Gisborne, New Zealand

Gisborne (#nz51)

crude metal-clad smock:

Date: 1920s

The larger of 2 windmills constructed by Fred Ottaway on the Wainui beach, Gisborne, using the same flattened kerosene drums cladding. Assumed used for grinding corn (and possibly seashells), and cutting wood, though the mill was now large enough for the machinery to be internal. There was no provision for facing the sails into the wind, so only usable when the wind was from the prevailing direction.

Assumed to be a later refinement of the smaller mill - published photos in Auckland Weekly News showed the small one 4 years before they showed this larger one.

A UNIQUE LANDMARK ON THE WAINUI BEACH, GISBORNE: WINDMILL BUILT ALMOST ENTIRELY OF BENZINE TINS.
This mill, erected by Mr Ottaway, who is seen standing beside it, is fitted up to efficiently grind corn, cut wood etc.
Over 300 benzine tins were used in its construction. K Keogh, photo

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19220727-40-5

A UNIQUE LANDMARK ON THE WAINUI BEACH, GISBORNE: WINDMILL BUILT ALMOST ENTIRELY OF BENZINE TINS.
This mill, erected by Mr Ottaway, who is seen standing beside it, is fitted up to efficiently grind corn, cut wood etc. Over 300 benzine tins were used in its construction. K Keogh, photo

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19220727-40-5 , From the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 27 July 1922 p40.

As for the earlier Gisborne mill built by Fred Ottaway, much of the readily available information is not based on primary sources, but on secondary ones.

The Beach Life article starts the ball rolling: BeachLife Issue 3, Autumn 2009

The second windmill is illustrated by an unattributed photo from the Gisborne Museum collection, which also appeared on the cover, showing a bearded old man and his dog [assumed to be Fred Ottaway]
- location: likely opposite the Chalet along Moana Road

The follow up article in BeachLife Issue 4, Spring 2009

Includes a partial quote from the Gisborne Photo News No 225 : March 28, 1973 photo of the later mill
In relation to the site of the second mill, notes that photos by William Crawford from around 1908 show no windmill, and note no mention of permission being granted by W. D. Lyanar who owned the Moana Road dunes.
Keith Redstone, described as an elder Wainui resident, recalls cycling with friends in around 1939 to the windmill on the high point of the dunes a little north of where Douglas Street meets the highway. Its condition was described as ramshackle, with the area littered with broken bottles, and surrounded by boxthorne.
Redstone thinks the mill was finally dismanted during WW2
Has a fairly distant shot of the mill on the sand dunes

The final article mostly of details of Fred Ottaway, has a single piece of new info on the second mill Beach Life, Summer 2010

A descendent, Ernie Hart, remembers going on family outings by horse and buggy to the mill in the early 1930's when it still retained its sails

The photo that appears in Photo News is a cropped version of the photo that appeared in the Auckland Weekly news in July 1922. The full caption that accompanies it is: Gisborne Photo News No 225 : March 28, 1973

Mr Frederick Charles Ottaway built this windmill around about 1917, at Wainui Beach, on the seaward side of the road and opposite the present Chalet Rendezvous. It was built of timber and flattened kerosene tins and stood for some time before being demolished after the death of the owner. It was used for grinding flour and cutting wood, and appeared on marine charts at the time as a navigational aid. Sails were fitted on to the blades when the machine was in use. Mr Ottoway can be seen at the lower right in the picture. The photo comes from Mrs H. V. Isles, Grey Street.

Associated people

Fred Ottaway

Gisborne, New Zealand 🌍

Gisborne (#nz51)

Associated people