The elements of the proposed Australian Milling Museum [AMM] are starting to come together at Bathurst’s Tremain’s Mill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last Saturday, the AMM received their first piece of restored machinery that will help form the basis of what will be the world’s first milling museum.
The restored item is a paddy separator table, which was used to separate heavy grain from light grain, and was donated to the AMM by Nestle’s Research and Development Centre in Rutherglen, Victoria.
“This item of machinery had been sitting in the foyer of the Rutherglen site for around 25 to 30 years,” Tremain’s Mill owner Stephen Birrell said.
“We have a whole lot of machinery that is in the process of being rebuilt, but this piece is the first one we’ve received that has been fully restored.”
The paddy separator table was constructed in 1920, and was in continuous operation in the milling industry until 1982.
Tradesmen from Uncle Tobys restored the table in 1990.
“The grain went into the top hopper and once it was it was on, it shook the grain and sorted it based on size,” AMM chair Samantha Friend said.
“It’s just a lovely piece of machinery.”
Uncle Tobys was acquired by Nestle in 2006, and the paddy separator table serves as an important historical reminder of how grain processing worked throughout the twentieth century.
The museum is going to be an enormous coup for Bathurst.
- Samantha Friend
“We’re very pleased to be able to donate this item of machinery to the AMM,” Nestle Purina PetCare Blayney supply chain manager Matthew Bryant said.
“It’s a great opportunity to have this machine on display to be enjoyed by many.”
The AMM officially formed their board in August last year, and Mr Birrell is planning to set aside around 600 square metres of the Tremain’s Mill site for the museum.
Once complete, the AMM is expected to serve as another key international draw card for Bathurst.
“The museum is going to be an enormous coup for Bathurst,” Ms Friend said.
“For a museum to adequately serve its purpose, the objects have to have a voice and tell a compelling story of substantial historical value.”
“People will travel from all over the world to see the artifacts in this museum.”
Once complete, the AMM will be a not-for-profit, community-run organisation.
For all things Bathurst in the one place, sign up now to our free morning headlines email!
Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
