List of windmills in Australia facts for kids

Australia is a huge country, and long ago, people needed clever ways to get work done without electricity. That's where windmills came in! These amazing structures used the power of the wind to grind grain into flour, pump water, or even saw wood. They were super important for early settlements across the land.

What are Windmills?

A windmill is a machine that turns wind energy into useful power. It usually has large blades, called sails, that catch the wind. As the sails spin, they turn a shaft inside the mill, which then powers machinery. Imagine a giant fan, but instead of using electricity to spin, it uses the wind!

Types of Windmills

There are a few main types of traditional windmills you might find:

• Post Mill: This is one of the oldest types. The entire body of the mill, including the machinery and the sails, sits on a single, large wooden post. This means the whole building can be turned to face the wind!
• Tower Mill: These mills have a tall, fixed tower, usually made of stone or brick. Only the cap (the top part with the sails) turns to face the wind. This makes them very strong and stable.
• Smock Mill: A smock mill looks a bit like a tower mill, but its body is usually made of wood and shaped like a pyramid with sloping sides. Like the tower mill, only its cap turns.
• Horizontal Windmill: Most windmills have sails that spin vertically, like a Ferris wheel. A horizontal windmill has sails that spin around a vertical axis, like a merry-go-round. They are less common but very interesting!

Windmills in New South Wales

New South Wales was one of the first places in Australia where windmills were built. They were essential for grinding grain for the growing population.

Early Mills in Sydney

Many early windmills were built around Sydney.

• Arndell's Mill in Cattai was a tower mill built around 1809. It was one of the very first.
• The Mount Gilead Mill (also called Rose's Mill) near Gilead is another famous tower mill from 1836.
• In Nimmitabel, you can find Geldmacher's Mill, a tower mill built in 1872. It's a great example of these old structures.
• The Government Windmill at Old Sydney Town in Somersby is a more recent tower mill, built in 1981, designed to look like the old ones.
• An interesting one is the Coonong Horizontal Windmill in Urana, built in 1885. It's a rare example of a horizontal design used for pumping water.

The Mount Gilead Mill, built in 1836.

Geldmacher's Mill in Nimmitabel, a tower mill from 1872.

A post mill at Millers Point, Sydney.

Windmills in Norfolk Island

Even on smaller islands, windmills played a role.

• The Kingston Mill on Norfolk Island was a post mill built between 1842 and 1843. It helped the community on this remote island.

Windmills in Queensland

Queensland also had its share of windmills.

• In Brisbane, you can visit The Old Windmill. This tower mill was built in 1828 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Brisbane. It's a cool piece of history!

The Old Windmill in Brisbane, built in 1828.

Windmills in South Australia

South Australia also relied on windmills for its early development.

• Dunn's Mill in Hay Valley was a smock mill built in 1842.
• Nixon's Mill in Mount Barker (near Hahndorf) is a tower mill from 1842.
• The Old Mill in Port Lincoln is another tower mill, built in 1846.
• In Victor Harbor, the Old Mill is a tower mill from 1851. These mills helped process local produce.

Nixon's Mill in Mount Barker, built in 1842.

The Old Mill in Port Lincoln, built in 1846.

Windmills in Tasmania

Tasmania, with its windy conditions, was also a good place for windmills.

• The Callington Mill in Oatlands is a famous tower mill built in 1837. It has been beautifully restored and is a popular spot to visit.
• The Penny Royal Windmill in Launceston is a tower mill built in 1978. It's part of a historical park.

The Penny Royal Windmill in Launceston.

The restored Callington Mill in Oatlands, Tasmania.

Windmills in Victoria

Victoria also used windmills, some for special purposes.

• Westerfield in Baxter is a smock mill built in 1925. It was used to generate electricity, which was quite advanced for its time!
• The Greenhill Windmill in Kyneton is a tower mill from 1856.

Windmills in Western Australia

Western Australia has some notable windmills too.

• The Lily in Amelup is a tower mill built more recently in 1997. It was inspired by a famous Dutch windmill.
• The Old Mill (also known as Shenton's Mill) in South Perth is a very old tower mill from 1835. It's a significant landmark.
• Cooper's Mill in South Yunderup is a tower mill built in 1847.

The Lily windmill in Amelup, built in 1997.

The Old Mill in South Perth, built in 1835.

Cooper's Mill in South Yunderup.

Images for kids

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  A view of Sydney Cove showing early windmills.

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  Fort Phillip in Sydney, where a government mill once stood.

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  Sydney looking south from Flagstaff Hill, showing the Military Mill.

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  The Old Government Mill in Sydney Domain.

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  Sketch of City Mill in Adelaide.