HORSEMILLS /
HUMAN POWERED MILLS /
TIDEMILLS /
WATERMILLS - BATTERIES
WATERMILLS - FLOUR /
WATERMILLS - SAWMILLS /
WATERMILLS - OTHER
WINDMILLS - FLOUR /
WINDMILLS - OTHER
WINDMILLS USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN GRISTING GRAINS
New South Wales /
Northern Territory /
Queensland
South Australia /
Victoria /
Western Australia /
Ships
- NIMMITABEL - Timbermill In 1865 German immigrant John GELDMACHER commenced stockpiling building materials and over the next seven years, almost single-handedly built a stone tower windmill there, which was completed in 1872. However, he evidently had not consulted the regulations concerning windmills and he'd inadvertently built his mill too close to the road, with the result that, although it was initially constructed with sails, they were deemed to be too adjacent to the road where they would frighten horses. Geldmacher evidently then used horses to work the mill, but this was apparently not very successful. He later used the mill [evidently the horse mill] for timber milling, but by 1885 the mill was out of use. The tower was restored by Monaro Shire Council in 1961 to serve as a tourist attraction, it being one of only three such towers surviving in eastern Australia, and is found in Clarke Street, west of the Highway. Geldmacher also operated as a merchant and today Geldmacher House serves as the Nimmitabel Heritage Centre.
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- GRANITES GOLD MINE In 1937 the battery at Granites gold mine appeared to be powered by a windmill. view image
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- NORTH PINE RIVER - Sawmill In 1903 the DOHLE family began taking timber from the area known as Dohles Rocks and built a timber windmill to operate their sawmill. It is not know what design was used.
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- KLEMZIG - Flax There is a reference to an old flax mill on the North Para River near Seppeltsfield. It is not known whether it was wind or water driven, or when it was built.
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- BALLARAT - Battery Erected by W.F. OSBOURN in 1854 to use as a gold battery.
- DUNOLLY - Mining There was a wind driven gold mining machine erected there in the 1850s. Whether this has a connection to the Ballarat gold battery is not known.
- PARUMBEET STATION - PUMPING Near Colac. In use in 1857 for water pumping. Probably a post type with four wooden arms with frames for canvas covers. It was probably faced into the wind manually. Replaced in probably the 1870's.
- PORT FAIRY - Foundry This 5 sail tower mill operated c 1858 at WEBB'S FOUNDRY behind the new courthouse. 1861 image
- ROCKBANK - Reception Centre Windmill Gardens Reception Restaurant was built in 1994. It is located at the corner of Melton Hwy & Leakes Road, Rockbank. website
- TARNAGULLA - Chaff cutter There was a wind driven chaff cutter built here.
- WARRNAMBOOL A smock mill was built in 1881 for pumping water, cutting chaff and sawmilling. It was owned by George ROLFE, a Melbourne Tea Merchant.
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- GERALDTON - Unknown Carl BERINGER set up business as the "Victoria District Tannery" on Mahomets Flats, Geraldton in 1876. There was a wooden windmill built there at an unknown date which supplied power to the works. The blades were covered with leather.
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- ROLLO The ship ROLLO weighing 614 tons was built at Grimstadt in 1883. It had a 4 sail windmill on its deck near the mast. Its purpose is not known. view image
- SKANDIA The ship SKANDIA weighing 383 tons was built at Gefle in 1867. It had a windmill on its deck. Its purpose is not known. view image
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