Australian farms are renowned for their Windmills
A Victorian manufacturer has ceased making these wind driven water pumps. Windmill is a misnomer.
Mills grind stuff, wheat for flour etc.
Wind Pumps (windmills) bring ground water to the surface for irrigation and water for stock.
Victorian manufacture Dean and McCabe has closed it doors after 112 years.
20 years ago the business was making 250 windmills a year. Last year they sold 25.
"When I first came here … you were just flat out all the time. Whereas over the last five years, it's just been a real downturn," owner Kelvin Foote said.
"To a point where I'm working on my own."
"I've got a bloke in the office for four hours a day and that's it."
Windmills have largely been replaced by solar pumps, which allow farmers greater access to water.
"A lot of people seem to be running more and more cattle and they want more and more water," Mr Foote said.
"With the windmill, you can only get a certain amount of water.
"Whereas with the solar pump, you can come and say, 'I want so much water' and you can achieve it."
A sad day coming when these windmills will only be museum/novelty pieces.
On the farm in Esperance there were 3 of these. I worked on them when they rarely broke down.
One had to keep an eye on the wind forecast because strong winds were detrimental to these by now rather old mills.
The top of the mill had to be turned side on to the wind so as to not be "Launched" off the ground. 😄
There are a handful of manufacturers left in Australia, Southern Cross in Western Australia being one.
I can find no videos of a working windmill on a farm.
[media=https://youtu.be/K1m5W54yv84]
