CONNOR'S MILL (FORMER ROAD BOARD POWER STATION)

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1974

Subcollections

Overview

A coloured photo of Connor's Mill which still has the sign on the front of the building (between the 2nd and third level) "Road Board - Power Station".
This function was the second life of the mill after the milling of flour ceased.
A lawn, footpath and small sections of Stirling Terrace and Piesse Street are in the foreground, including a section of building, and grassed area behind the Freemasons' Hotel.
A mesh fence, behind which are geraniums is seen to the right.
In the left background is a fire brigade hose drying tower.

Historical information

The mill was built for Daniel Connor by ex-convict George Hassell in 1870. Charles Marris was employed as a miller. In 1902 the mill was sold to Marris who converted it to a roller flour mill, naming it the Union Roller Flour Mill. Marris sold the mill to Charles Lukin in 1917.
In 1919 a power station is established by Gilberts' Ltd adjacent to the flour milling operation. In 1921 fire destroys the milling machinery but not the power generation machinery. In 1927 the Toodyay Road Board purchases the power station property. Milling operations have now ceased.
In 1955 Toodyay is connected to the State power grid, and the building subsequently becomes vacant. In 1967 the Toodyay Shire Council resolves to demolish the old power station, prompting community efforts to save it.
The Toodyay Tourist Centre is formed in 1973 and plans are made to locate inside the old power station. In 1975 the power station is renovated, renamed Connor's Mill and opens as a tourist bureau and museum.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-37-2001.1276

Item type

Photographs

Width

12.6000 cm

Height or length

8.9000 cm

Inscriptions and markings

On back of photo, in blue biro: "Connor's Mill 1975"; stamped: Kodak, July 75-B.

Keywords

Toodyay Power House

Power Stations

Year

1974

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Google Maps search term / URL

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1657214984747!6m8!1m7!1sv7dJr_AztSQMTifnPrIL-w!2m2!1d-31.55023632702463!2d116.4651232875379!3f151.3239051476137!4f4.984460739235018!5f1.473367571867826

Geotag

-31.550285180381, 116.46531711172

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Shire of Toodyay

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