WESFI Factory (site)

Statement of Significance

The WESFI particle board factory site in Sunbury Road has historic heritage significance owing to its long association with Victoria Park and the building industry of Western Australia.

Physical Description

The WESFI Factory was located near the railway in the middle of an otherwise residential area. It was a complex of buildings of various designs centred around a large rectangular red brick building of a simple functional design. Large and numerous banks of windows were included in the design to provide light to the factory. Some of the other buildings were predominantly corrugated iron. On the site were various structures and equipment relating to the timber industry. The factory was demolished in 1998.

History

WESFI (formerly Wesply) has occupied the site bounded by Gresham Street, Sunbury Road, Miller Street and Kitchener Street in its entirety since the late 1950s. WESFI was formed in 1971 by a merger between Westralian Plywoods and Hearn Industries, who have a long standing association with Victoria Park. D M Cullity became the name behind the particle board industry in WA. He pioneered the first plant to produce particle board and started the factory in Victoria Park. He later went on to become a director of a number of Trusts and contributed to many company boards as well. He has received many awards recognising his service to industry and community. In April 1996, after 25 years, he resigned as Chairman of WESFI to be replaced by Ian Mackenzie. Noel Hearn was commemorated by the naming, in 1994, of a biennial award called the WESFI Noel Hearn Fellowship. This is given to an outstanding individual whose further personal development will benefit the growth of the furniture industry in WA. WESFI Wesbord were runners up in the WA Industry and Export Awards (1993) in the category of quality management. They were listed as 'WA's major manufacturer of particle board panels and low pressure melamine' with an ultimate goal of sustained quality management. WESFI's operation in the period between 1995 and 1997 has been adversely affected by the deteriorating housing market in Australia, and by competition arising from medium density fibreboard produced in the Pacific Rim countries. Up until late 1995 WESFI manufactured on the Victoria Park site. Veneer was peeled and sliced, and veneer overlays were placed onto substrate which was manufactured elsewhere. In its heyday WESFI employed between 360 and 400 staff over three shifts per day. WESFI moved to other manufacturing premises in 1998 and the factory was demolished. A photographic record was compiled prior to demolition.

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Site

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