fyansford paper mill tour

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Fyansford Paper Mill

Things to do fyansford , greater geelong , victoria.

The Fyansford Paper Mill is located on the Barwon River and overlooks the picturesque Buckley’s Falls, making it one at a kind in the Geelong and Bellarine region. It was constructed in the 1870s and is one of the remaining heritage industrial style precincts in Australia.

The 2.8 hectare site is being transformed into a thriving food, beverage, arts and cultural precinct in Geelong. It is home to over 15 businesses, including a winery, café, gallery, yoga studio, jeweller, homewares shop and escape room. There are also a number of small independent artists who have private studios across the site.

The Fyansford Paper Mill is a local secret, only located 15 minutes from the centre of Geelong. It is the perfect visit for anyone to discover and enjoy a variety of food, arts and activities.

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Fyansford Paper Mill

100 Lower Paper Mills Road Fyansford, Victoria, 3218

The Fyansford Paper Mill is located on the Barwon River and overlooks the picturesque Buckley's Falls, making it one at a kind in the Geelong and Bellarine region. It was constructed in the 1870s and is one of the remaining heritage industrial style precincts in Australia. The 2.8 hectare site is being transformed into a thriving food, beverage, arts and cultural precinct in Geelong. It is home to over 15 businesses, including a winery, café, gallery, yoga studio, jeweller, homewares shop and escape room. There are also a number of small independent artists who have private studios across the site. The Fyansford Paper Mill is a local secret, only located 15 minutes from the centre of Geelong. It is the perfect visit for anyone to discover and enjoy a variety of food, arts and activities.

Facilities:

• Cellar Door
• Conference/Convention Facilities
• Family Friendly
• Food and Refreshments
• Gallery / Museum
• Pet Friendly - Enquire
• Public Toilet
• Wine Tasting

100 Lower Paper Mills Road, Fyansford, Victoria, 3218

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19 April - 27 July 2024

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Fyansford Paper Mills - Heritage Tours 2024

Fyansford Paper Mills 100 Lower Paper Mills Road, Fyansford Victoria 3218

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Fyansford Paper Mill Heritage Tour hits new milestone

RDU Editorial

The Rotary Club of Highton, Vic, has proudly announced its 1,000th visitor on the highly acclaimed Fyansford Paper Mill Heritage Tour.

Since November 6, 2022, the club has organised guided tours of the Fyansford Paper Mill, offering an immersive experience through the mill’s rich heritage. 

Set on the Barwon River, overlooking the picturesque Buckley Falls, the bluestone buildings of the heritage listed Fyansford Paper Mill are the only remaining intact old paper mill structures in Australia. The guided tours, conducted every Sunday, provide a rare opportunity for visitors to explore and appreciate this exceptional heritage site.

In operation from 1876 to the present day, the Fyansford Paper Mill is a site of immense historical significance, showcasing the enduring story of papermaking, and its various applications throughout the mill’s 147-year history.

From its origins of transforming rags into high-grade paper products, to its covert role as a sea mine facility for the Royal Australian Navy during WWII, visitors are taken on a captivating journey tracing the mill’s evolution. 

The Fyansford Paper Mill Heritage Tours serve a dual purpose; not only do they offer an enriching experience for visitors, but they also contribute to the betterment of the community. All proceeds generated from the tours are utilised by the Rotary Club of Highton to support local and international community projects, exemplifying the club’s commitment to service. 

Furthermore, the club has been working collaboratively with the current owners and local authorities to restore sections of the Fyansford Paper Mill’s bluestone water race. This restoration initiative aims to preserve the historical significance of the site and ensure that future generations can continue to appreciate the journey through Fyansford’s remarkable past. 

The Rotary Club of Highton invites everyone to join them on the Fyansford Paper Mill Heritage Tour and embark on an extraordinary exploration of history and culture. Experience firsthand the captivating tales hidden within the walls of the mill and witness the Rotary club’s unwavering dedication to preserving heritage and serving the community.

Fyansford Paper Mills – Heritage Tours

Enjoy a walking tour of the historic Fyansford Paper Mills and hear stories of the precinct’s amazing past. Tours are held each Sunday morning from 11am. Highton Rotary Club volunteers conduct tours through the heritage listed bluestone buildings and show what a hidden gem we have right on our doorstep. 

Group bookings of 15 or more by appointment.

Next Occurrence

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The Fyansford Paper Mill

The chopped up rags were then dropped down into a revolving boiler and boiled to remove any remaining dirt or contamination. This also softened the rags for the paper making process. The product was then removed to the Breaker House where the rags were then bleached and pulped.into a consistency of the right requirement. When necessary some colouring was added. The pulp was then run out onto the paper machine in the Machine Room (now Provenance Winery) to produce the reels of paper which then was inspected, cut packaged in the Finishing Room. Once it was finished it was stacked in the Paper Store (now Wine Making shed for Provenenace).

Art, Craft & Cultural Precinct

The precinct consists of several art/craft/ cafe/ winery/businesses each operating independently within the buildings of the precinct. The cafe is open Wednesday to Sunday, other art/craft businesses operate various at times throughout the week whereas Provenance Winery, The Papermill Gallery and Dimora Design are open Wednesday to Sunday.

On your visit you can enjoy the history which is rich in its own way since it is dated back to early industrial era. Gradually there have been a lot of changes at this heritage site where it is turning out to be an emerging tourist spot and arts precinct. The buildings at this heritage site are huge and magnificent. Thus it is the perfect setting for art lovers and music fanatics. It is turning out to be the perfect blend of rich old culture with a touch of modernisation.

There are art, craft and cultural studios blooming in this venue. If you are looking for that perfect getaway to just unwind and relax then you can surely head to the Fyansford Paper Mill. Art galleries, studios, winery, café, accommodation, live music and many more revival ideas that make this place more happening.

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Barwon paper mills.

Progress Report  1  Rod Morrison June, 2022

Who would like to see the old Fyansford Paper Mill Race restored

with water again flowing over the Spillway at the old Fyansford Paper Mill?

I advise that since May 2021, the Rotary Club of Highton has been working towards this goal, with the aim to conduct historical tours in and around the old Fyansford Paper Mill that follow the old Mill Race down to where it begins at Baums Weir.

It is the aim of the Rotary Club of Highton that the historical tours will be the Club's major fundraiser with 100% of proceeds going to local community projects and charities. The tours, once commenced will run all year round.

For about 12 years, the Rotary Club of Geelong did a similar thing when they ran the old Geelong Gaol Tours and raised many, many thousands of dollars of which 100% of funds went into local community projects and charities.

In this post, I have listed below details of where the Rotary Club of Highton is at with the old Paper Mill Precinct Project.  I have also included several photos showing before and after the breach of the weir near where the Mill Race commences.  In addition, I have included photos and old Geelong Advertiser articles from 1982 when the late Ken Middleton, (who was also a member of the Rotary Club of Highton), and was the Shire of Bannockburn Engineer who undertook and restored the old Fyansford Paper Mill Race so that water again flowed through the Mill Race and over the spillway at the old Paper Mill.

Following the amalgamation of Councils, the Fyansford area became under the control of the City of Greater Geelong. Since then very little maintenance has been done in and around the Victoria Heritage listed Mill Race which is all on Crown Land.  The Rotary Cub of Highton is looking for Volunteers who can help and assist with this project - see below .

Rotary Club of Highton Fyansford Paper Mill Precinct Project  

The Story So Far

The story started February 2021 when there was a suggestion at a Rotary Club of Highton Community Services Committee meeting that we should consider whether it might be possible to dredge the water race at the Fyansford Paper Mill and re-establish a water flow – which would improve the tourism potential of the area.

The late Ken Middleton, was a Rotary Club of Highton member and the Shire of Bannockburn Engineer when the water race was refurbished in 1982 - 1984.

There were then various discussions between Rotary Club of Highton members, Rod Morrison, Ian Campbell, and David Sinclair at a Thursday night March 2021 Rotary meeting where it was decided to make something of the idea.

     Rod is a Fyansford resident, regularly walks the paths an d tracks in the Paper Mill area, (on             both sides of the Barwon River);

--  Ian worked for 30 years Geelong Cement works and was General Manager until closure, and for       a couple of years lived in one of the Workers Cottages on Lower Paper Mill Road, just near the         old Fyansford Paper Mill site, and has a tremendous enthusiasm for the history and geology of         the site;

     David saw the possibility of making some money for (100% going to local charities and the               community), from the idea by running historical tours, similar to what Rotary Club of Geelong           had done for many, many years with tours of the old Geelong jail.

So, a Zoom meeting was held, (our first formal meeting), on 31st May 2021 to discuss how we could progress the idea. Present were Rod Morrison, Ian Campbell, Stephen Bath, David Sinclair, Doug Green, and Barry Stokes. Since that meeting, the core working group has been Rod (chairperson), David (secretary), Ian, and Stephen. Ros Horne was involved for a few months, Robert Johnson, (a Geotechnical Engineer), is involved in the project work, and Yvonne Hodgson and Ken Mansfield have recently joined as active committee members.

The Paper Mill site owners received a $1 million dollar grant from the Victorian government early in 2021 to install a sewage system on site. This is an important step in making the site an important Geelong tourist destination.

Rotary Club of Highton Objectives

Our objectives have changed little since that first meeting. Our key objectives are:

1. Work with the Paper Mill site owners to facilitate the regeneration/rejuvenation of the site and infrastructure of the old Paper Mills at Fyansford/Buckley Falls to make the area one of the top tourist attractions in the Geelong area. This would involve:

a. Engaging with all other stakeholders with an involvement in the area

b. Seeking local, state, and federal government grants to assist in improving the infrastructure and returning it to its original form

2. Provide historical guided tours of the site to raise funds of which 100% would go to local charities.

3. This would involve:

a. Researching the history of the site and the local area, and making use of existing knowledge to provide an interesting, engaging, and educational story of the area

b. Working with a like-minded organisation which has the technical and innovative skills to provide a modern, engaging, and exciting tour platform

c. Building a team of volunteers who would be able to tell the story of the site to visitors and tour parties

Stakeholders in our project

We have identified quite a number of important stakeholders in our project, but the following are particularly important:

1. The Paper Mill owners

2. The City of Greater Geelong, (CoGG).

3. The Paper Mill tenants operating various businesses on the Paper Mill site

4. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, (DELWP), which includes Heritage Victoria

5. The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation

6. Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, (CCMA).

7. Tourism Greater Geelong & the Bellarine.

8. Local residents

Rotary Club of Highton Work So Far

Since May 2021, the members of the Rotary Club of Highton Fyansford working group have spent many, many hours communicating and discussing with the various stakeholders in our efforts to work towards establishing historical tours of the Paper Mill site. A fee would be charged to tour participants which would 100% go towards local community projects and charities.

Our main achievements are:

1. We have established a good working relationship with the Paper Mill owners’ representative and have had several face-to-face meetings.

2. We are finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners, to define more clearly our working relationship for the running of historical tours.

3. We have established contact with several important people working for the City of Greater Geelong. The Heritage specialist has been a particularly useful contact person for us.

4. Recently, the City of Greater Geelong approved a heritage planning grant application for $9,932 to enable us to carry out an environmental study, sediment sampling in the water race, and some other preliminary work as a precursor to a future project to re-establish water flow in the race. We have a signed agreement with the City for this work and are currently waiting for the approved funds to be transferred to our account.

We have collected large volumes of historical information about the site; this can be found at  https://drive.google.com/.../1NdiDpxdegBLZSpQhrCwM2wBKOII...

5. We have applied for a grant of $12,000 from the Victorian government for the construction and installation of a number (15-20) of professionally made signs which will tell a story of the history at different locations around the site.

6. We are compiling a tour commentary which guides can use when taking visitors around the site.

7. We are regularly involved in working bees on site to assist the owners in improving the site appearance. We believe this is important to improve and consolidate our working relationship with the owners, and to demonstrate that we have a real interest in improving the site.

8. We met with Wadawurrung community representatives in March.

We are working on a number of other activities directed at our main objective – to conduct historical tours in and around the old Fyansford Paper Mill and down to Baums Weir and return. 100 % of funds made will go to local community projects and charities.

Volunteers Needed

To see the successful completion of this project, we are seeking volunteers who wish to participate and help with the restoration of the Mill Race and the water flow to the old Paper Mill spillway.

Note: Both the old Fyansford Paper Mill and the Mill Race are listed with Heritage Victoria.

The old Fyansford Paper Mill is the only known old Paper Mill in Australia that has a 900 metre Mill Race still intact.

It needs to be restored back to life, so that people can come and see the Mill Race and water flowing over the old Paper Mill spillway.

The long term aim is to have the water from the Mill Race driving a “Water Wheel”.

If you would like to help us with this exciting project please email your name/s and contact details to either one of the below email addresses: -

     David Sinclair  [email protected]      [email protected]

Posted: June 8 Geelong History FACEBOOK

Rod's Gallery

The "mysteriously" breach in the weir wall near the commencement of the Mill Race about 900 metres upstream from the old Fyansford Paper Mill

Water flowing over the old Paper Mill spillway after heavy rain and before the weir breach. Please note that this flow even occurred with the mill race blocked with reeds, dead logs, weed and rubbish.

The entrance to the old water race, (in ruins), for the Flour Mill that was on the South Bank of the Barwon River, down stream from Baums Weir. The water was directed by this entrance point to a short water race where a water wheel drove the Flour Mill machinery. On the opposite and North bank of the Barwon River is the 900 metre Mill Race, (still in place but blocked with reeds, weeds, dead logs and rubbish), that runs to the old Fyansford Paper Mill. The old Fyansford Paper Mill and the Mill

What's on in Geelong

Discover what’s on in Geelong with all kinds of food, arts, activities, as well as our great and historic history. Visit the Fyansford Paper Mill once of Geelong’s most historic places to visit.

We are excited to announce a partnership with The Rotary Club of Highton, who will be conducting tours of the Fyansford Paper Mill.

This is an exciting and rare opportunity to see areas of the mill that are not open to the public, learn more about what’s on at the Fyansford Paper Mill in Geelong and the history of the oldest remaining paper mill in Australia and how it is being transformed into an arts and lifestyle precinct. The tours will provide an overview of the site’s history including:

• The Fyansford Paper Mill complex, which included the workers cottages located on Lower Paper Mills Road, which is the oldest remaining dedicated workers housing in Australia
• The Industrial heritage and original use of the buildings as one of Australia’s first and longest operating Paper Mills
• The compulsory takeover of the site by the Navy in WWII
• First Nations history, recognising the Wadawurrung people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waterways that we are on, and their ongoing connection with this area

Tours will cost $10 per adult and $6 per child (under 18), with all funds raised to continue to support Rotary’s charitable projects in the local community.

Tours will commence from November 2022 and we would love you to join one by making an appointment.

Come see what’s on and book in a time here .