{"id":11166,"date":"2024-02-14T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=53e8a7731cf8fe396e7218299e2c78b0"},"modified":"2024-02-14T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T04:30:00","slug":"murrumbidgee-milling-company-limited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=11166","title":{"rendered":"Murrumbidgee Milling Company Limited"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Murrumbidgee
\nMilling Company.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

The largest structure I plan
\nto build for the Wagga Wagga layout is the Murrumbidgee Milling Company.  <\/span>The building dominated the eastern end of the
\nWagga Wagga railway yard, and was a both a destination and source for freight
\nmovements.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

I was able to find some
\ninformation using Trove.  Two<\/span> articles from
\nthe Daily Advertiser in May 1883, and March 1895, as well as Wikipedia.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Murrumbidgee Milling Company is directly behind 3801 in my picture, converted from slide.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

History<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

The Murrumbidgee Cooperative
\nMilling Company commenced operations in Edward Street Wagga 28th June 1890.  <\/span><\/span>The Milling Co-operative was the second largest flour milling company in
\nNew South Wales outside Sydney<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

The Co-operative was formed
\nin August 1889, and a contract was placed with Messrs. Thos. Robinson and Sons
\nLimited mill on 18th<\/sup> November, 1889. 
\n<\/span>By the middle of June 1890 the mill was completed.  <\/span>The capacity of the plant was to clean not
\nless than 100 bushels of wheat, and make not less than 13 sacks of flour per
\nhour.  <\/span>The plant actually produced 16
\nbags per hour. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Mill in 1890, before expansion. This is the view from Edward street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

By 1896, capacity had grown to
\nproduce 2160 bags of flour and by 1910 it was capable of producing over fifty
\ntons of flour per day.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Original track arrangement for the Mill sidings.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A 1910 image showing grain delivery by dray.  Note the wall of bagged wheat on the LHS of the picture.  Image from the A. Brunskill archive held by CSU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Operation of the
\nmill.<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

They were using the Rochdale
\nsystem of milling   The Daily Advertiser
\narticle of May 1883, describes this process in detail, but in summary,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

1)     <\/span><\/span> The wheat
\nis taken to the top of the building<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

2)     <\/span><\/span>Passed over indented cylinders to take out the
\nimpurities of oats, cockle, barley<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

3)     <\/span><\/span>Passed over a machine with sieves, and a large
\nfan blows away larger impurities<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

4)     <\/span><\/span>Passed to a scourer, that removes the smut, and
\nmuch of the \u201cgerm\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

5)     <\/span><\/span>Passes to a brush machine that gives the
\nremaining berry a final polish, before <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

6)     <\/span><\/span>At the bottom of the building, it is then taken
\nup an elevator to a holding cleaned wheat bin<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Converting the
\npolished berry into flour<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

1)     <\/span><\/span><\/span>The berry is passed between 2 rollers, and
\nsplit down the middle, releasing the dirt contained therein, that being removed
\nby suction<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

2)     <\/span><\/span><\/span>The split berry then gets sent to the next set
\nof rollers, and crushed.  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

3)     <\/span><\/span><\/span>The powder then passed over a sieve which
\nseparates the semolina and flour<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

4)     <\/span><\/span><\/span>The coarse flour is then rolled 6 more
\ntimes.  <\/span>Any remaining husks are separated
\nfrom the flour using a centrifugal dressing machine<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

5)     <\/span><\/span><\/span>The flour is then dressed in a reel with silk
\nfabric, before being ready for the cloth sacks.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

– In addition, there was a
\nmagnetic separator, to capture any metallic impurities<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the byproducts also
\ngot processed, with a separate set of rollers. 
\n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Steam Engine<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The plant is run by a 56
\ntube multitube  <\/span>boiler, 14 foot long, by
\n6 feet in diameter., producing a steam pressure of 100 lb\/sq inch, producing
\naround 100 horse power.  <\/span>The engine was a
\ncompound Tandem \u2013 with high and low pressure cylinders 14\u201d and 24\u201d respectively.  <\/span>Stroke was 30\u201d.  <\/span>The engine drove a 12\u2019,6\u201d diameter flywheel,
\nand ropes were used to drive the various rollers, and equipment.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Expansion<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

By 1895, new buildings had
\nbeen added.  <\/span>The flour store, 80\u2019x50\u2019x19;
\nhigh on the eastern side, and the wheat store 150\u2019x50\u2019x32\u2019 high on the eastern
\nside. An additional grain shed, 80\u2019x50\u2019x 27\u2019 high   <\/span>A duplicate railway line had been laid, so
\ntrucks can be shunted as they are emptied. 
\n<\/span>Doors are built at convenient distances apart at each of the shed, thus
\nfacilitating the labour of loading, unloading and stacking from either railway
\ntrucks, or wagons and drays on the other. 
\n<\/span>A screw conveyor is also used between the buildings. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Additional 2 boilers
\ninstalled.  <\/span>The whole complex consumed 35
\ncords of 5\u2019. 6\u201d wood per week.  <\/span>At the
\npeak, the mill employed 37 persons  <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Steam power was still in use
\nin the 1960s, as my uncle, who was a boiler inspector in the 1960s-70s told me
\nabout the wooden stairways being a bit frightening.  <\/span>I regret not being old enough to really
\nappreciate my opportunity missed to quiz him on other aspects of the mill,
\nlike fuel source for the steam engine.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A image stolen from Lost Wagga Wagga facebook: Aerial view of Wagga yard around 1940. The mill is prominent <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Final Track arrangement of the Mill siding.  The plan of the mill gives a rough idea of the size, and shapes of the various sheds associated with the Mill.  Thanks to Bob S for supplying these trackplans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Closure<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The
\nCo-operative closed its operation in the 1980s the site was sold in 1987 to
\nGoodman-Fielder, operating for approximately a decade before ceasing its
\noperation in December 2000.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

There are
\nplans to convert the building into a shopping precinct, with possibly hotel
\naccomodaton, but whilst some work has commenced, and some retailers have come, (and
\ngone) the building is currently not used.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A more recent article in the Daily Advertiser provides more information on the mills construction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Photos<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Most of the pictures here
\nare mine, unless otherwise attributed.  <\/span>I
\nwas able to wander around the railway side around 2004, after closure, and
\nrecord what I could. So much had already been erased by this stage.  <\/span>Many of the lean-to sheds had been removed \u2013
\ntheir ghost image still on the brickwork of the main building.  <\/span> <\/span>I hope
\nI have  enough for modelling purposes.  <\/span>The set of 4 silos, appeared to be used for
\nadvertising purposes.  <\/span>I have found
\n\u201cAllied\u201d and \u201cMax McLachlan\u201d painted over the cupola in my pictures.  <\/span> <\/span>There
\nwas a separate rail unloading shed, where the other unloading points at the
\nmill were hidden under the large shed rooves.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mill and sheds in the background.  Note “Allied” painted on the cupola of the grain storage silos. Picture taken from Railway Street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grain unloading shed on siding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ghost images of the sheds that covered the siding closest to the mill’s brick building.  This brick wall was part of the original 1890 construction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sunicrust Bakery was established just east of the Mill in the 1970s.  Whilst not directly connected to the railway, its presence should warrant its appearance on the future layout<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aerial view around 2014 – the site was pretty much cleared of all infrastructure apart from the mill.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The only advantage of the removal of the smaller structures, was that the full size of the mill could be photographed. Edward Street (Sturt Hwy) in the foreground<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Painted signs left no doubt as to what the building was used for<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Modelling notes<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

A quick glance at the aerial
\nview will show a massive size, which if scaled to HO, would be around 2 metres
\nwide .  <\/span>As the building will be on an
\naisle, there will need to be much compression to fit it into position.  The sheds over the siding closest to the mill would save a lot of time guessing and modelling the loading docks.  The silos on the other siding though would need to be made, although I may not have enough room for the siding along with the unloading shed.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I guess this is an aspect for a future Blog
\npost…..<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wagga Council intramaps website has dimensioned aerial pictures.  The mill’s size is substantial. The storage silos at the Edward Street side are partially demolished. 2012 image<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Mill building is represented on this trackplan as a red rectangle #33 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Sunicrust Bread also set up
\na bakery next to the mill.  <\/span>This was not
\nrail connected, but as Sunicrust was the bread I ate in Wagga in the 1970s, I hope to
\ninclude a model of the bakery too.  For a bit of fun…..<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sunicrust Bread featured collector cards.  Here are just a few from my own accumulations.  Wes’s cartoons of VFL players, and supporters were funny.  I was never able to complete The Space 1999 set – and as this program has now attracted a cult following, the cards may actually be worth something<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n



<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s your lot for
\nnow.  <\/span>In the meantime, build a model or
\ntwo<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 Murrumbidgee
\nMilling Company.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The largest structure I plan
\nto build for the Wagga Wagga layout is the Murrumbidgee Milling Company.  The building dominated the eastern end of the
\nWagga Wagga railway yard, and was a both a destinatio…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4267,4268,2232],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-murrumbidgee-milling-company","category-sunicrust","category-wagga-wagga"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11166"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31754,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11166\/revisions\/31754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}