Upon arriving all I could do was admire this four storey sandstone building that stood before me, under a magnificent blue sky, with lush green gardens and the most amazing golden-leaf tree beside it.
The volunteers that greeted us once we entered were extremely welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable, sharing with us some of their key information on this splendid structure, oozing with history, and whispers of the years gone by.
The Old Mill at Portarlington was built in the early 1850’s from sandstone, which was then carved from the nearby cliffs and designed by architect Andrew McWilliams, and was the second flour mill to open on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The mill was used to make flour from crops grown throughout the Bellarine Peninsula in what was a booming business due to the huge number of people coming to Victoria around this time joining the Gold Rush. The nearby port provided easy access to ship flour out of the township. The mill was in-fact the second mill to open on the Bellarine, an earlier mill opened a few years earlier in Drysdale, unfortunately this mill burnt to the ground in 1861.
The Mill was only just saved from demolition in the year 1962 when the then owner, Mrs. Dye, was served with a Housing Commission notice to demolish the 105 year old building (at the time), condemned as unfit for habitation. Thankfully, the local council stepped in and purchased the property in 1970.
In 1977, the Portarlington Mill was transferred to the National Trust. It has since been restored, and is currently run as a Museum by a dedicated group of volunteers.
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| Photograph from 1857 taken looking out to sea. |
The mill’s interior features a trove of interesting artefacts, many dating back to the time of the mill. The student desk brought back many childhood memories for me, as not only did I sit on these at school, I also had one at home.
There are displays on how the flour was produced, and many items giving us a great insight as to how life was lived back then.Inside the building, you will see several intriguing and interesting photographs of the mill and Portarlington in the 19th century which we found fascinating.
The mill also features heritage from the Portarlington port, including many pieces of memorabilia from the historic steamship the Edina which brought so many visitors and holiday makers to Portarlington before sailing on her last voyage back in 1938.
Click here to view my 30 second Old Mill Snapshot
This building is a perfect fit for displaying Art.
A beautiful blend of Old and New... Experiencing a wonderful insight of the building's early and in full swing historical years, and then seeing a lovely display of local scenes and talented artists with the old feel architecture and vibe.
On the day, we heard floors creaking, saw several black crows, and had some unexpected glows in some of the building's external photos. Paranormal or not? You decide.
To read more on the Historical Profile, and more in-depth information click here
ADDRESS:
Turner Court
Portarlington 3223 VIC
OPEN:
September to May, Sunday, 12 pm to 4 pm.
