Montrose in Yarra Ranges Shire, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Montrose Bricks in Demand

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 18, 2026

1. Montrose Bricks in Demand Marker

Inscription. The bricks made at Clarence 'Clarrie' Button's brickworks were highly sought after throughout Victoria. In 1928 the works were turning out 16,000 bricks per day and employed up to 25 men. Montrose specialised in two varieties of firebricks - bricks for bakers' ovens made from porous red clay and firebricks made from white clay. They also produced fire lumps (for furnaces), agricultural pipes of all sizes, perforated bricks for iron furnaces, sole tiles and gutter bricks, as well as normal house bricks.

The Montrose brickworks was brought to a halt by World War II - many of the workers went to war, leaving Clarrie with no choice but to sell the business to Rimingtons Nursery in 1945. The site was used to make flowerpots until the 1960s.

(Picture Captions)
1. Clarence Carrie Button celebrates the expansion of the brickworks, circa 1930
2. Pipes and bricks stacked up at the Montrose Brickworks, circa 1930s
Photographs country of Florence Marnock (née Button)

Erected by Victoria State Government and Yarra Ranges Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 37° 48.609′ S,

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145° 20.625′ E. Marker is in Montrose, Victoria, in Yarra Ranges Shire. It is on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road (Victoria Route C415) east of Leith Road ( Route C401), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 935 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose VIC 3765, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Australian Nurses Memorial / Local Nurses that served in War (a few steps from this marker); Sister Edith Wilson Yeaman (a few steps from this marker); Montrose War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Major Charles Morris (1856-1935) (a few steps from this marker); Robert Riddett's Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Storm Leaves (within shouting distance of this marker); The People's Garden (about 120 meters away, measured

Montrose Bricks in Demand Marker along path in Montrose Town Centre Reserve image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 18, 2026

2. Montrose Bricks in Demand Marker along path in Montrose Town Centre Reserve

in a direct line); The First Train (approx. 4.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montrose.

Also see . . . Victorian Heritage Bricks, Brick Makers and Brick Works.

In 1914, the Button family came to Montrose. Clarence Lloyd “Clarrie’ Button was born in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand around 1878. Clarrie died at age 73 and was buried in the Lilydale Cemetery on the 30th of August 1951. Clarrie and his wife Mary Jane (Daughter of WJ Walker) lived at 14 Walker Road Montrose. They were married in 1900. Mary Jane died in 1941 age 61. He was by profession a Builder who had lived and worked in New Zealand and Tasmania, as well as inner suburban Melbourne. Clarrie is listed as being “Manager” of the brick-works in 1920. Clarrie and his nephew William (Billy) Walker, an experienced brick-maker, took over the company. They greatly expanded the business. The Darley Fire Brick Company continues today at Bacchus Marsh, on the opposite side of Melbourne.

(Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.