Australian farms are renowned for their Windmills

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia

Alas the day may come when these icons might be no more.
A Victorian manufacturer has ceased making these wind driven water pumps. Windmill is a misnomer.
Mills grind stuff, wheat for flour etc.
Wind Pumps (windmills) bring ground water to the surface for irrigation and water for stock.
Victorian manufacturer Dean and McCabe has closed it doors after 112 years.
20 years ago the business was making 250 windmills a year. Last year they sold 25.
"When I first came here … you were just flat out all the time. Whereas over the last five years, it's just been a real downturn," owner Kelvin Foote said.
"To a point where I'm working on my own."
"I've got a bloke in the office for four hours a day and that's it."
Windmills have largely been replaced by solar pumps, which allow farmers greater access to water.
"A lot of people seem to be running more and more cattle and they want more and more water," Mr Foote said.
"With the windmill, you can only get a certain amount of water.
"Whereas with the solar pump, you can come and say, 'I want so much water' and you can achieve it."

A sad day coming when these windmills will only be museum/novelty pieces.
On the farm in Esperance there were 3 of these. I worked on them when they rarely broke down.
One had to keep an eye on the wind forecast because strong winds were detrimental to these by now rather old mills.
The top of the mill had to be turned side on to the wind so as to not be "Launched" off the ground. :LOL:

There are a handful of manufacturers left in Australia, Southern Cross in Western Australia being one.
I can find no videos of a working windmill on a farm.
 

Last edited:
Bretrick said:

Alas the day may come when these icons might be no more.
A Victorian manufacturer has ceased making these wind driven water pumps. Windmill is a misnomer.
Mills grind stuff, wheat for flour etc.
Wind Pumps (windmills) bring ground water to the surface for irrigation and water for stock.
Victorian manufacture Dean and McCabe has closed it doors after 112 years.
20 years ago the business was making 250 windmills a year. Last year they sold 25.
"When I first came here … you were just flat out all the time. Whereas over the last five years, it's just been a real downturn," owner Kelvin Foote said.
"To a point where I'm working on my own."
"I've got a bloke in the office for four hours a day and that's it."
Windmills have largely been replaced by solar pumps, which allow farmers greater access to water.
"A lot of people seem to be running more and more cattle and they want more and more water," Mr Foote said.
"With the windmill, you can only get a certain amount of water.
"Whereas with the solar pump, you can come and say, 'I want so much water' and you can achieve it."

A sad day coming when these windmills will only be museum/novelty pieces.
On the farm in Esperance there were 3 of these. I worked on them when they rarely broke down.
One had to keep an eye on the wind forecast because strong winds were detrimental to these by now rather old mills.
The top of the mill had to be turned side on to the wind so as to not be "Launched" off the ground. :LOL:

There are a handful of manufacturers left in Australia, Southern Cross in Western Australia being one.
I can find no videos of a working windmill on a farm.
Click to expand...
That was a very interest post and I learned something of value. We should be moving in that direction too.

Thanks
 
I can't remember when I seen the last working windmill. There are still some towers of them standing. There was one company that was making windmills that were made to aerate farm ponds. My friend had one for his that he painted like a Black-eye Susan.
 

I still have my iconic Hills Hoist rotary clothesline. It's 57 years old now and going strong.

When I am pegging washing on the line I often have company in the form of a friendly sulphur crested cockatoo that perches on the arms, hoping that I will give him a biscuit.

 
Warrigal said:
I still have my iconic Hills Hoist rotary clothesline. It's 57 years old now and going strong.

When I am pegging washing on the line I often have company in the form of a friendly sulphur crested cockatoo that perches on the arms, hoping that I will give him a biscuit.

Click to expand...
I have mine as well, when my ferals were little they were constantly swinging on it, it gave a whole new meaning to being online. :D
 
Bretrick said:
I think every Aussie kid growing up decades ago used the Hills Hoist as a hanging Merry Go Round. I know me and my siblings did. :)
Click to expand...
My mum never had a fancy rotary clothes line. We had one with two long parallel lines that were angled at each end using ropes to tilt the cross beams. To overcome sagging in the middle Mum used wooden clothes props made from young gum trees.. The clothes prop man used to drive his horse and cart around the streets crying out his wares as "Clothes Props, Clothes Props".
 
Warrigal said:
I still have my iconic Hills Hoist rotary clothesline. It's 57 years old now and going strong.

When I am pegging washing on the line I often have company in the form of a friendly sulphur crested cockatoo that perches on the arms, hoping that I will give him a biscuit.

Click to expand...
I love that!
 
Warrigal said:
My mum never had a fancy rotary clothes line. We had one with two long parallel lines that were angled at each end using ropes to tilt the cross beams. To overcome sagging in the middle Mum used wooden clothes props made from young gum trees.. The clothes prop man used to drive his horse and cart around the streets crying out his wares as "Clothes Props, Clothes Props".
Click to expand...
My husband always tells the story of playing tag at dusk and running into the clothes line full speed. Good thing his neck stopped him. 😲
 
It also reminds me of when my Mom hung out my Dad's work pants in the winter. She'd take them in and they'd be stiff as a board. I'd laugh at the frozen pants!
 

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