Before 1874 ice in Hong Kong was imported. The Tudor Ice Company shipped it from America. Sailing ships anchored near Ice House Lane. Ice blocks were stored in a government depot. Ice House Street got its name from this depot. But did you know the Ice Factory we stand before today changed all that? This is the site of the Hongkong Ice Company’s factory. It revolutionized Hong Kong’s ice supply. Two Scottish entrepreneurs arrived in 1874. They built two damp-air machines. These machines produced ice right here in Hong Kong. A significant advancement. Imagine the novelty of locally made ice. Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co bought the machines in 1879. They established the Hongkong Ice Company. The factory was built in East Point Causeway Bay. The damp-air machines were soon replaced by more efficient ammonia compression machines. Ice was carted to a town depot. Shipping received ice directly by boat. The harbour’s proximity made this easy. This Ice Factory wasn’t just about ice. In 1900 the company expanded. They built insulated cold stores. They stored meat and butter from Australia. They supplied the British naval and military forces. A crucial role in the colony’s logistics. In 1884 the company purchased the government ice house. They transformed it into an office and depot. This Ice Factory is more than a relic of the past. It’s a testament to ingenuity. A symbol of Hong Kong’s industrial progress. It reminds us of a time when ice was a luxury. Now it’s a readily available commodity. This Ice Factory deserves our recognition. It played a vital role in shaping Hong Kong’s history.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to