The refinery at Crib Point was established after BP Australia purchased a large amount of land over looking Western Port in 1963. The nearby company Crib Point Engineering supplied and manufactured the engineering hardware which included pumps, valves, lifting equipment etc.
1965 saw the construction of the refinery’s administration building designed by noted architect Don Hendry Fulton, and built by Van Driel Pty Ltd. In 1966 the building was awarded the RVIA Victorian Architecture Medal. The building is now heritage listed and has been converted.
The refinery closed down in the 80’s, only around 20 years after its construction and has sat abandoned since.
We made our way up the old access road to the first two tank’s we were set to visit,
the rain from the few previous days didn’t make it easy, the ground was slippery and wet, almost like sludge in some part’s, not helped by the dozens upon dozens of blackberry bushes that brushed by our legs, we finally made it to the tanks and up to the top to take in the view of the surrounding site.
Heading over to the larger tanks on the other side became a bit of a cat and mouse game with a security guard, after getting across unspotted our luck ran out as the stair’s to the top of these ones were inaccessible. An interesting site nonetheless.
82.
Dorman.
Gantry.
Site.
Bolted.
Otama.
The Navy submarine Otama could be seen from the top of tanks 81 & 82.
Tank 81.
Off.
Spotlight.
Approaching 29.
Surrounded.
Hang.
Above & Below.
Walkway.
Dominating.
Bridges.
Reflections.
1965 saw the construction of the refinery’s administration building designed by noted architect Don Hendry Fulton, and built by Van Driel Pty Ltd. In 1966 the building was awarded the RVIA Victorian Architecture Medal. The building is now heritage listed and has been converted.
The refinery closed down in the 80’s, only around 20 years after its construction and has sat abandoned since.
We made our way up the old access road to the first two tank’s we were set to visit,
the rain from the few previous days didn’t make it easy, the ground was slippery and wet, almost like sludge in some part’s, not helped by the dozens upon dozens of blackberry bushes that brushed by our legs, we finally made it to the tanks and up to the top to take in the view of the surrounding site.
Heading over to the larger tanks on the other side became a bit of a cat and mouse game with a security guard, after getting across unspotted our luck ran out as the stair’s to the top of these ones were inaccessible. An interesting site nonetheless.
82.
Dorman.
Gantry.
Site.
Bolted.
Otama.
The Navy submarine Otama could be seen from the top of tanks 81 & 82.
Tank 81.
Off.
Spotlight.
Approaching 29.
Surrounded.
Hang.
Above & Below.
Walkway.
Dominating.
Bridges.
Reflections.
Thanks for looking.
