Clifton Hill Shot Tower

The Clifton Hill Shot Tower is a 78-metre (256 ft) cylindrical shot tower located in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The Clifton Hill Shot Tower held the title of Australia's tallest structure from its construction until 1930. Recognised by Guinness World Records, the landmark is acclaimed as the world's tallest shot tower.[1] The shot tower is on the Victorian Heritage Register.[2][3]

Clifton Hill Shot Tower
General information
Address94 Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill
Coordinates37°47′39″S 144°59′26″E
Completed1882
Height78 metres (256 ft)[1]

History

Clifton Hill Shot Tower was built beside Alexandra Parade (Then called Reilly Street) with its associated factory for Richard Hodgson in 1882 to manufacture lead shot and resembles a chimney.[4][5][6] Lead shot production required a tall structure where molten lead could be dropped from the top, forming spherical droplets that would solidify during their descent and cool in water tanks at the bottom. The tower was operated by the Coops family, who also managed Coops Shot Tower, now located within the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.

The tower continued to produce lead shot until the early 1960s when advancements in manufacturing processes and materials rendered the tower obsolete. However, instead of demolishing the historic structure, it was preserved and later converted into a tourist attraction and a symbol of Melbourne's industrial heritage.

Urban legend states that infamous Melbourne biker and gangster, 'Chopper' Read buried a body at the bottom of the Shot Tower, although this remains unproven.

Operation method

During its operational years, the tower employed a gravity-based production method. Molten lead was poured into a cauldron at the top of the tower, and through a series of sieves and funnels, the lead droplets would fall freely and gradually solidify as they made their way down. By the time the lead droplets reached the bottom, they would have cooled and hardened into perfectly spherical shot pellets.

Cultural significance

Sir Neil Cossons, founder of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and former chairman of English Heritage, has verified the importance of the Clifton Hill Shot Tower. Cossons, recognized as the leading authority on industrial heritage in Britain, has provided extensive guidance on conservation and management both in the UK and internationally. In 2014, he played a key role in nominating Japanese industrial heritage sites from the period of 1850-1910, which exemplify the emergence of industrial Japan, to be inducted as World Heritage sites. On 1 May 2010, during his visit to Melbourne to explore various industrial sites, he personally inspected the Clifton Hill shot tower. For Cossons, the tower stood out as the highlight of the day, as he had extensively studied shot towers worldwide, believes that the Clifton Hill shot tower boasts a uniquely remarkable design characterised by its scale, architecture, and intricately patterned brickwork.[7]

The Clifton Hill Shot Tower was the tallest building in Australia from its completion in 1882 until 1930. It is one of only three remaining shot towers in Australia, with the others being the Taroona Shot Tower, Tasmania and Coop's Shot Tower located within the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.[8][9]

Access

The shot tower is easily visible from both Alexandra Parade and the northern end of Hoddle Street.

See also

References
  1. "Tallest shot tower". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  2. "Shot Tower, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0709, Heritage Overlay HO85". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria.
  3. "Trove - Archived webpage". Trove. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018.
  4. "General News". Weekly Times. No. 833. Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia., ...Mr, Richard Hodgson, a well-known citizen, died, Thursday. He was an earnest worker in the cause of religion, and one of the foremost laymen of the Methodist denomination. He was for many years one of the trustees and treasurer of Wesley Church, Lonsdale street, and was a class-leader and local preacher. He was a man highly respected by all, deeply loved by very many, and was one the church could ill afford to lose. He was widely known in commercial circles, and was proprietor of the shot tower, near the gasworks, where he was engaged in the manufacture of shot. Some time ago he was seriously ill, and seemed never to have thoroughly recovered from that attack. Recently his foreman became ill, and daring his absence from the business Mr. Hodgson was more busily engaged, and to exposure to the cold is attributed the second illness, which ended fatally. Thursday morning, at his residence, Latrobe street, West Melbourne. He was attended by Dr. Cutts, of William street. He leaves a widow and grown-up family. One of his sons is an LL. B. of the Melbourne University, and one is studying medicine. The deceased gentleman, whose demise is deeply deplored, was more than sixty years of age...
  5. "Family Notices". The Herald. No. 2964. Victoria, Australia. 21 August 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia., ...DEATH. HODGSON.— On the 20th instant, at his late residence, 143 Latrobe street west Richard Hodgson, aged 62...
  6. "MELBOURNE". Bendigo Advertiser. Vol. XXXII, no. 9, 390. Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia. ,...Mr Richard Hodgson, of Lonsdale-street West, whose death appears amongst the obituary notices to-day, was one of our oldest city merchants, and a prominent and important man in the infant days of our great city. Latterly he established a shot tower, which forms a very conspicuous landmark in northern Collingwood. Amongst the members of the Wesleyan Church, Mr Hodgson was held in high esteem. He was carried off by congestion of the lungs, and it is a singular circumstance that his late storeman died on Friday from the same complaint...
  7. "East West Link Blog | 11 April – Day 28". 13 April 2014.
  8. Smith, drawings by Max Angus ; text by Patsy Adam (1982). Hobart sketchbook (Rev. ed.). Adelaide: Rigby. p. 36. ISBN 0727000284.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Norris, Keith (1980). Australia's heritage sketchbook (New ed.). Sydney: Weldon Pub. pp. 30–31. ISBN 1863022988.
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