GEELONG SOLAR SALT WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1928, Page 1

GEELONG SOLAR SALT WORKS

FORTY YEARS’ DEVELOPMENT. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. Tho establishment of the Cheethan salt works at Point Henry, Geelong, and its subsequent development aro one of the outstanding features of Australia’s industrial history. It is just about forty years ago that the late Robert Cheethan came from England after a tour of the world, and selected a large area of low-lying land, near Geelong, as an ideal place for the establishment of solar salt works. At the time the laird was little more than a swamp, and residents viewed tho venture with feelings that it was sure to ho a failure. As a matter of fact, Mr Cheethan was regarded as being a very strange man. However, he persisted in his object, and convinced the late A. W. Cunningham of the soundness of his scheme, and with their combined efforts the works were established on a small scale. Now the works cover an area of 1200 acres. Sea-water contains 34 per cent, of solids, of which 24 per cent, is salt. In such an industry climatic conditions have to be taken into account. The drier the conditions the better the salt harvest, while a thunderstorm at a critical stage might throw hack the harvest for weeks. Geelong has an average rainfall of about 20in. and evaporation varies from 24 to 30in. A small hay is enclosed in a. coffer dam, and into this receiving area the rising tide i.ows through sluice gates, and then the water is pumped into a series of small paddocks—walled .areas—at a higher level. There are more than 50 miles of walls. The water flows in and out of the paddocks, and the density of the water rises until it .commences to give up gypsum. At this stage the brine contains about 25 percent. of solid's. It is then pumped into tho crystalisers, a series of larger paddocks. Salt crystals commence to .settle as the brine evaporates. More brine is added until the layer of crystal is at least two inches. The mother liquid is then drained off, and the crystal conveyed to the stacks to await treatment in the refinery. The works have been wonderfully successful .and from a small beginning have grown to the vast undertaking here described. All grades of salt aro manufactured, from tine 'crude salt for c attle and sheep, to the refined sifted salt used in the making of butter. The industry may now safely be described as one of the most flourishing in Australia.