Connollys Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Connollys Mill |
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Former flour mill, 2013
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| Location | Sloane Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Astari Pty Ltd |
| Official name: Connollys Mill | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 215 |
| Type | Mill (Grain) - Wheat |
| Category | Manufacturing and Processing |
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Connollys Mill is a special old building in Goulburn, Australia. It has a long history. It used to be a public swimming pool, then a place where wheat was turned into flour, and now it has shops. This building is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's protected because of its history and value.
Contents
History of Connollys Mill
From Swimming Baths to Flour Mill
The building we now call Connollys Mill was first built in 1892. It was designed by E. C. Manfred for the Municipality of Goulburn. Its first purpose was to be the Goulburn Public Baths, also known as the Corporation Baths.
The baths were made of brick. They had a tower at the corner of Sloane and Goldsmith Streets. The main swimming area was quite large, about 31 meters long and 14 meters wide. The pool itself was 24 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. It was between 0.6 meters and 2.1 meters deep.
Inside, there were 43 changing rooms and shower-baths. There was also a small viewing area for people to watch. The baths opened in November 1892. They were open from early morning until late at night. Two days each week were set aside just for ladies.
Why the Baths Closed
The public baths were not very successful. They often lost money for the council, about £160 each year. In 1906, a company called William Connolly Ltd. became interested in the site. They owned another flour mill and wanted to use the baths building to expand their business.
The council decided to sell the building for £1,000. They planned to build a cheaper swimming pool somewhere else. This decision was very close, winning by just one vote. One council member even resigned because he disagreed with the sale.
The Mill Opens
After the sale, the building was changed into a flour mill. This renovation was designed by architect John Dunkley. The new flour mill opened in 1908. The old swimming pool area became a large storage space.
The mill also had offices and a loading dock. A huge new warehouse shed was built next to it. This shed could hold 40,000 sacks of wheat. It even had its own private railway platform. This made it easy to bring in wheat and send out flour.
The main mill building was four storeys tall. It was made of brick and cement. There was also a separate engine room.
Later Years and Today
The Connollys Mill stopped operating as a flour mill in the early 1970s. After that, it was used for different things. It was a leisure centre for a while. Then it became home to various shops. Most recently, it was the Goulburn Furniture Warehouse.
There have been ideas to turn it into a Goulburn Museum, but this has not happened yet. Interestingly, the old swimming pool basin is still there. It's located under the floorboards of what used to be the mill's storage area!
Heritage Listing
Connollys Mill is recognized as an important historical site. It was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This listing helps to protect the building and its history for future generations.
