Then: Victoria Railway Foundry. Circa 1861. The decision to construct the Melbourne to Murray River railway was followed quickly by the setting up of a Victorian Railway Foundry at Castlemaine by Messrs Cornish and Bruce in 1860. The new complex was bounded by Barkers and Bruce Streets, shown here in the centre of the photograph and by the railway corridor behind it. The foundry utilized the former three storey flour mill as a saw mill and a pattern room, while the grinding stones on the ground floor were used to grind corn for the horses. The other buildings on the site contained 20 forges, blacksmiths, carpenters, and wheelwright shops as well as large engine rooms. The Foundry was obviously very efficient and by 1862 the rail line had been built and it had outlived its usefulness. By 1864 the site had become a coach building factory.
Now: Fast forward to the current year and the area has now changed completely. The only remnant of the former Foundry is the old flour mill that actually predated it. It can just be seen hiding behind the street post near the centre of the image. The remainder of the site has now been taken over by a caravan park, a service station and gas supply business, and a series of houses. The car on the extreme right is parked where, in the previous photograph, the provision merchant store of E. Bradley was once located on the northwest corner of Barker and Bruce Streets. Photos and historical details courtesy Ken McKimmie