The Watertower, Redfern

Now an apartment complex known as The Watertower in Redfern, a building once know as the Mcmurtrie Shoe Factory until the late 1970s when architect Peter Mulroney began the project of turning the factory into one of Sydney’s first warehouse apartment conversions.

The name the Watertower reflects the fact that the shoe factory had a colossal water tank installed that enabled huge water pressure using gravity which gave them an edge in washing the leather on mass scale.

G’day Charles Touma here on Marian Street in the magnificent Redfern.
Did you know the apartment building behind me was once a shoe factory that produced 12,000 pairs of shoes a week.
It was called the McMurties Shoe Factory, named after the brothers who started the business.
Previously the Whybrows shoe factory, they built a colossal extension to make it 80,000 square feet in size.
Included in the extension was a massive Water Tower that used gravity to wash the leather.
The factory took over most of the block bounded by Rosehill, Marian and Cornwallis Streets.
Architect Peter Mulroney turned the factory into one of the very first warehouse conversions in the late 1970s
The building was named “The Water Tower” and ast month I sold 2 apartments here being 201 and 502.
I love digging up stories like this about my local community.
Drop in for a chat at my office on Thurlow Street anytime.