Skip to content Skip to footer
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Rootes Update

The PMHPS joined with the National Trust (Victoria) and the Art Deco and Modernism Society to commission a more detailed study of the former Rootes car manufacturer in Salmon St.

These three organisations are concerned that there is no heritage protection for any part of the site, not even the administration building.

Rootes interior
Many features remain intact inside the administration building

The detailed study revealed that the site had been used as a tank research deport during the war.

There is interesting footage from the Australian War Memorial showing the tanks and other armoured vehicles bowling across the Bend.

The report has been provided to the Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne, along with a request for a more comprehensive heritage study of Fishermans Bend.

The report received extensive coverage in The Age on Tuesday 3rd August.

The full heritage report 

Reeves, S Rootes Ltd Factory [former] 19-25 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne Heritage Assessment 23 July 2015

And more

Dow, A Fishermans Bend’s ‘top secret’ World War II tank program The Age 3 August 2015

Demonstration of AFVs at Fisherman’s Bend  Australian War Memorial ID no F07029

Trust Advocate Fisherman’s Bend: former Rootes car factory, and…tank research depot National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

 

Leave a comment

PMHPS acknowledges the generous support of the City of Port Phillip.

 

The content of this site (images and text) must not be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of PMHPS or the copyright holder.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and work, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.