Heritage Portfolio
Former weights and measures building
About the Project
Constructed in the mid-20th century Weights and measures buildings were important public facilities used to enforce standards in trade; their purpose being tied to fairness, regulation and consumer protection during a time of growing commerce and urban life. These buildings housed official inspectors who tested weighing and measuring equipment such as scales, balances, yardsticks, fuel pumps etc. Shopkeepers and traders were required to bring their equipment in to be checked and stamped as accurate. They operated under the Weights and Measures Act of 1878, and inspectors could prosecute businesses for using incorrect or fraudulent measures. This ensured that customers received the correct quantity of goods (foods, coal, fabric etc). As mass production and retail chains grew, consistent measurement standards were essential across towns and cities, local authorities maintaining these buildings as part of municipal governance. A heritage statement was requested for the demolition of the building.