Vulcan, Victoria, Australia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Australia Victoria

Tha Vulcan foundry was established by William Croll, born in Aberdeen, Scotland into a family of artisans, mainly woodworkers. Originally trained as a blacksmith, William was later described as an engineer, and was clearly an astute businessman as well. He migrated to Australia, as did his brothers David and Charles, and established an iron foundry in the town of Geelong. The Vulcan brand he started still appears on appliances today.

The Vulcan foundry clearly enjoyed quick success:^[1] Mr. Croll, the proprietor of the Vulcan Foundry, has been very busily employed of late on all kinds of machinery for the gold-fields, such as quartz-crushers, pumps for the deep-sunk shafts, raising gear, &c, and at the present time has his hands full of similar jobs. Several of the castings at this foundry have ranged from two to five tons each. He is now expecting to be engaged on the machinery for a very extensive flour-mill at Ballaarat, in connection with which will be all the more modern improved smutting and dressing machines, and the necessary raising gear.

After the death of William Croll the foundry appears to have suffered, possibly because of downturns in the gold mining industry. It was eventually sold to Colonial industries, Messrs. Humble and Simmons foundry:^[2] The foundry mentioned above is one of the most extensive establishments of its kind in the colony. It is situated in Little Malop-street east, and was originally built by Mr Croll, whose name is still known as one of the most extensive ironfounders in the youthful days of this colony; after his death it changed hands several times, until it came into the hands of its present proprietors, Messrs Humble and Simmons.

Sources

1. ↑ National Library of Australia - Trove: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Mon 5 May 1856 p5. Accessed 8 Feb 2021.
2. ↑ National Library of Australia - Trove: Geelong Advertiser 22 Aug 1866 p1. Accessed 8 Feb 2021.