Story: Agricultural processing industries

Water-powered mill (1st of 3)

Water-powered mill

Most flour mills built in colonial New Zealand were water-powered. They were sited on rivers and streams so that the water would turn their wheel and drive the machinery that turned the mill stones to grind wheat into flour. The Waipoua Stream feeds this Masterton mill, the first in the Wairarapa, which is shown in this 1880s painting by William Henry Bowry.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-049-013
Watercolour by William Henry Bowry

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jane Tolerton, 'Agricultural processing industries - Grain processing', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/25178/water-powered-mill (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Jane Tolerton, published 11 Mar 2010