Two councils in different States are linked by a special historical bond. Jerilderie Shire Council in the NSW Riverina and Taroom Shire in the central Queensland highlands have on show rare windmills of unusual design. Both are situated on National Route 39, the Newell and Leichhardt Highways, which provide a straight run from Victoria to the Queensland tropical coast.
The fully restored windmills, the only two known working examples in the world, are unique because their fan is contained and spins within the fully pivoting frame. Built by the Steel Wings Company in North Sydney between 1907 and 1911, the windmills comprise a steel frame and fan which turns to the wind between a bearing at the bottom and a swivel at the top, all supported by guy wires.
The Taroom site, next to the Dawson River, was launched on Australia Day 2004 while the NSW model, a larger mill, has been on show since 1979 at Lake Jerilderie. During Taroom’s launching ceremony a letter conveying best wishes from the Mayor of Jerilderie Shire, Councillor Ian Sneddon, to Taroom Shire Mayor, Councillor Don Stiller, was read out.
Both Shires are active members of their Route 39 promotional associations.
The Taroom windmill originally supplied water to Kinnoul Station near Taroom until the late 1950s when its timber foundations were destroyed by fire, causing the structure to collapse. The owners, Edgar and Jesse Bell later donated the mill to the Taroom and District Historical Society.
The Jerilderie windmill, built in 1910, was transported by rail from Sydney and then taken by bullock wagon to Goolgumbula Station. The mill suffered storm damage in 1977, was offered to the town as an historical exhibit, and placed in position in 1979.
In 1989, members of Lions, Apex and Jerilderie Council repaired and refurbished the windmill with two people spending some 600 hours to bring it to its present working condition, pumping nine litres per revolution.
The Jerilderie model stands 17m high with a 9m fan and Taroom’s is 11m with a 4.2m fan.
