{"id":1226,"date":"2019-08-10T12:26:40","date_gmt":"2019-08-10T01:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=1226"},"modified":"2019-08-26T12:41:06","modified_gmt":"2019-08-26T02:11:06","slug":"the-bridgewater-mill","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=1226","title":{"rendered":"The Bridgewater Mill"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Black
Entrance to Dunn & Co.’s Bridgewater Mill 1869 – image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA B 39998<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Text Karen Agutter<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

John Dunn (1802-1894) arrived in South Australia on the Lysander <\/em>in 1840 with his wife and four children and took up land near Nairne. He later established Dunn & Co. which owned and operated mills across the Adelaide Hills District, including the Bridgewater Mill which was built in 1860. The mill used water from Cox\u2019s Creek via an 11 metre, 26 tonne wheel known as \u201cOld Rumbler\u201d to grind grain into flour. In 1890 steam and diesel were introduced (Times <\/em>Victor Harbor, 30 January 1991 p. 8).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

During the 1860s John Dunn & Co. regularly advertised in South Australian newspapers for the purchase of grain and also their capacity to store grain on the Bridgewater site (see for example South Australian Weekly Cornicle, <\/em>28 May 1864). The company\u2019s founder, John Dunn, regularly hosted parties at the site including the 1863 New Year\u2019s Day picnic when \u2018vehicles of all descriptions were used, from a four-horse but to a hawker\u2019s cart, to convey the guests\u2019 to the mill (Observer, <\/em>10 January 1863 p. 7). In 1866 50 employees of the company presented John Dunn M.P. with a large silver cup as a mark of respect on the occasion of his retirement. In receiving the gift from his grateful workforce Dunn stated \u2018This cup you have presented to me to-day is the richest gift I have ever received, not on account of its intrinsic value \u2026 but on account of the spontaneous, unsolicited, hearty, and willing manner in which you have subscribed towards it; and I need only tell you it shall have the best place in my house\u2019 (South Australian Weekly Cornicle, <\/em>3 November 1866 p. 3).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The mill was destroyed by fire in 1910 and was re-built by a consortium including J Standen and FP Knight who had worked for John Dunn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

In 1948 F. J. Anthony & Co. Ltd., grain, stock and poultry food merchants, acquired the controlling interest in the Mill valued at \u00a34,527. The new board of directors included family names well known in the district such as C.L. Bonython and H. Jarrett (Advertiser, <\/em>22 May 1948 p. 4). The mill operated until 1961.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Today the Bridgewater Mill is a popular tourist destination. It also operates as restaurant and has hosted various events and concerts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

For over 150 years the Bridgewater mill, in all of its guises, has employed people. From carters, engineers, clerks, millers etc. to, more recently, hospitality workers. Do you have memories or photos of the Bridgewater mill across the decades? Did you or your relatives work at Bridgewater Mill. We would love to hear from you. Contact us at mldhsgateways@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au<\/a> or drop into the History Centre at the Coventry Library, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Text Karen Agutter John Dunn (1802-1894) arrived in South Australia on the Lysander in 1840 with his wife and four children and took up land near Nairne. He later established Dunn & Co. which owned and operated mills across the Adelaide Hills District, including the Bridgewater Mill which was built in 1860. The mill used … Continue reading “The Bridgewater Mill”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":684,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PaNLq6-jM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":684,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=684","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":0},"title":"Business and Industry","date":"March 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Return to Gateways Topics The Bridgewater Mill McGregor's Market Garden Crawford's Store Stirling \"Felix House\" Guest House The Crafers Refrigerator Factory","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bridegwater-maikll.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2821,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2821","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":1},"title":"New Acquisitions January 2022","date":"January 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Jackie MussaredImages: Jackie Mussared A selection of new items added to our archive during January 2022 Eastern Regional History Seminar 2003 Includes the booklet about the seminar as well as a flyer & notes of the proceedings No: 2167001 Summit Estate Mount Lofty Booklet for the Summit Estate Mount\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Picture2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2880,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2880","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":2},"title":"New Acquisitions February 2022","date":"March 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Jackie MussaredImages: Jackie Mussared A selection of new items added to our archive during February 2022 Adelaide Hills Magazine , featuring \u2018Hills People\u2019 These include Trevor Nottle with an 1889 book \u2018Japanese Flowers\u2019 & Frank Hurren with the book \u2018The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture 2004\u2019 No: 4665001\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Picture3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":793,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=793","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":3},"title":"Gateways Topics","date":"June 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"War, Peace & Memorials The Lych Gate at Sunset Rock Learning & Education Mylor Primary School Church & Community Gates, Anglican Church Uraidla circa 1910. Sport & Recreation Stirling Oval Gates The Built Environment Mount Lofty House People & Places St Vigeans Gardens & Gardeners Mount Lofty Botanic Garden (top\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/gateways-war-and-peace.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3331,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3331","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":4},"title":"Local Road Names","date":"April 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: John McGregor Images:SLSA, MLDHS \u00a0 Some local roads were named after people with some connection with the area : i e\u00a0 Hardy Road named after the businessman of fluctuating fortunes who built Mount Lofty House, Arthur\u00a0 Hardy, and Wright Road named after\u00a0 the Wright family who had property along\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/B-20825.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2251,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2251","url_meta":{"origin":1226,"position":5},"title":"St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Bridgewater","date":"August 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text & Images: Elisabeth Anderson St Matthew\u2019s Church has stood at No 1 Wembley Avenue in Bridgewater since 1966. It was erected to accommodate a growing Hills population and became the main place of religious worship for what was then known as the Stirling Catholic Parish. In the preceding 14\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1226"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1226"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1326,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1226\/revisions\/1326"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}