Tag:goulburn valley

Located in Murchison South, Victoria, Days Mill is a well-preserved steam-driven flour mill with a rich history. It’s also considered the best-preserved flour mill from the 19th century in Victoria. The property spans four hectares of land in the Goulburn Valley, south of Murchison, and includes the mill, a residence, and farm buildings. The mill contains all the original milling machinery in its original setting, just 150 km north of Melbourne.

History

Days Mill was established in the late 1850s by William and Ann Day, migrants from England. William ran the flour mill, a bush sawmill, and a punt on the Goulburn River. Ann also ran the local store. In August 1870, William was thrown against a fence by a cow suffering severe injuries to his legs and arms. He never fully recovered from this accident and died in 1872.

After her husband, William passed away, Anne was left to care for her seven children, aged 5 to 19. Thankfully, William’s estate was worth more than £5,000, which provided Anne with financial security. From 1872 to 1891, she successfully managed the farm and the mill, making it one of the most advanced properties in the area. Through a collection of letters, it’s evident that Anne was a capable and determined woman excelling in the male-dominated Victorian business world. Her letters document her struggles with poor selectors and her endeavours to sell flour in the Melbourne market. They also shine a light on her disputes with tardy agricultural machinery manufacturers and her efforts to sell her farm’s produce at a reasonable price in Melbourne.

By 1870, traditional rural mill stone operations were being displaced by new iron roller technology. This led to the cessation of the mill’s commercial operation in the late 1880s. Anne Day, who had been farming and storekeeping, retired and passed on the reins to her eldest son, Joseph. The property then functioned solely as a farm, with Joseph occasionally grinding chicken feed for his neighbours. In 1910, Joseph extended the size of his farm by acquiring an additional 320 acres. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Henry, acquired 244 acres.

The Buildings

The exact date of the residence’s construction remains unknown. However, the Day family believes the kitchen area was built around 1865, which coincides with the mill’s construction. The two-story house featured a cast iron verandah and was constructed later. The interior walls are adorned with hand-painted stencils and marbling that date back to 1910.

The Mill complex includes a complete collection of farming and flour milling equipment from the nineteenth century. Entering the property, past the gatehouse, down a long driveway lined with peppercorns and pine trees, brings you to a two-story brick house beside the three-story brick mill. In addition, a granary annex with a two-story surrounding veranda was constructed around 1905.

The mill operated using a unique early E T Bellhouse steam engine connected to a Cornish boiler that is still fully functional. There are also several other buildings, such as a stable, chaff shed, blacksmith, butchery, dairy, shearing shed, milking shed, piggery, and chook shed. The original machinery and equipment have been preserved. These include three under-driven millstones, grain and meal elevators, a bolting reel, an air leg aspirator, a sack hoist, and other equipment.

Heritage listed

The Day family owned the Days Mill until 1985, after which the Department of Conservation Forests and Lands acquired it. Since 1996, the Days Flour Mill Complex has been under the management of Parks Victoria. Visiting the mill complex by appointment or during special events held throughout the year is possible.

The Days Flour Mill Complex is a remarkable representation of the milling techniques commonly used in the 19th century. It consequently has earned a spot on the Victorian Heritage Register. The Victorian Government’s Living Heritage Program in 2018/2019 granted it $500,000. This funding allowed significant conservation efforts on the Mill, Gatehouse, and Residence buildings. Reconstruction and repair of the roof, brickwork, windows, chimney, and Pulley House were also made possible by the grant.

Check out the 3D tour!

Days Mill is located on Day Road, Murchison