The History of Ice Machines in Australia

James Harrison & the Sydney Ice Company

James Harrison, the Scottish-born Australian was the first to invent and patent a mechanical system to create ice for refrigeration. In 1851 he installed his system in the Geelong Brewery. The steam-driven ice-making machine worked so well that within a few years there were more than 60 Harrison machines operating throughout Australia, New Zealand and India.

In 1868, perceptive businessmen in Sydney realised that the city’s climate was ideally suited to growing and harvesting natural ice. They formed the Sydney Ice Company and began construction of an ice works at Blackwattle Bay. This new company had two great advantages over Harrison’s operation; an unlimited supply of cheap coal for their steam engines and access to pure water from the nearby Botany Swamps.

The Sydney Ice Company quickly became successful, supplying not only ships travelling to England but also the growing number of hotels and restaurants in the city. The company prospered and by 1886 had branches in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Ice Machine Technology

While Harrison’s machines used steam to power a compressor which forced air over metal pipes filled with brine (salt water), the Sydney Ice Company utilised a different method. A series of ammonia compressors were used to drive a piston which, in turn, drove a large flywheel. This flywheel was connected to a machine which shaved blocks of ice from a giant cylinder. The ice was then conveyed to and froze in an insulated storage shed.

In 1874, Harrison sold his ice-making business to the Sydney Ice Company, which began mass-producing ice for domestic use. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that other companies began to produce ice machines in Australia. The first electric ice machine was introduced in 1927, followed by the first automatic ice machine in 1935.

The invention of Ice Machines changed the way we live

The introduction of commercial ice machines changed the way Australians lived, worked and played. Ice became widely available and affordable, which meant that people could enjoy cold drinks and food all year round. It also had a big impact on businesses such as restaurants, hotels and supermarkets, who could now store and transport perishable goods more easily.

Ice Making Machines of today

Today, there are many different types and brands of ice machines available on the market. Ice machines have come a long way since James Harrison’s original invention, but their purpose remains the same – to provide us with cold drinks and food!