Brightwater, Waimea South, New Zealand 🌍

Brightwater, Waimea South (#nz36)

Windmill built 1845

The completion of the mill was noted: Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Issue 184, 13 September 1845

A wind-mill for grinding flour has this week been completed on Waimea South, by a man named Andrews. The machinery, we understand, has also been made on the spot.

A few months later Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Issue 213, 4 April 1846, being the Statistics Of Nelson report for 1845 states in a listing of factories and mines etc.

In addition to the flour-mills above mentioned, is a small windmill, in Waimea South, not yet completed, the property of Mr. Andrews.

The Christchurch Press, April 11th, 1898 carried a recollection by Alfred Saunders of the "Hard Times in Nelson in 1844" which mentioned the mill:

I was, at this time, living about thirteen miles from the town of Nelson, near the south bank of the Wairoa river, on what was called the Teetotal Section. My nearest neighbour was Mr William Andrews, the grandfather of Mr George Andrews, who is now living at Ashburton. Mr William Andrews had very early distinguished himself as the largest proprietor of goats in the province, and could now be seen struggling at the end of a plough drawn by eighteen goats, who, however, never looked very happy at their task. He also had a windmill, in which he undertook to grind wheat; but, little wheat as there was to grind, the mill - like the goats, or like Lord John Russell, as described at that time by "Punch" - was "not strong enough for its work."

The 1848 Statistics of Nelson again list the local mills, but there is no mention of a windmill, so it would appear it was dismantled or abandoned within a few years of its construction: Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 360, 27 January 1849

Flour Mill in Nelson, leased by Messrs. Campbell and Jenkins. Water-power, two pair of stones. Value of wheat ground, £4,500.
Ditto in Waimea West, the property of Mr. W. Herrick. Water-power, one pair of stones.
Ditto at Glen Iti, the property of Mr. Baigent. Water-power, one pair of stones.
Ditto at Riwaka, the property of Mr. Mickle. Water-power, one pair of stones.

Associated people

• William Andrews