Bricks used in the town's construction were all made on site at Yallourn's own brickworks.

W H (Dad) Brewer's family came to Yallourn to set up the brickworks for the SEC and then managed it until it was no longer of use to the commission. 'Dad' Brewer then leased it until he died in the late 1940's. During the time he managed the brickworks for the SEC, the bricks all had 'Yallourn' stamped into the 'frog', when he leased the brickworks and ran it as a family business, the family name 'Brewer' replaced Yallourn on the bricks.

Originally fitted to the SMS EMDEN, a WWI German light cruiser (built 1908, 3,600 tons), the Emden was disabled and beached on North Keeling Island on November 9th, 1914 after having engaged the Australian light cruiser HMAS SYDNEY (built 1912, 5,400 tons) in a 1-1/2 hour battle.
In 1915, the whistle was salvaged from the Emden's wreck, and was obtained by Sir John Monash, first Chairman & General Manager of the SECV during 1918 (after cessation of hostilities). For many years, it was sounded at Yallourn for the start and finish of work.