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Traditional owners (part one)
The traditional landowners of the area around Dights Falls were the Wurundjeri Balluk people. Originally Dights Falls was rocky land which was used by the Wurundjeri, as well as a meeting place for nearby junctions, such as Merri Creek and Yarra River, to use for trade and significant ceremonies. Image source: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/projectsaroundmelbourne/Documents/A_Short_History_of_Dights_Falls_Fact_Sheet.pdf -
Traditional owner (part two)
The area was made sustainable for many people, therefore the rivers provided animals for hunting and large quantities of fish. Today, we acknowledge Dights Falls as a significant meeting place for Wurundjeri people. Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Sign_acknowledging_Aboriginal_Custodians_of_the_land.JPG/220px-Sign_acknowledging_Aboriginal_Custodians_of_the_land.JPG -
European settlement
Charles Grimes was the first General of New South Wales, believed to investigate the Yarra River. Doing so, he led his survey party to the hope of settling at Dights Falls, this was reported without official given permission. In early 1835, Melbourne was a settled city, with a subdivided land, along with public land sales later on during the process. Image source: http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/img/article/234_2.jpg -
European settlement
Charles Grimes, was the first General of New South Wales, believed to investigate the Yarra River. Doing so, he led his survey party to the hope of settling at Dights Falls, this was reported without offical given permission. In the early 1835, Melbourne was a settled city, with sub-divided land, along with public land sales later on during the process. Image soruce:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b9/5e/6e/b95e6eda076f01b2f7241c69e6c6e402--grimes-occupation.jpg -
First Weir at Dights Falls (part one)
In 1839, John Dight bought a 26 acres block of land in Melbourne, along the Yarra River, for a total cost of £481 ($780). This purchase was made in Sydney, at a Port Phillip bay land sales. Jhon Dight, was well known in the business industry with his flour milling buisness, along with his mill close by to Campbell Town, back in New South Wales, this was called ‘Ceres’. -
First Weir at Dights Falls (part two)
In early April 1840, he informed customers of his known business through the Sydney Herald that he was moving to Port Phillip. In 1841, the first steam powered flour mill was established in Melbourne. Using bricks, shipped over from Tasmania, Jhon constructed his very own powered mil. The power for the mill to run was caused from flowing water from the river. In order to ensure the water flow was kept level, he created a wier, roughly using stone. -
The changing ownership of Dight’s Mill (part one)
Throughout the mid and late 1800s the Dight Family’s mill and land property along the Yara changed owners (sold often). In 1864 the Dight’s left there flour milling buisnes to no more use, at the same time their property was solt to Edwin Trennery in 1878. The bought land was sub divided by Edwin, uo until 1888, the original mil on the river bank was occupied. -
History of the Weir
The remaining Weir at Dights Falls is from 1895, a timber structure was constructed to provide water to Melbourne’s Flour Milling Company. As the Weir has a history dating back to 100 years ago, it has led it to have been repaired many times, for it to be stable. The weir structure today, is a combination of materials used over time. -
The changing ownership of Dights Mill (part two)
A new mil was contrcuted by flour millers Gillespie, Aitken and Scott, operating under the name of ‘Yarra Falls Roller Flour Mills’. The new bulding and mil contruction was sold in 1891 to Melbourne Flour Milling Company. The mil sold for it;s final time in 1909 before fire destroyed. -
Changes of Dights Falls (part one)
The first repair of Dights Falls was reported in 1918 when some of the timber parts of the weir were washed away in the heavy flood waters. At the time the minister of public works, announced the reconstruction of the weir, as it is a significant part of Australian history. Some of the weir on the 24th of December 1940, was rebuilt as 1.5 tonnes of rock fell downstream. More of the weir was washed away in 1967 due to heavy rainfalls which led to floods. -
The effects of fishways
The Weir was discovered to have an effect on the population of fish in the Yarra, in 1993. The population was affected as the fish migration dropped, as the weir was becoming more of a barrier towards the fish (blocking entrance to the Yarra river). In order to make a change to fix this impacted discovery, by letting the fish be able to migrate through the Yarra River, a fishway was manufactured using rocks. -
Changes of Dights Falls (part two)
The next year after the reconstruction took place, concrete was replaced for the timber as it wasn't a strong material needing to be used for a weir. In 1993 there was a recognitional amount of migration of fish migration, this allowed fish to move safely to fiiferent areas of the river using the weir. Dights Falls Weir continues to act as a major barrier to native fish migration in the Yarra River. -
Dight Falls past / history
The Weir and Mill are still standing today, as they reflect the first construction, impacts and significance to different people over time. The first mill sight was one of the earliest industrial sites in Victoria. The Weir represents the importance of Yarra River to the development of European settlement and industrial development in Melbourne.
