Summary

The Delta Iron Works opened in Brandon in the early 1900s. A letter to James Cook University Library from Mr Keith Green in 1997 says that Alfred Green closed his business in Townsville and moved to Brandon in 1906. This is supported by a statement by Alfred's granddaughter-in-law¹ but contradicted by a Delta Iron Works letterhead being used in 1943 which says 'established 1908' although recent directory entries use the date 1906. The earliest record in the archive described here dates from 1909.

Further confusion is introduced by a name change. The move from Townsville to Brandon was prompted by John Drysdale, proprietor of the Pioneer Sugar Mills, who is said to have persuaded Green to move Green's Foundry from Townsville to the Burdekin in order to provide engineering services to the sugar industry.² This source says that the name was changed from Green's Foundry to Delta Iron Works in 1920. The letter from Keith Green mentioned above says 'the Brandon business has operated under several names'.

The archival papers of Alfred James Green are held in another collection of the James Cook University Library Archives. The Brandon business is still operating under the leadership of direct descendants of A. J. Green.³

Delta Iron Works was the major manufacturer of machinery for rural industries, particularly the sugar industry, in the Burdekin Delta and beyond and was a pioneer in several areas of work including irrigation and pumping. Named innovations mentioned in these archives include the Delta vacuum pump and the Delta plough disc hanger. Delta Iron Works was also the first, or among the first, agency to market and service refrigerators to North Queensland.

The range of work undertaken by Delta Iron Works can be judged from the letterheads used by the firm, for example, in June 1932 their letterhead reads 'Delta Iron Works, A.J. Green, Prop., Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, Boiler Makers, Oxy-Acetylene and Electric Welders, Motor Cylinder Reboring and Grinding a speciality, Agents for Gardner Crude Oil Engines, Webb Windmills and Winlite Electrical Plants'.

By September 1941 the letterhead also included, 'Agents for Lister Diesel Engines, Gardner Diesel Engines, Spindex Windmills, Electrice Refrigerators, Beatty Washing Machines, Motor Cylinder Reboring and Grinding a Speciality, Irrigation Specialists'.

A very extensive letterhead used in 1947 includes a list of agencies and also describes the work of the Foundry as, 'Manufacturers of Iron, Brass and Aluminium castings of all descriptions; Sugar Mill Rollers and Machinery; Sugar Cane Trucks; Delta Overhead Travelling Cane Hoists; Delta Wood Burning Generators for all sizes of Sugar Gas Plants; Delta Plough Disc Castings; Delta Centrifugal Pumps for Irrigation Spear systems'.

An invoice from 1956 carries the following information 'Delta Iron Works, Brandon and Ayr, A.J. Green, Proprietor, Engineers, Iron and Brass Founders, Machinery merchants, Motor Cylinder Reboring and Grinding a Speciality, Irrigation Specialists. Agents - Lister Diesel Engines, Gardner Diesel Engines, Spindex Windmills, Ball and Roller Bearings, Electrice Refrigerators, Cold Flame Kerosene Refrigerators, Tip Top Paints., Bearings and Seals for every purpose'.

The Yellow Pages entry approved in 1985 reads 'Delta Iron Works Pty Ltd, Estab 1906, Iron & Brass Founders, Boiler Makers, Mechanical & Diesel Engineers, Cast Iron & Brass Castings to 6 tonnes, Aluminium to 180kg individual weight, Manufacturers, pumps, pipe fittings & valves, Agricultural Rippers & Tool Bars'.

Even more information is provided by the entry prepared in 1985 for the Queensland Manufacturers' Trade Directory. It reads in part 'Products: General Engineering, Tractor mounted heavy duty "sweptback" rippers, tool bar equipment, Boilers, Machining, Steel plate work, Centrifugal pumps, Vacuum pumps, Cast iron irrigation pipe fittings and valves.'⁴

During the years of the Second World War Delta Iron Works was a co-ordinating contractor for the Ministry of Munitions, largely concerned with the manufacture and maintenance of ships' winches.

Listing of items in archive - Correspondence series

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Listing of items in archive - Financial Records series

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Listing of items in archive - Job Records series

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Listing of items in archive - Office Records series

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