history of Dight Falls

Charles Grimes settles at Yarra falls(Dight Falls)

1803

photo found at http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/234.htm

Melbourne was settled and land was subdivided

1835

photo found at https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2011/08/13/book-giveaway-%E2%80%93-1835-the-founding-of-melbourne-and-the-conquest-of-australia/

John Dight purchases Melbourne block (26 acres across the yarra)

1839

photo found at https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/dights-falls-3d8b26fb-73ee-4e8d-ab06-226be19c4f4e

John Dight leaves to port Phillip

1840

John Dight was already in the business of flour milling he already had a mill up in Campbell Town (NSW) called Ceres.In April he notified his customers through the Sydney Herald that he was leaving to go to port Philip. photo found at http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1301991h.html

steam powered flour mill built

1841

The first steam powered flour mill was constructed in Melbourne.Dight built his water powered mill soon after. photo found at http://www.farmcollector.com/steam-traction/bellamys-steam-hour-mill

Dight family abandons flour milling

1864

photo found at https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2F4rouths%2Ftowns-of-yesterday%2F&psig=AFQjCNE2KSdUBl7gWx0RzrNksdu_8znJdQ&ust=1503038049185911

property sold to Edwin Trennery

1878

After many years of the flour mill property being abandoned Trennery bought the property. photo found at https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/458034

Flour mill becomes occupied

1888

Flour millers Gillespie, Aitken and Scott began to operate the mill under the name "Yarra Falls Roller Flour Mills" photo found at http://luckylamprell.blogspot.com.au/

Yarra Falls Roller Flour Mills sold to Melbourne Flour Milling Company

1891

photo found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/6374478027

Timber filter is built

1895

a timber filter is built to provide water to the Melbournes Flour Mill Company photo found at https://www.douglasvanbossuyt.com/2013/04/14/thompsons-mill-state-heritage-park/

The mill changes hands for the final time before being destroyed by fire

1909

The remains of the mill can still be found at Dight Falls today
photo found at http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/2

Timber remains are washed away in flood water

1918

The timber remains of the old mill are washed away in flood water and minister for public works declared that the weir would be rebuilt photo found at http://talkingplants.blogspot.com.au/2009/09/

Breach of the weir

1940

1.5 tonnes of rocks are placed around the edge of the weir downstream photo found at https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/dights-falls-3d8b26fb-73ee-4e8d-ab06-226be19c4f4e

A further breach of the weir

1967

Most of the timber deckings, wailings and also rock had washed away or been damaged due to flooding photo found at https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwievffg0unVAhVHTbwKHfO8BTQQjhwIBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cameronlaird.com%2Fkeyword%2Fflood&psig=AFQjCNEjoCG38IIkk24Emad4g29WMDN8fg&ust=1503450236734070

Original timber piles are capped by concrete

1968

photo found at http://glendaleccturf.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/

Melbourne water realises the weir was a barrier for fish migration

1993

realising this they constructed a rock fishway to allow fish to move throughout the weir photo found at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/rehabilitating/fishways