Clifton Hill Shot Tower
Clifton Hill Shot Tower is an 80-metre (263 ft) tall shot tower on Clifton Hill in Melbourne, Australia. Clifton Hill Shot Tower was built beside Alexandra Parade (Then called Reilly Street) with its associated factory for Richard Hodgson in 1882 to manufacture lead shot and resembles a chimney.[1][2][3] The tower was operated by the Coops family, who also managed Coops Shot Tower, now located within the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.
Clifton Hill Shot Tower | |
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General information | |
Address | 94 Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill |
Coordinates | 37°47′39″S 144°59′26″E |
Completed | 1882 |
Height | 80.16 metres (263.0 ft) |
The shot tower is easily visible from both Alexandra Parade and the northern end of Hoddle Street. The shot tower is on the Victorian Heritage Register.[4][5] Urban legend states that infamous Melbourne biker and gangster, 'Chopper' Read buried a body at the bottom of the Shot Tower, although this remains unproven.
References
- "General News". Weekly Times (833). Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia., ...Mr, Richard Hodgson, a well-known citizen, died, Thursday. He was an earnest worker in the cause of religion, and one of the foremost laymen of the Methodist denomination. He was for many years one of the trustees and treasurer of Wesley Church, Lonsdale street, and was a class-leader and local preacher. He was a man highly respected by all, deeply loved by very many, and was one the church could ill afford to lose. He was widely known in commercial circles, and was proprietor of the shot tower, near the gasworks, where he was engaged in the manufacture of shot. Some time ago he was seriously ill, and seemed never to have thoroughly recovered from that attack. Recently his foreman became ill, and daring his absence from the business Mr. Hodgson was more busily engaged, and to exposure to the cold is attributed the second illness, which ended fatally. Thursday morning, at his residence, Latrobe street, West Melbourne. He was attended by Dr. Cutts, of William street. He leaves a widow and grown-up family. One of his sons is an LL. B. of the Melbourne University, and one is studying medicine. The deceased gentleman, whose demise is deeply deplored, was more than sixty years of age...
- "Family Notices". The Herald (2964). Victoria, Australia. 21 August 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia., ...DEATH. HODGSON.— On the 20th instant, at his late residence, 143 Latrobe street west Richard Hodgson, aged 62...
- "MELBOURNE". Bendigo Advertiser. XXXII (9, 390). Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia. ,...Mr Richard Hodgson, of Lonsdale-street West, whose death appears amongst the obituary notices to-day, was one of our oldest city merchants, and a prominent and important man in the infant days of our great city. Latterly he established a shot tower, which forms a very conspicuous landmark in northern Collingwood. Amongst the members of the Wesleyan Church, Mr Hodgson was held in high esteem. He was carried off by congestion of the lungs, and it is a singular circumstance that his late storeman died on Friday from the same complaint...
- "Shot Tower, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0709, Heritage Overlay HO85". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria.
- http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/75403/20180324-0000/collingwoodhs.org.au/resources/collingwood-history-plaques-project/the-shot-tower/index.html