City Steam Biscuit Factory

City Steam Biscuit Factory

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Posted 2012-09-10 by Dave Walshfollow


Few people in Adelaide have ever heard of the .

But if it had never been built, Adelaide may never have seen its iconic frog cakes , and the Altitude tower development on Morphett St may not have happened.

This building was the precursor to the thriving Balfours business that has been supported by South Australians for so many years and ultimately became a national business .

James and Margaret Calder arrived in Adelaide in 1852 starting a bakery with a shop on Rundle St in 1853. In 1872 he was so successful he opened the and by 1873 James Calder was advertising a Nic-Nac biscuit made in his factory on Twin St. Another advertisement of the time refers to him as Biscuit Maker to HRH The Duke of Ediburgh.



In March 1876, the South Australian Register reported on the factory at 29 Twin St. The reporter seems to have been something of a fan of owner James Calder's produce:

Mr. Calder has also made him self a name for his excellent wedding, pound, currant, sponge, seed, tea, and other cakes. The demand for the colonial made biscuits and cakes is now so brisk that the proprietor finds great difficulty in keeping his customers supplied. He now employs five men and four apprentices, which is the hugest number he can find room for in his present premises.

James Calder's obituary in 1889 records that he was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes in 1880, so he arranged for his nephew
John Balfour to became a partner. On seeking medical advice in London, Calder was told that he didn't have cataracts at all and that a different kind of spectacles was all that would be required for many years.

In 1892, a new factory was built in Cardwell Street and Balfour's wife Elizabeth began a new business with her son J.G. Balfour and son-in-law C.P. Wauchope. Balfour & Company took over premises in Morphett Street in 1908 and continued to prosper.



By 1929, Mr Claude Bennet was advertising Fencing Lessons for Ladies at 29 Twin Street, so clearly the building was no longer in use as a factory. It seems fencing must have gone out of style, because by 1932 Mr Bennet had become a Physical Culturist and Masseur .

Little is known about the Biscuit Factory's use over the next few decades. In 1951 it was occupied by a C.E Bennett and Adelaide Gymnasium. It's just possible that this photo of footballers training in 1954 was taken in the old Biscuit Factory.



Fast forwarding to 1969, and number 29 Twin St was occupied by Pet Supplies Pty Ltd (wholesalers) and Twin St Music Centre. Thousands of children of the time would have walked past to visit the Pet Centa ("Bird Dealers & Pet Store") which occupied number 25 Twin St for many years.

Twin St Music was well known to many others. Scottish born Jim Keays, who later became lead singer of The Masters Apprentices, one of Australia's most successful bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s, recalls that he %%ogled the electric guitars on
offer at the Twin Street Music Shop, 'the coolest shop in town', and saw in their colours and shapes, a representation of 'freedom'%%.

This is the earliest documented reference to the 's link to music. However it is recorded that number 29A was occupied in 1969 by The Cellar night club, an appropriate forerunner to The Jade Monkey and Two Ships which occupied the premises from around 1992 until now.

Following approval from the Development Assistance Commission to build a 17 storey hotel adjacent to the former , the developer has decided to demolish this building which has been a key part of Adelaide's history over so many years.

It's not being demolished because the site is needed in the new development. The has to go so that there is improved access for the building works. So much for Development vs History - there is no contest!

Pleas to Premier Weatherill and Lord Mayor Yarwood to intervene and prevent the demolition have been fruitless. A petition has been organised but seems unlikely to succeed.

While the Jade Monkey is largely concerned about finding a cost effective home in the city, many of us have reservations about the ongoing demolition of historical buildings such as this.



These days Adelaide's streetscape is rapidly losing its character, and you are condemned to stare at a mirrored reflection of your face in some glaring multistorey building clone as you walk around.

It's all very well to have development and improve the city's skyline. But what about us mere users of the city who have to move around a sterile environment at street level?

Are we condemned to walk through whistling windy tunnels of skyscapers which block out natural light most of the day?

What happened to visions of revitalised, active and busy laneways with character in the city? The empty rhetoric rings hollow.

Farewell .

#nightlife
#near_adelaide
#music_venues
#history
#historic_houses
#attractions
#architecture
#adelaide_city
#south_australia
#things_to_see
#vintage_retro
%wnadelaide
206993 - 2023-06-16 05:54:54

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