Robbs Jetty Abattoir

Robbs Jetty Abattoir was an operation that was part of the Western Australia government meat export industry between 1921 and 1994. It was located in South Fremantle and it utilised the transport services provided by the Robbs Jetty railway station. It was known variously as Robb Jetty, Robbs Jetty and Robb's Jetty.[1] The abattoir grew out of a complex of private meatworks established in the late 19th century, including Forrest, Emanuel & Company and Connor, Doherty & Durack.[2] In 1921 the Fremantle Freezing Works began operation as one of the three State Government regulated abattoirs under the 1909 Abattoir Act.[3][4][5]

The abattoir was the destination of the Stacey's Lamb Train and annual delivery on the Western Australian Government Railway system.[6][7][8][9] The trains route was from Badjaling to Robbs Jetty and it usually required changes in the locomotive being used over the route.[10]

Adjacent to abattoirs in Perth, local properties were utilised by skin drying sheds.[11] At times the smells from the operations were objected to.[12][13] The Midland Junction abattoir was operating at approximately the same time as the Robbs Jetty operation, as well as the Wyndham Meatworks 1919 to 1985. The Air Beef Scheme lasted a shorter time (between 1949 and 1965). All of these operations were linked to the Western Australia's meat industry efforts to have adequate facility to be involved in meat export.[14]

The Robbs Jetty abattoir was closed in 1994; the jetty itself had previously been dismantled in the 1960s. The chimney is the only remaining part of the large complex of buildings that included offices, holding yards, freezer and chiller facilities. The chimney is listed in the State Register of Heritage Places.[15]

Cattle being unloaded from a ship at Robb Jetty in the 1920s. Livestock were shipped from the Kimberley.

References
  1. early mention of Robb's"SHIPPING". The West Australian. Western Australia. 8 October 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  2. "Interim Heritage Listing for Robb Jetty chimney". Media Statements. Government of Western Australia. 23 August 1996. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. "1909 Abattoirs Act". Western Australian Legislation. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 4 December 1909. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  4. "FREMANTLE FREEZING WORKS". Sunday Times (Perth). Western Australia. 24 August 1919. p. 1 (First Section). Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  5. "Fremantle Freezing Works". Toodyay Herald. Western Australia. 28 May 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  6. "Lamb train". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 11 October 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  7. "Fat Lamb Industry". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 22 January 1943. p. 1. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  8. Uren, Norman A; McPhee, Alex; ScreenSound Australia; Western Australia. Government Film Unit (1950), Export lambs, W.A. Govt. Films, retrieved 24 January 2020
  9. Goodall, Leith, 1903–1978; Uren, Norman A; Western Australia. Government Film Unit; HRRC (1959), Lamb for world market, W.A. Government Films, retrieved 24 January 2020CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. "Stacy Train's Record Haul". The Beverley Times. Western Australia. 18 October 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  11. Architect: Hobbs & Winning, Perth, Western Australia (10 November 2015), Proposed new Skin Store at Robb's Jetty, retrieved 24 January 2020CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "ROBB'S JETTY". Truth (Perth newspaper)Truth (CITY ed.). Western Australia. 15 January 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  13. "AN OFFENSIVE SMELL". The West Australian. Western Australia. 19 November 1940. p. 9. Retrieved 24 January 2020 – via Trove.
  14. Although oriented to Darwin and the Northern Territory – some glimpses of the larger issues can be found in Martyn, Stephen J; Garrett, Wendy; Australian Meat Industry Council; Australian Meat Council; Australian Meat Exporters Federal Council (2013), World on a plate : a history of meat processing in Australia, [distributed by Australian Meat Industry Council], ISBN 978-0-646-91070-3
  15. "Assessment documentation – Robb's Jetty chimney" (PDF). Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
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