Tag: Smeaton

On the Road, Vic, Victorian Goldfields 2013Leave a comment

Anderson’s Mill

Itching for Hitching

Day 8 Thursday 17th January 2013 Clunes It’s a little cooler today, so we take a drive through the wheat fields to Smeaton passing the remnants of old gold mines. There is not much to see except for the Anderson Mill just out of town. It is five stories high and built of bluestone, what an engineering masterpiece it is, there is a long steel race that carries water from Birches Creek to the huge metal water wheel, which was built at the Victoria Foundry in Armstrong St, Ballarat. There is a lovely picnic ground shaded by deciduous trees and … Continue reading Anderson’s Mill

Point of Interest, Vic7 Comments

Anderson’s Mill

Itching for Hitching

In an area founded on gold then settled on the wealth of golden grain, Smeaton is one of a number of hamlets dotted across these western plains of Victoria. Built in 1861 Anderson’s Mill at Smeaton served the community until 1959. Now preserved by Parks Victoria the mill, its huge metal water wheel, the office, the Anderson house and all of the outbuildings are in excellent condition. There is an old wooden bridge spanning Birch Creek, a rather grand bluestone bridge and a picnic perfect park of shady oak trees nearby. It doesn’t take much to imagine what life was … Continue reading Anderson’s Mill