The Old Mill, Historic windmill in South Perth, Australia
The Old Mill is a round stone tower on Mill Point, on the southern bank of the Swan River in South Perth, Western Australia. The tower still stands largely in its original form and now houses an education centre open to groups and school visits.
William Kernot Shenton had the mill built in 1835, with Governor James Stirling laying the foundation stone for what became the colony's first wind-powered industry. Over the following decades, the building changed hands and uses several times before being protected as a heritage site.
The name Mill Point comes directly from this building, which was the only mechanical grain mill in the early settlement. Visitors can still see the original wooden cogwheels inside, crafted by hand from local tuart timber.
The tower sits right on the waterfront at Mill Point and is easy to reach on foot or by ferry from central Perth. A visit pairs well with a walk along the Swan River, as the surrounding area is flat and straightforward to navigate.
When the Narrows Bridge was built in the 1950s, engineers adjusted its route to avoid knocking down the tower. This decision was made before the site had any formal heritage protection, showing how early it had earned a place in the city's memory.
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