Tag Archives: Fire

Apr 4 2012

31-01-1888: The fire at the Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank workshops.

In the early hours of the 31st of January 1888 a fire broke out at the rear of Glover & Co’s foundry in Normanby-road, Yarra Bank (now South Melbourne) which in turn destroyed the adjoining Ferguson & Urie glass store. Reports of the fire were published in the Brisbane Courier, Sydney Morning Herald and Hobart Mercury tabloids. Despite the building being insured the company decided not to re-build the workshop and no longer had any presence in South Melbourne.

The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 31st January 1888, page 7.

“FIRE AT YARRA BANK SOUTH”.

“A destructive fire broke out early this morning in the factory of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, glass stainers and importers of plate and sheet window-glass, Normanby-road, Yarra-bank south, which resulted in the destruction of the greater part of the premises. The flames also extended to the premises of Messrs. Wm. Glover and Co, iron-founders, where a considerable amount of damage was caused. The boats were removed from the yard of Mr. James Cowan, shipwright, but no damage was done to the buildings. At two o’clock the fire had got a firm hold of Ferguson and Urie’s, and the rear portion of the premises was completely gutted. Several fire brigades had arrived on the scene, and were playing freely on the burning buildings. It is not at present known how the fire began. Shortly after half-past 2 o’clock a second fire engine was brought to the scene, and the fire, although still burning, was thought to be in no danger of spreading further”.

The image of the Yarra Bank workshop below is a subset taken from the June 1887 company dinner photos.

Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank Store 1887

Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank Store, June 1887

The Argus, Melbourne, 1st February 1888, page 8 & The Mercury, Hobart, Friday 3rd February 1888.

“SERIOUS FIRE ON YARRA BANK SOUTH, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £8,500.

“No explanation has yet been found for the origin of the fire which occurred early on Tuesday morning at the store of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, Normanby-road, on Yarra bank, and a report of which appeared in a late edition of The Argus yesterday. It is believed by some persons, including members of the fire brigade, that it originated in the rear corner of Messrs. Glover and Co.’s foundry adjoining the glass store. But, on the other hand, Messrs. Glover and Co. state that a watchman was on their premises who declares that the fire was burning in Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s store.”

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Feb 20 2012

20-11-1867: The fire in Curzon Street, North Melbourne.

The Argus, Melbourne, Wednesday 20th November 1867, page 5.

“Dr. Youl held an inquiry yesterday into the origin of a fire which burned down the premises No. 30 Curzon-street, Hotham, on 16th inst. The premises had been occupied by a Mrs. Violet Daniels who retired to bed on the evening of the 16th inst., having previously extinguished the fire and removed the matches. About twelve o’clock a constable discovered the fire and alarmed the inmates and all subsequent efforts to extinguish the fire proved unsuccessful. The flames afterwards spread to the adjoining premises and consumed a fowl-house valued at 5, and also damaged the premises of Mr. J. Urie, glass-stainer, to the extent of £20. About eleven o’clock on the night of the fire, a lodger in the house of Mrs. Daniels took a candle into an unoccupied room, for thee purpose of obtaining a drink of milk, but brought the candle back to his room. At that time there was no sign of fire. Urie’s premises were insured for £1,250, and Daniels’ for £200, and the furniture for £100. The loss beyond the insurance money was estimated by Mrs. Daniels at £100. A verdict of “Accidental Fire” was recorded”.

Curzon Street Fire 16 Nov 1867

James Urie’s cottage was at No.28 Little Curzon Street and James Ferguson’s at No 24 Little Curzon street which were only a short distance to the rear of the companies stained glass workshops opposite the Union Memorial Church. 

As at 2012 the original workshop building (basically only the shell and facade under redevelopment) still exists opposite the Union Memorial Presbyterian Church but is now numbered 42 Curzon street.  Prior to its residential transformation it was used as the North Melbourne Masonic Lodge. As at 2013 the front section of the original workshops has been completed as a private residence with further work to be completed to the rear section.

James Ferguson & James Urie offered up their Little Curzon Street cottages for auction in November 1886 as both partners had by this time built their new two storey mansions in Parkville and Flemington.

James Ferguson had his mansion ‘Ayr Cottage‘ built in Leonard Street Parkville and James Urie had built ‘Glencairn‘ in wellington Street in Flemington.

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