INDUSTRIAL ROMANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL ROMANCE.

GEELONG SALT WORKS. | FORTY YEARS” DEVELOPMENT t The establishment- of the salt works at Point Henry, Geelong, and its subsequent- development, is one o the outstanding features of Australia’s industrial history, writes the Sydney correspondent- of the Auckland Herald. It is just about 4!) years ago that the late Mr Robert Cheetbam came from England after a tour of .the [ world and selected a large area of lowlying land, near Geelong, as an ideal pin e for the establishment of solar salt works.

At the time the land was little more than a swamp and residents viewed the venture, with feelings that it Was sure to ie a failure. As a matter of fact Mr Cheetbam was regarded as being a cry strange man. However, lie persisted in his object and convinced the late Air A. W. Cunningham of the soundness of his scheme, and with their combined efforts the works were established oil a small scale. Now the works cover an area of 120f> acres. tea water contains 3A per cent ot scl'ds, of which 2i per cent is salt. In s - eh an industry climatic conditions ha v c to he taken into account. The drier the conditions the better the salt bar est, while a thunderstorm at a critical "stage might throw back the bar est for weeks. Geelong has an a.ernge rainfall of about 20in._, and o aporution varies from 24 to 30 inches. A small bay is inclosed in a coffer dam •ind into this receiving area the rising ti le flows through sluice gates and then the water is pumped into a series of small paddocks—walled areas—at a timber level. There are more than 50 milos of walls. The water flows in and out of the paddocks and the density of the water rises until it.commences to give up gypsum. At this stage the brine contains about 25 per cent, of solids. Lt is then pumped into the crystalisers, a senes of larger paddocks. Salt- crystals commence to settle as the brine o aporates. More brine is added mit). the layer of crystal is at least two inches. The mother liquid is then drained ol) aud the crystal conveyed to ihe stacks to await treatment in the re ner.y. The works have been wonderfully sue-i-.-sslul and from a small beginning hav© grown to a vast undertaking. All grades of salt are manufactured, from toe crude salt for cattle and sheep, to the refined sifted salt used in the making of butter. The industry may now safely be described as one of the most Nourishing in Australia.