News

The retouched illustration above shows how the flour mill probably looked in the 1860s before the substantial stone engine house and brick chimney were pulled down. Our intention is to eventually reconstruct these important missing elements using photographs and measurements taken during archaeological excavations.

March 15; Syd & Nicki Reinhardt visited Braidwood this week in their 1929 Speed Six Bentley scouting for a proposed Bentley run to Braidwood during the Airing of the Quilts in November. Syd & Nicki have previously brought their magnificent 1929 Bentley Speed Six Sedanca de Ville, the Olympia Show car, to town, and have since then toured Britain and the Continent in it. We are looking forward to the possibility of the glorious exhaust notes of perhaps 30 vintage Bentley's in Braidwood later this year.

The historic buildings at Millpond Farm have seen many uses but perhaps the most exciting developments occurred during the Gold Rush of the early 1850s. As a part of the restoration and conservation of the property, ongoing archaeological excavations, begun in 2008, have provided a new understanding of the significance of this remarkable site.
Click here to read more about the history of Dransfield's Mill.

The spectacular 20 acre wetland at Millpond Farm was formed by the Jembaicumbene Creek weaving through the valley from Reidsdale, bringing with it alluvial gold from the hills. The wetland was reputedly an important aboriginal meeting and watering place until the Gold Rush of the 1850s brought a flood of prospectors, who soon removed the vegetation and redirected the creek in races for mining purposes. The 1890s saw the arrival of a huge Gold Dredge which changed the area again, creating deep ponds along the altered line of the creek. Dredging finished in 1925, and the area was left to rehabilitate. Gradually the vegetation, both indigenous and introduced, grew and the wetland filled with native birds, including coots, purple swamp hens, egrets, black swans and other water fowl. Platypus moved into the banks and black swamp wallabies returned to join the kangaroos, possums and wombats. For the past 50 years the area has been effectively impregnable with overgrowth. In 2010, after careful study of the flora and fauna, a light walking trail has been opened and to this will be added bird watching hides and explanatory panels allowing visitors to inconspicuously watch the remarkable wildlife activity without disturbing the habitat. The falling willow will gradually be replaced with native trees and the blackberry slowly replaced with other types of plants to ensure that the numerous birds currently nesting in them will continue to have a safe home.

Important conservation works to protect the 1859 Jembaicumbene Steam Flour Mill built by Charles Dransfield in 1859 are underway and the first of four floors has been repaired and made weatherproof after being open to the elements since 1885.

The 1960s sheep flooring which had been laid in place of the original random width boards was removed with the help of a remarkable new tool, the Ezy-Lifter, designed by Brisbane enthusiast Marc Parfumi and featured on the ABC programme "The New Inventors" this year. Marc kindly lent us his prototype to help lift 250 square metres of battered sheep flooring, and some of the original boards which are being saved to repair to upstairs floors. The traditional method of lifting the boards proved difficult as the sheep flooring was held with four inch nails into dry hardwood joists, and the 1850s boards, nailed with six hand made iron clouts at each joist, were extremely brittle. The Ezy-Lifter enabled all the boards to be removed with a minimum of damage, and in a remarkably short time. These handy tools will be available from stores later this year for about $150 and are a must for anyone restoring an old building. We found it also works very well for lining boards on walls and ceilings. Thank you Marc!

See more at www.ezylifter.com

Charles Dransfield's Jembaicumbene Steam Flour Mill was transformed into a 1930s speakeasy jazz club to celebrate Andrew Gow's 40th birthday in September 2010. The party, thought to be the first social event in the Mill since the opening party on 25th January 1860, attracted nearly 100 people from Braidwood, around Australia and overseas, all dressed appropriately in jazz era costume. Stars of the show were brilliant local jazz singer Maddie Anderson and Jennifer Gadston on the 1912 piano, performing a variety of swing classics and period songs. The building was swagged with banners & illuminated for the night, and inside David Gow ran the speakeasy bar, while Helen Bennet and her friend Betsy provided a delicious banquet. The oyster fountain proved extremely popular and the party continued into the wee hours. A truly memorable event!

2011 has been busy already at Millpond Farm. We have seven new Alpaca crias, and have begun restoration of the Wagon barn and workshops which will house our carriage collection and provide excellent workshop facilities for restorations. The 60 metre gabion stone wall around the Mill is nearing completion and lots of new wooden fencing is underway. We have moved and relocated some enormous trees, and cleared the 19th century orchard, which has sprung to life with wonderful old varieties of apple, pear, plum and quince. The mill forecourt and wagon barn was prepared in time for the first of our carriage auctions in March. Most of the materials used to restore the buildings has been recycled from later structures on the property. What exhausting work!

Join us on the October Long Weekend when we exhibit fine Australian & European Antiques & Collectors' items at the Braidwood Antiques Fair. The Fair is open Friday afternoon and evening, and Saturday and Sunday 1st & 2nd October, in the National Theatre, Wallace Street, Braidwood. Our stand has a good selection of affordable quality Colonial items, silver, clocks and selected English furniture.

Bottle Specialist to visit Braidwood Antique Fair
Did you know that Antique Bottles can be worth hundreds of dollars? On Saturday 1st October at the Braidwood Antiques Fair we are offering free dating, identification and valuation of Antique Bottles, and will buy selected Antique Bottles for cash. If you've found old bottles in good condition buried in your yard, down a well or under your house, bring them in for our specialist bottle collector to value and date. No charge, and we are happy to buy good examples for cash.