Old Mill, Perth
Old Mill | |
---|---|
Corn mill | |
Type | Tower mill |
Storeys | Three storeys |
No. of sails | Four sails |
Type of sails | Common sails |
Other information | |
Type | State Registered Place |
Designated | 2 July 1993 |
Reference no. | 2394 |
The Old Mill (Shenton's Mill) is a restored
History
The windmill was commissioned by William Kernot Shenton, on a foundation stone laid by Governor James Stirling in 1835. The original mill, the colony's first wind-powered industry, was built by Paul and James Lockyer and operated by William Steele. Peak production was 680 kilograms (1,500 lb) of flour per day. Operation ceased in 1859, due to unprofitability and the unsuitable location.[1][2] The four ton cogwheels were hewn from a nearby tree known as tuart, the highly valued species Eucalyptus gomphocephala.[3]
The site was located near the earliest housing and agriculture of the colony, and was used for industry before being adapted to commercial, then residential, purposes. In 1880, an engineer known as "Satan" Browne established a dance hall and
In 1957, the proposed route of the Narrows Bridge was deviated to preserve the site, after a campaign by public officials, and a folk museum was established on the grounds.[1]
The site was received by the City of South Perth, repaired and upgraded and was placed on the register of the National Trust in 1992. The buildings and site is noted as having permanent entry on heritage registers for its architectural and historical significance, and conservation "... for their own sake, and as a museum, is important".[2]
References
- ^ a b c d www.southperth.wa.gov.au The Old Mill. Accessed 20 April 2006.
- ^ a b c Permanent Entry. "Old Mill, South Perth" (PDF). Register of Heritage Places-Permanent Entry. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
- ISBN 0958556202.
Further reading
- Cec Florey. Peninsular City: A Social History of the City of South Perth.