The Old Windmill, Tower mill in Spring Hill, Brisbane, Australia
The Old Windmill is a cylindrical stone and brick tower rising approximately 15 meters, tapering toward the top with an observation platform and iron railings. The structure displays the practical design typical of grain mills built in the early colonial period.
Constructed in 1828 by convict workers, the mill processed grain for the Moreton Bay penal settlement until operations closed in 1845. It later became the first location of Queensland Museum in 1862.
The structure marks a shift from practical work to learning and discovery in Queensland's past. Visitors can see how a working building transformed into a place of education and knowledge.
The structure can be visited during guided tours that provide access to the observation platform. From the top, visitors enjoy views across Brisbane's central business district and neighboring areas.
The structure held a darker role in colonial history as a place of punishment and forced labor for prisoners. Inmates operated treadmills while wearing heavy shackles, revealing the harsh conditions of the early penal settlement.
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