The Old Mill (Shenton's Mill) is a restored
tower mill
A tower mill is a type of vertical windmill consisting of a brick or stone tower, on which sits a wooden 'cap' or roof, which can rotate to bring the sails into the wind.Medieval science, technology, and medicine: an encyclopedia (2005), 520
Thi ...
located on Mill Point in
South Perth, Western Australia
South Perth is a residential suburb of Perth, Western Australia that adjoins the southern shore of Perth Water on the Swan River; it is south of the central business district. The suburb adjoins two major arterial roads— Canning Highway a ...
. Today, restored to its original 1830s condition,
[www.southperth.wa.gov.au]
''The Old Mill''. Accessed 20 April 2006. it is one of
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
's best known historic landmarks and serves as a sightseeing attraction.
History
The
windmill
A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in some ...
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 of flour per day. Operation ceased in 1859, due to unprofitability and the unsuitable location.
Eucalyptus gomphocephala
''Eucalyptus gomphocephala'', known as tuart, is a species of tree, one of the six forest giants of Southwest Australia. Tuart forest was common on the Swan coastal plain, until the valuable trees were felled for export and displaced by the urb ...
''.hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
known as Alta Gardens. The alterations by Browne remained, although the venture was a failure, and it found use as a chicken run and house instead.[ The address of the site is now listed as Mill Point Road, South Perth.]folk museum
A folk museum is a museum that deals with folk culture and heritage. Such museums cover local life in rural communities. A folk museum typically displays historical objects that were used as part of the people's everyday lives. Examples of such ...
was established on the grounds.[
The site was received by the City of South Perth, repaired and upgraded and was placed on the register of the ]National Trust
The National Trust, formally the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, is a charity and membership organisation for heritage conservation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there is a separate and ...
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".
References
Further reading
*Cec Florey. ''Peninsular City: A Social History of the City of South Perth''.
External links
*
{{Windmills by Country
Landmarks in Perth, Western Australia
Tower mills
Windmills in Australia
Windmills completed in 1835
Museums in Perth, Western Australia
Mill museums in Australia
South Perth, Western Australia
State Register of Heritage Places in the City of South Perth