Wagga’s brick pit ultimately reached a depth of 16 metres. Photo: Tony Edward-Dare (Museum of the Riverina).
This week the Museum of the Riverina takes us into the pit to explore the history of the bricks that built Wagga Wagga.
Willis Bricks on Chaston Street was a cornerstone of Wagga’s industrial heritage, churning out over 200 million bricks between 1935 and 2004 when the business eventually closed.
The brickworks became synonymous with quality craftsmanship and community legacy.
The site was not only a hub of industry but also a site of scientific significance, aiding in the study of ancient wind-blown clays that helped piece together Australia’s climatic history.
Walter Willis was a third-generation brickmaker and established Willis Bricks next door to Hardy’s Timber Yard on Chaston Street in 1935.
The operation was run with two of his sons, Colin and Aubrey and later his grandsons – Graeme, Roger and Warren.
At its peak, the brickworks played a pivotal role in shaping Wagga’s skyline, producing the millions of bricks that built homes, businesses, and landmarks across the region including the Civic Theatre and Kooringal High School.
The staff of Willis Bricks in the 1930s, including Mr Rudd, Jim & Bill Podmore, Dick Deisell, Wal & Ned Willis and Ted Beazley. Photo: Museum of the Riverina.
From the mid-1980s, Willis’ bricks were in high demand among big city developers in Melbourne and Sydney looking for unique, upmarket colours that would make their designs stand out.
The specialised colour range included black (medium and dark), red (light, medium, colonial and plum) cream (light, colonial and mottled) brown and clinker – overburnt bricks melted together from heat.
The iconic chimney, erected in 1939, stood tall as a testament to the family’s dedication and expertise in brickmaking. The painted lettering down the chimney read ‘WILLIS BROS IXL BRICKWORKS’.
Standing over 30 metres tall, the tower cast a long shadow over Wagga’s west before it was eventually demolished in 2015.
The 30-metre tower at Willis Bricks in 1939. Photo: Museum of the Riverina.
The growing flood of cheaper imports spelled the end for Willis Bricks and its closure in 2004 marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy etched in brick and mortar across Wagga Wagga and beyond.
Once the brickworks closed, the 16-metre-deep pit at the back of the business had to be filled in.
Construction companies and builders were among those who poured in tonnes of industrial waste.
The Museum of the Riverina Collections contains rare images capturing the bustling activity at Willis Bricks, from the kilns firing to the meticulous stacking of bricks, a testament to the industrious spirit and lasting impact of the Willis family on our community.
Do you have any memories of Willis Bricks?
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