“Burnley Machine Shed,” the sign reads simply. What stories could these walls tell? This is the 917 Burnley Machine Shed. It is a piece of Burnley’s past. Today, we explore its connection to Melbourne’s history.
Burnley itself is an inner-city suburb. It lies just 4 km east of Melbourne’s central business district. Burnley is part of the City of Yarra. In 2021, the census recorded a population of 794. Burnley has long been linked to the larger Richmond area.
The Yarra River forms Burnley’s southern and eastern borders. Burnley Park marks the northern edge. Park Grove and the south end of Burnley Street define the west.
The Kulin people first inhabited Burnley. The area was called Ko-wirip in the Woiwurrung language. This name referred to the ti trees. Scarred trees in Burnley Park show the Kulin’s use of the land.
In 1838, the area became the Survey Paddock. Swan Street bisected it in the 1880s. Railway lines trisected it later. The Yarra Boulevard and Monash Freeway skirted its edges.
Burnley got its name from William Burnley. He was an early land buyer in Richmond. He also served as a local councillor.
Burnley grew in the 1850s. This happened as Melbourne expanded east. Industry followed in the 1860s. Workers’ housing sprang up near factories. These factories made everything from clothing to pipe organs.
The Horticultural Society of Victoria received land in 1862. They created experimental gardens. The State Department of Agriculture took over in 1891. The remaining Survey Paddock became Richmond Park.
Now about the 917 Burnley Machine Shed. It is also known as the Pesticide Store. This building is number 917 on the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus map.
The Burnley campus began as the Richmond Survey Paddock in 1850. It is famous as Burnley College. The 917 Burnley Machine Shed served a practical purpose.
Imagine the sounds that once echoed here. The clang of tools, the hum of machinery. Perhaps the scent of pesticides hung in the air.
Today, the 917 Burnley Machine Shed stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of Burnley’s agricultural and industrial past. It’s a small piece of a larger story. This story is of Melbourne’s growth and change. The 917 Burnley Machine Shed connects us to that history. Take a moment to appreciate this humble building. It is more than just a shed. It is a link to Burnley’s vibrant past.