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John Lysaght (Australia) Limited - Clarrie Withers, 6 September 1989
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SummaryInterview by Ann Walker in 1989 with former employee of Lysaghts Mr Clarrie Withers about the operations of John Lysaght (Australia) Limited in Newcastle.
Clarrie had worked for Lysaght's for 36 years from 1937 to 1973, starting as an apprentice bricklayer at age of 15. He describes his employment with the company over many decades.When the English firm of John Lysaght decided to make corrugated iron in Australia in 1919 they chose a 28 acre site on the corner of Bull and Crebert Streets in Mayfield. Much of the equipment for this business was made in Newcastle. The large mill motor and flywheel was the largest in the southern hemisphere, this was shipped from England.
The company produced galvanised sheets of metal and it employed experienced workers, many of them transferred from England. The company settled these English families in houses built in Mayfield, there were 70 properties in Bull, Vine, Avon, Usk and Kerr Streets.
The company commenced rolling steel in 1921, production increased with the onset of WWII with steel exported to England for air-raid shelters, and other military equipment.
Lysaghts are best remembered for the development and manufacture of the Owen machine gun. The company in Newcastle closed in 1972, decentralising operations in each state.
SubjectWithers, Clarrie BricklayersMilitarySteelApprentricePersonWalker, AnnWithers, Clarrie Interview log
Date Created6th September 1989Location[1] IdentifierA6970 (vii)_Withers
Clarrie had worked for Lysaght's for 36 years from 1937 to 1973, starting as an apprentice bricklayer at age of 15. He describes his employment with the company over many decades.When the English firm of John Lysaght decided to make corrugated iron in Australia in 1919 they chose a 28 acre site on the corner of Bull and Crebert Streets in Mayfield. Much of the equipment for this business was made in Newcastle. The large mill motor and flywheel was the largest in the southern hemisphere, this was shipped from England.
The company produced galvanised sheets of metal and it employed experienced workers, many of them transferred from England. The company settled these English families in houses built in Mayfield, there were 70 properties in Bull, Vine, Avon, Usk and Kerr Streets.
The company commenced rolling steel in 1921, production increased with the onset of WWII with steel exported to England for air-raid shelters, and other military equipment.
Lysaghts are best remembered for the development and manufacture of the Owen machine gun. The company in Newcastle closed in 1972, decentralising operations in each state.
SubjectWithers, Clarrie BricklayersMilitarySteelApprentricePersonWalker, AnnWithers, Clarrie Interview logDate Created6th September 1989Location[1] IdentifierA6970 (vii)_Withersloading google map....
John Lysaght (Australia) Limited - Clarrie Withers, 6 September 1989, [A6970 (vii)_Withers]. Living Histories, accessed 10/06/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/74690