The Porta factory

Posted on Sunday, 16th November 2025 by Janine Rizzetti

On 12 November 1921, a correspondent identifying himself as ‘Civis’ complained about the condition of Heidelberg Rd Fairfield, and the prominence of factories and industrial sites there.

He wrote: In a distance of a mile or a mile and a half we have one crushing plant, three factories and five timber yards. An imposing array. Most of these are next to and the others in close proximity to, some of the best residences on that portion of the road. To invite people to settle in this part of the district, with any expectation of success, the assurance must be given that this condition does not prevail, as prospective purchasers will be averse to paying a high price for land, if they are uncertain as to the class of building that may be erected next to them.

One of those factories was the Porta Bellows factory, which moved to the Heidelberg Rd site in 1921 from their factory in Little Lonsdale St. The company was soon to expand from its manufacture of industrial bellows into the supply of timber mouldings.

The factory was featured in a booklet called ‘Heidelberg the Beautiful’, published by the Shire of Heidelberg in 1921. You can access the booklet online at https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE4719843&mode=browse

The Porta factory and the associated works was sold in 2025, reportedly for $50m. It was advertised as the “best remaining apartment site in Melbourne”. So perhaps ‘Civis’ will get his wish for more housing and fewer factories after all.