With a long and proud history associated with the site, the town of Kandos itself came into being as a means to support the cement works, constructed in 1914.
By building Kandos Cement Works works, Australia was able to end its reliance on imported European concrete and created a capacity for self-sufficient cement production by utilising nearby coal and limestone reserves.
Kandos Cement Works supplied cement for some of Sydney’s major building projects including the
Sydney Opera House , the pylons of
With a long and proud history associated with the site, the town of Kandos itself came into being as a means to support the cement works, constructed in 1914.
By building Kandos Cement Works works, Australia was able to end its reliance on imported European concrete and created a...Read More
With a long and proud history associated with the site, the town of Kandos itself came into being as a means to support the cement works, constructed in 1914.
By building Kandos Cement Works works, Australia was able to end its reliance on imported European concrete and created a capacity for self-sufficient cement production by utilising nearby coal and limestone reserves.
Kandos Cement Works supplied cement for some of Sydney’s major building projects including the
Sydney Opera House , the pylons of
Sydney Harbour Bridge , Sydney city’s underground railway system, as well as homes and office towers throughout the city.
Cement production was the principal non-agricultural industry in Kandos for 97 years until the decision was made to close the plant in 2011 permanently due to a combination of factors.
The distance of the plant to its central market put the operation at an immediate disadvantage.
There were difficulties in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.
The technology on which the facility was built had become dated and inefficient (even after a $10 million upgrade) and the high Australian dollar all contributed to its eventual closure in 2011, bringing with it the loss of 98 jobs.
For 97 years of production, the contribution that this operation made towards building Sydney is certainly worthy of acknowledgement.
Kandos Museum was able to salvage one of the ball mills so that the history can live on through them.
The site has been approved for demolition.
I’d like to give special thanks to the former worker (who has requested not to be named) for taking me through the images in incredible detail. You know who you are.
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