Local Government
Wandering
Region
Wheatbelt
Wandering Rd North Wandering
Knight's Mills
Wandering
Wheatbelt
Constructed from 1878
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 24 Mar 2005 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | Category 2 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
| Flour Mills Survey | Completed | 03 Jun 1994 | ||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 05 Sep 1983 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Nominated | 09 Aug 1988 | ||
The building is historically important as the one-time main source of flour, bran and pollard for the surrounding district until superseded by the modern mills at York and Beverley.
The flour mill is a two-storey structure built of mud daub and local stone laid in random rubble. A galvanised iron clad shearing shed was added to the mill which is now used for wool storage.
The stone, two-storey mill building was built by stonemason John Shaw and Charles Quigley for George Knight, farmer and was completed in September 1878. The Mill prospered under the business guidance of George Knight. The mill was fitted out by Charles Quigley, who was a trained miller. Quigley also occasionally worked the mill with outstanding success. For some years Knight's mill carried on supplying the needs of the people in producing their daily bread. As other more advanced mills at York, Beverley and other centres came into being the appearance of the flour changed. The other mills were more modern, producing a whiter, finer flour. In 1896, on the point of rectifying the problem George Knight died suddenly. The mill came to a stop temporarily and Tom Turton was placed in charge to guard against damage and to keep the machinery in order. The farm and mill were sold to Frank White, and his son Harry and his wife took up residence in the house and conducted the farming side of the business, though did not work the mill. Charles Quigley took over the management of the mill in 1900, when he came back to Wandering after managing the mill at York. As Pingelly developed and showed signs of developing into a major town, thoughts of establishing a flour mill there arose. By 1913, the four mill at Wandering came to a stop. The old gristing stones of the Wandering mill were removed in 1920 by the W.A. Flour Milling Company. These were afterwards installed in a mill owned by the company at West Perth. At the closing down of the flour mill, Wandering farmers were forced to cart their wheat products to Pingelly, where a new and modern flour mill had been erected.
INTEGRITY Access restricted AUTHENTICITY High Degree
Fair
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| K Palassis Architects; "Flour Mills of Western Australia 1830-1890". | The National Trust of Australia | ||
| National Trust of Australia; "Assessment". |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | FARMING\PASTORAL | Shed or Barn |
| Original Use | INDUSTRIAL\MANUFACTURING | Flour Mill |
| Style |
|---|
| Vernacular |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | STONE | Local Stone |
| Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
| Wall | EARTH | Wattle and Daub |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Rural industry & market gardening |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.