Addresses
Type of place
Factory
Period
Federation 1890-1914
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Wall Remnant
Webster's bakery ruin
Addresses
Type of place
Factory
Period
Federation 1890-1914
This porphyry wall survives as a remnant of family bakery business ‘Websters’, which operated on the site from around 1885 until 1966. It appears to have been part of one of the buildings that formed the original bakery complex designed by local architect Mark Taylor. The company moved to Kedron in 1966 and most of the buildings were later demolished. This wall remnant, along with more recent brick and concrete walls, are all that survive in the lot.
Also known as
Webster's bakery
Lot plan
Geolocation
-27.494504 153.027575
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Walls: PorphyryCriterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Also known as
Webster's bakery
Lot plan
Geolocation
-27.494504 153.027575
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Walls: PorphyryCriterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
David Webster began manufacturing bread at his Annerley rd, Dutton Park site in 1883, and the enterprise known as “David Webster and Sons Ltd” eventually occupied the entire frontage of Annerley rd between Walton St and Nelson St, opposite Boggo rd Gaol. Cafes, shops and delivery carts linked to the business were a well-known part of Brisbane life in the late 19th century. In 1895 architect Mark Taylor designed a group of factory buildings for David Webster, located on the corner of Annerley rd and Nelson St. Renowned for their biscuits and cakes, “Webster’s” moved to Kedron in 1966.
John Webster Jr purchased Lot 21, on the corner of Walton St and Annerley rd, in 1885, and it was transferred to David Webster in 1888. As the building which stood at the front of Lot 21 (of which the porphyry wall appears to be a remnant) was present on 1923 sewerage maps of the block, we can assume that it was part of extensions to the original bakery complex and was thus built sometime between 1895 and 1923. The building in question was still present in 1946 aerial photos.
In 1953 Lot 21 was leased to City Electric Light Company Ltd. The entire site of the factory is now empty land, and the remaining wall is thus an interesting remnant of an important early business in the “Boggo Rd” area. The Porphyry section of wall would make an interesting feature for any residential development, although the red-brick wall remnants have less aesthetic value.
Description
The vacant area of the old bakery complex has a concrete retaining wall to the rear, running between Walton St and Nelson St. The claybrick/porphyry wall of interest extends back along Walton St from the corner with Annerley rd, complete with window openings. The section closest to Annerley rd has some courses of later brick on top of it, and the section of the porphyry wall facing Annerley rd has been faced in concrete. Sections of red brick wall also lie further up Walton St, and north along Annerley rd from the Walton St corner.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Donald Watson and Judith McKay, Queensland Architects of the 19th Century
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Courier Mail article, May 20 1985
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Northside Chronicle article, August 8th 1994
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John Oxley Library Photograph Collection
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Title Search, Department of Natural resources and Mines, QLD
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Portfolio of Photographs, a Momento of the Commonwealth Celebrations, David Webster, 1901
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Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans
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Private research by Traci Deans
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)