Sunday, October 4, 2009

My Dad's Factory

This was an email from my Mum. The pictures are of my father's factory he owned and worked out of.  I remember it as a montrous brick warehouse my brother and I played in, with up to a foot of sawdust on the floors and many loud machines. Bricks, wood benches, machines, sawdust, a 10ft clock ticking in the silent sunstreamed air, the smell of cut timber and polish - it was a world of its own.

"Our old factory is on the market again, and below is a link, it is being auctioned on Wednesday so have a look soon as they might take it off if it sells.

Col and his Dad were cabinetmakers and did only custom built work. They also did work for all the top Decorators in Sydney, as well as specialised work for Churches and companies.

We sold it in 1992 and it is hoped it will now bring up to 4 million dollars!!! The guy who purchased it was from Germany, and spent quite a lot on renovating it into commercial offices for his Advertising company, also put a couple of small mezzanine floors in as Council would not let them put a full third floor on it. We went down to have another look at it a month ago. They did a good job renovating it and had a party to celebrate the opening of it, and we were invited. They had fireworks along the top of the factory, and Col and I were the first people into the building, it was quite a night.

Col's father built it in 1936 and we were quite chuffed to hear that it has been HERITAGE LISTED, means they cannot alter the original structure or demolish it."




















Stunning Warehouse / Ideal Residential Conversion• Designed by Villa Massimo award winning European architect - Unique factory building offering inspirational work spaces over three levels.

• Building area 552sqm (approx) plus 3 - 4 car spaces, 2 balconies and a courtyard.
• Zoned Residential F under North Sydney Council LEP 2001 with existing commercial use rights. Possible residential converstion.
• Sydney Harbour and city views. Northern aspect overlooking adjoining park.
• Quality construction - sandstone & timber flooring, column free upper levels, extremely high ceilings, abundant natural light.


4 comments:

Beach Vintage said...

This is truly an amazing building. I adore it and wish it were mine.

Helen McGinn said...

Oh my gosh, this is truly remarkable. It is beautiful both inside and out. What a lovely bit of history for your family. xx

www.CelebrityDigsHQ.com said...

Cool story! And very cool renovation!

Julie said...

ahha ... Mitchell St, McMahon's Point, eh? Bloody good area.

The conversion is simply stunning. The domain advert says that it did sell this past August. Any idea of the price? Such a good use of the space and the materials are just what I would ask for. I love wood. Love it love it love it!

I can understand full well that it might be Heritage Listed. How chest-expanding for your Dad to know this.

Do you by any chance have any old photos of what it used to look like? Or, even better, youse guys playing inside. I am heavily into Then&Now type shots.