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Hills Brickyards
Photo: Brickyard at Little Hampton
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Please note: This page is a work in progress and I will be adding more detail shortly.
Photo: Brickyard at Little Hampton
Back to Business Homepage
Please note: This page is a work in progress and I will be adding more detail shortly.
Webmaster's Notes:
- The brickyards section of the randomfacts website is very close to my heart. The Coppin, Watts and Childs brickyards were all operated by my direct ancestors. James Coppin and John Watts were both my Great x3 Grandfathers, while James Alfred Childs was my Great Grandfather.
- The history of these brickyards is not well documented online and what exists is almost all a load of poorly researched rubbish. It doesn't help when the Littlehampton Brick Company continues to circulate that they were established in 1892 (actually 1912) and continue to circulate a fictional story on their "Our Story" webpage that gives the impression that they were the first brickyard in Littlehampton. It also doesn't help when the Mount Barker District Council circulates this misinformation on their website, as do many others. I'm not being mean about this, I have offered to provide an accurate historical profile to Littlehampton Bricks for free twice, but they have not taken me up on the offer.
Early Brickmaking
By 1839, Nairne and Mount Barker had both been surveyed and settled. Reports of early brick makers are scarce, but in the early 1840's, a Mr. Hombin started making bricks near the Great Eastern Hotel, Littlehampton. The pug hole was on the Balhannah Road, near the property which is now No. 5 Balhannah Road. This location is also where the Coppin family had their pug hole a few years later. By 1847, Mr. Hombin and Mr. Love were making bricks just east of where the Mount Barker railway station is now and Mr. Alexander McDonald was also making bricks in 1847 near the corner of the present Mount Barker Showgrounds. In the early 1850s, there are reports of bricks being made by Mr. Moses Wraight and Mr. Thomas Weller but I haven't been able to confirm actual dates or locations for them.
1. Coppin Brickyard 1856-1935
2. L.T. Watts 1889-1893 then S.A. Firebrick Co. 1893-1910
3. Childs Brickyard 1895-1973 (on Childs Road)
4. Littlehampton Bricks 1912-1970
2. L.T. Watts 1889-1893 then S.A. Firebrick Co. 1893-1910
3. Childs Brickyard 1895-1973 (on Childs Road)
4. Littlehampton Bricks 1912-1970
James Coppin Brickyard 1856-1935
James Coppin was a brick-maker from Kent, England. In 1856 James (aged 41) and his family arrived in South Australia on the ship 'Gomelza', moved to Littlehampton and started making bricks. The brickyard was located at the end of Coppin Road Littlehampton. This location is either the same one Mr. Hombin used in the 1840's, or immediately adjacent (behind No.5 Balhannah Road). Several of his children had worked in the brickyards at Kent before coming to South Australia including Ann, who married Stephen Childs (two of their sons, James and Stephen started Childs Bricks in 1895). James Coppin (senior) passed away in 1866 and the brickworks continued under the management of his son James Alfred Coppin for many years. James (junior) later married Louisa Lucretia Watts (her father was John Watts of the Scott Creek brickyard). The Coppin family brickworks were in production for nearly 80 years and finished up around 1935. It was reported that the Coppin brickworks produced excellent quality bricks for many years for the hills and Adelaide areas and had a huge impact on the early development of the district.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
James Coppin was a brick-maker from Kent, England. In 1856 James (aged 41) and his family arrived in South Australia on the ship 'Gomelza', moved to Littlehampton and started making bricks. The brickyard was located at the end of Coppin Road Littlehampton. This location is either the same one Mr. Hombin used in the 1840's, or immediately adjacent (behind No.5 Balhannah Road). Several of his children had worked in the brickyards at Kent before coming to South Australia including Ann, who married Stephen Childs (two of their sons, James and Stephen started Childs Bricks in 1895). James Coppin (senior) passed away in 1866 and the brickworks continued under the management of his son James Alfred Coppin for many years. James (junior) later married Louisa Lucretia Watts (her father was John Watts of the Scott Creek brickyard). The Coppin family brickworks were in production for nearly 80 years and finished up around 1935. It was reported that the Coppin brickworks produced excellent quality bricks for many years for the hills and Adelaide areas and had a huge impact on the early development of the district.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
John Watts Brickyard 1858-1985
John Watts came to South Australia with his wife and an infant son on the 'Coromandel', arriving on 12 January 1837 at the very beginning of the colony and lived in a tent in the sandhills at Holdfast Bay. John started making bricks in 1838 at Hindmarsh, with clay dug from the banks of the River Torrens. In 1858 he moved to the hills (called the tiers at the time) and established a brickworks at Scott Creek (near Nairne). It was originally set up to manufacture fire bricks which were used in smelting works at Scott Creek, Kanmantoo and Clare. The brickworks also supplied fire bricks to smelting works at Wallaroo and Moonta. Some time later, low cost fire bricks were being shipped in from England, making fire brick manufacture in the hills uneconomical for a time and the Watts brickyard was known for producing good quality red house bricks. The Watts family (Scott Creek) brickworks were in production for about 125 years and closed in 1985.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
John Watts came to South Australia with his wife and an infant son on the 'Coromandel', arriving on 12 January 1837 at the very beginning of the colony and lived in a tent in the sandhills at Holdfast Bay. John started making bricks in 1838 at Hindmarsh, with clay dug from the banks of the River Torrens. In 1858 he moved to the hills (called the tiers at the time) and established a brickworks at Scott Creek (near Nairne). It was originally set up to manufacture fire bricks which were used in smelting works at Scott Creek, Kanmantoo and Clare. The brickworks also supplied fire bricks to smelting works at Wallaroo and Moonta. Some time later, low cost fire bricks were being shipped in from England, making fire brick manufacture in the hills uneconomical for a time and the Watts brickyard was known for producing good quality red house bricks. The Watts family (Scott Creek) brickworks were in production for about 125 years and closed in 1985.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
John Watts Brickyard, Scott Creek
The Enterprise Brickyard 1870s
The Miels brothers started brickmaking on the corner of Hallet and Pioneer Streets and called their business the 'Enterprise Brick Company'. Their bricks had the initials EBC stamped in the frog. It is believed that this business only ran for a few years. Details are scare about this company but it was bought in 1910 by the consortium starting up the Littlehampton Brick Co.
The Miels brothers started brickmaking on the corner of Hallet and Pioneer Streets and called their business the 'Enterprise Brick Company'. Their bricks had the initials EBC stamped in the frog. It is believed that this business only ran for a few years. Details are scare about this company but it was bought in 1910 by the consortium starting up the Littlehampton Brick Co.
L.T. Watts Brickyard 1878-1893
In 1878 John Watts moved to Little Hampton to help his son Luke set up a brickyard. Luke Theophilus Watts established L.T. Watt & Co. to manufacture fire bricks at Littlehampton in 1878. Luke was a son of John Watts and worked for a time with his father (and brother) at the Scott Creek brickyards. Luke's father, John Watts assisted Luke with setting up and running this brickyard. L.T. Watts had several business ventures at Littlehampton including bacon curing, a jam factory and a general store, before starting the brickworks. The brickworks was on the corner of Hallet Road and Childs Road behind the shop. Luke's shop is still standing and is located on the corner of Childs Road and the Princes Highway, Littlehampton, across the road from the Littlehampton Brick Company.
In 1878 John Watts moved to Little Hampton to help his son Luke set up a brickyard. Luke Theophilus Watts established L.T. Watt & Co. to manufacture fire bricks at Littlehampton in 1878. Luke was a son of John Watts and worked for a time with his father (and brother) at the Scott Creek brickyards. Luke's father, John Watts assisted Luke with setting up and running this brickyard. L.T. Watts had several business ventures at Littlehampton including bacon curing, a jam factory and a general store, before starting the brickworks. The brickworks was on the corner of Hallet Road and Childs Road behind the shop. Luke's shop is still standing and is located on the corner of Childs Road and the Princes Highway, Littlehampton, across the road from the Littlehampton Brick Company.
L.T. Watts Brickyard, Little Hampton
South Australian Firebrick Company 1893-1910
Not to be confused with the South Australian Brick Company, Brompton (1884), or the South Australian Co-operative Brick Company, Brompton (1937). This brickyard was formerly the one run by L.T. Watts, but John Chapman (the production manager) installed new plant. In 1910, this company was taken over by the consortium of Adelaide investors that were seeking to establish The Littlehampton Brick Company.
Not to be confused with the South Australian Brick Company, Brompton (1884), or the South Australian Co-operative Brick Company, Brompton (1937). This brickyard was formerly the one run by L.T. Watts, but John Chapman (the production manager) installed new plant. In 1910, this company was taken over by the consortium of Adelaide investors that were seeking to establish The Littlehampton Brick Company.
Childs Brick Company 1895-1973
Two brothers, James and Stephen Childs, established this brickyard in 1895. They were experienced brickmakers having worked at the Coppin brickyard for many years (their mother was Ann Coppin). The brickyard was located on Childs Road. In 1902, Stephen Childs left the company and Edwin Miels became a partner. The company was called Childs and Miels Bricks. In 1917, Edwin Miels left and James took on his two sons, James Roy and Stanley as partners. The name became J.A. Childs and sons. In 1951, Stanley Childs withdrew and the company carried on with James and his two sons, Roy and Raymond. In 1973, the company ceased operation when the South Eastern Freeway was built over part of the company grounds. The location now has a sawmill and car wreckers on the site.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
Two brothers, James and Stephen Childs, established this brickyard in 1895. They were experienced brickmakers having worked at the Coppin brickyard for many years (their mother was Ann Coppin). The brickyard was located on Childs Road. In 1902, Stephen Childs left the company and Edwin Miels became a partner. The company was called Childs and Miels Bricks. In 1917, Edwin Miels left and James took on his two sons, James Roy and Stanley as partners. The name became J.A. Childs and sons. In 1951, Stanley Childs withdrew and the company carried on with James and his two sons, Roy and Raymond. In 1973, the company ceased operation when the South Eastern Freeway was built over part of the company grounds. The location now has a sawmill and car wreckers on the site.
Click Here for more information about this brickyard [.pdf]
Littlehampton Brick Company 1912-still operating
The last remaining brickyard in the Mount Barker district is the Littlehampton Brick Company. The company was incorporated until 1910 and their first brick was made in 1912.
The last remaining brickyard in the Mount Barker district is the Littlehampton Brick Company. The company was incorporated until 1910 and their first brick was made in 1912.
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