South Australia's Earliest Steam Flour Mills – The Founding of an Important Colonial Industry

Abstract

AbstractBy the middle of the nineteenth century the growing of wheat, and its conversion to flour, had become major industries in the (then) colony of South Australia. Subsequently very large quantities of both grain and flour were exported, especially to Britain and Europe, and South Australia grew rich on the proceeds. Commercial flour-milling in the colony began at the end of 1840, when substantial steam-driven mills were set up on opposite sides of the town of Adelaide, by John Ridley, and J. B. A. Kent respectively. Both mills were established under difficult circumstances, both were important to the very survival of the province at the time, and both may now be regarded as interesting examples of Australia's pioneer industry.