Singletons Mill on the Hawkesbury River

Photographer William Frederick Hall (1855 - 1943)

Datec 1900

Object number00002335

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bruce Stannard

Terms

DescriptionSingletons Mill on the Hawkesbury River, NSW, taken by William Frederick Hall. This image belongs to a series of photographs probably taken on the Hawkesbury River by Hall between 1880 and 1909.HistoryThis image depicts Singletons Mill on the Hawkesbury River which was built in 1834 for brothers, James and Benjamin Singleton. In 1903, the 'Australian Town and Country Journal' reported that the 'old mill', affectionately christened the 'one of the lions of the Hawkesbury', was situated halfway between Windsor and Peat's Ferry, 'in one of the most picturesque reaches of the river.' It was used to 'ground wheat and maize...until the great flood of 1867' which caused extensive damage. Despite it falling into disuse, much of its 'antiquated machinery' still existed when this article was published. It was even said to have been haunted and it remained a tourist attraction until it was demolished in the early 1900s.SignificanceThe Hall collection provides an important pictorial record of recreational boating in Sydney Harbour, from the 1890s to the 1930s – from large racing and cruising yachts, to the many and varied skiffs jostling on the harbour, to the new phenomenon of motor boating in the early twentieth century. The collection also includes images of the many spectators and crowds who followed the sailing races.