and mixed with crushed fired aggregate called grog , to stop excessive shrinkage in the material as it is
      mixed with water and extruded into a soft lump to be pressed into the desired shape.

      Right up to the 1960's, many of the larger and special brick shapes were hand moulded. This involved throwing hand sized soft pieces of clay mixture into wooden moulds which had detachable bottom and side inserts shaped to suit the characteristi cs of the firebrick. A typical full gasworks setting would
      contain up to 1500 tonnes of firebricks with over 100 different shapes. Many of these contained tongues and grooves to provide a gas tight seal and were hand moulded, as were large "D" shaped pipe retorts up to 5 meters in length also used in th ese settings.

      After shaping and drying, green bricks are fired in a kiln up to 1350ºC to form a ceramic bond giving them strength and integrity. Coke and black coal were used as a fuel to fire the kilns up to 1965 when they were converted to use
      heavy fuel oil. Probably the most significant improvement to firing was made in 1974, when the change to natural gas occurred. Quality was improved and rejects reduced with the even control of burning temperatures. After 72 years there was no mo re landmark black smoke from the chimneys only the occasional wisp of steam.

      Most recent improvement in production was the introduction a 500 tonne Laeis dry press. giving the ability to make precision shaped high quality bricks

      Product sales up to the 1960's were mainly to gasworks in Australia and New Zealand, foundries, munitions, fireplaces, steam boilers and locomotives.

      In recent years supplies are still for industrial boilers, furnaces, aluminium
      refining pots, wood heater linings and kiln repairs. Castable high temperature refractory concretes are also manufactured and sold.
      Historic article written by: Gus Steegstra (previous General Manager)
      to commemerate Darley Refractories' Centenary in 2002.

      http://www.darleyrefractories.com.au/about-us.html
      ==================================================================================
      Darley's kilns go cold
      BY PINAR GENCTURK
      11/08/2009 5:00:00 AM
      AFTER more than 100 years, the Darley Refractory has fired the last brick from its historic kilns in Grey Street, Bacchus Marsh.
      Rotary Club of Bacchus Marsh president David Stewart was at the end-of-an-era occasion at the refractory late last month.
      "It was the first time I had set foot on the historic property," he said.
      "I was impressed with the works that went on. The furnace had to be 1200 degrees to make the bricks.
      "It's disappointing it has come to an end."
      Former refractory manager Guss Steegstra, who was also there, said it was nostalgic for him.
      "I was with the company for nearly 40 years and I didn't think it would close down. Cheaper imports coming into the country, mainly from China, have hurt the business over the years.
      "The site is an icon for Bacchus Marsh. I think it might be sold to another business or developer."
      Manufacturing of bricks began at the site in 1893 following a partnership formed by Thomas Akers and William Wittick.
      By 1907, four kilns had been built and a second square chimney for the steam engine erected.
      A third chimney, to the north, along with two extra kilns, was not built until the mid-1940s.
      Product sales up to the 1960s were mainly to gasworks in Australia and New Zealand as well as foundries, munitions-makers, and builders of fireplaces. In recent years, supplies from the refractory were used for industrial boilers, furnaces, alum inium refining pots, wood heater linings and kiln repairs.
      In 2002, private buyers bought the Darley business, which was part of Refractories Australia Pty Ltd, and changes were made to the business. A message on the company's website said that from day one, new managing director Mark Taylor "realised t here was a cultural problem in the business".
      "Darley needed to change very quickly for its future," the website message said. "Work practices have been reformed and professional production personnel employed. Staff who would not change have gone."
      Management at Darley Refractories refused to comment on the future of the site and how many employees might lose their jobs if-when it shuts down.
    Reference Number W0277 
    _UID FE3DA14C113E45F28B7C222FDC9256CE98DA 
    Death 13 Nov 1939  Sunshine, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: as a result of a Fall of clay 
    Address:
    Brooks Lane 
    • WITTICK- On the 13th November 1939 at private hospital William Thomas beloved husband of the late Hannah Wittick of Ballarat
      road Sunshine loving father of Maude Mrs. Lindsay, Esther, William. Walter, Joseph, Thomas, Jack, Violet Mrs. MacGregor, James and Ernest. In his 82nd year, late of Bacchus Marsh.
      At rest
      ***************
      The ARGUS. 14 November 1939. page 4. col. 2 http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11276280
    Burial 14 Nov 1939  Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • WITTICK - The Friends of the late Mr.
      WILLIAM THOMAS WITTICK are respect-
      fully informed that his funeral will leave his
      residence Ballarat road Sunshine THIS DAY
      Tuesday 14th November 1939, at 3 pm arriving
      at Maddingley Cemetery. Bacchus Marsh
      about 4 pm
      JOSEPH ALLISON PTY LTD funeral Directors.
      135 Errol street North Melbourne Phone
      F1751
      Officiating Reverend H.Porter
      ***************
      Family Notices. (1939, November 14). The Argus
      (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.newsarticle11276280
    Person ID I387  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 27 Jan 2026

    Father WITTICK, 436 Walter,   b. Abt 1803, Walsall, Staffordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 May 1870, Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years)
    Mother CHRISTIAN, Ann,   b. Abt 1816, Stepney, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Dec 1873, Melbourne, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years)
    Marriage 10 Jun 1833  Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Address:
    St Davids Church 
    Family ID F127  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family BARTON, Hannah,   b. 9 Jul 1857, Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 May 1930, Sunshine, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)
    Marriage 1876  Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Sister of Thomas Barton husband of Mary Catherine Wittick Reg No. 4088
    Children 
     1. WITTICK, Hannah Maude,   b. 7 Jul 1878, Hawthorn, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Sep 1948, East Preston, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     2. WITTICK, Esther Elizabeth,   b. 2 Jul 1879, Richmond, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Mar 1965, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     3. WITTICK, William Thomas,   b. 28 Jun 1881, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Mar 1965, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)
     4. WITTICK, Walter John,   b. 14 Mar 1883, Hawthorn, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Apr 1968, Malvern East, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     5. WITTICK, Joseph Barton,   b. 17 Feb 1886, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Jul 1960 (Age 74 years)
     6. WITTICK, Thomas,   b. 19 Jul 1888, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Nov 1950, Malvern, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)
     7. WITTICK, John,   b. 11 Feb 1891, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Nov 1980, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 89 years)
     8. WITTICK, Violet May,   b. 24 Nov 1894, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Oct 1987 (Age 92 years)
     9. WITTICK, James Elgar,   b. 23 Sep 1896, Hawthorn, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Feb 1965, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)
     10. WITTICK, Ernest Alfred,   b. 27 Jul 1900, Bacchus Marsh, Colony of Victoria Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Jan 1986, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
    Family ID F275  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Oct 2026

  • Notes 
    • FACT Wittick v. Ackers in the Supreme Court re Dissolution of Partnership. William was awarded £100 plus costs.
      TYPE Legal
      DATE 29 JUL 1889
      PLAC Melbourne, Colony of Victoria
      ADDR
      ADR1 Cemetery Rd
      CITY Pakenham
      STAE Victoria
      POST 3810
      CTRY Australia
      BURI: AGNC Maddingley Cemetery

  • Sources 
    1. [S75] Marriage Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (St Davids Church) 10 Jun 1833 Walter WITTICK & Ann CHRISTIA (Reliability: 3).