Flour milling was a widespread industry in nineteenth century New Zealand, turning wheat into flour. Milling became centred on the climate most suited to it – North Otago, South Canterbury and eastern Southland. In these areas many mills were established, the earliest using water power – the mechanism of the mill stones driven by a water wheel, and later mills using steam power. Early mills in North Otago included Clark’s Mill at Maheno and others such as Meek’s Flour Mill in Oamaru itself. In Otepopo, a small settlement south of Oamaru, the first mill was built on the Otepopo River (now known as the Waianakarua River) in 1870 – Louis Schmoll’s Fernyhaugh Flour Mill.
Louis Schmoll (d.1889) was a German miller. He came to New Zealand with his wife and child in 1865 as an assisted immigrant. By 1870 he had moved to Oamaru where he worked at Hassell’s flour mill. Schmoll planned to erect his own mill at Otepopo on land leased from George Fenwick, and in February 1870 advertised his intentions, calling his mill-to-be the Fernyhaugh Flour Mill. Schmoll over-extended himself and by the middle of the year was in financial difficulty filing for bankruptcy in August 1870, and was adjudged bankrupt a month later. Matters worsened in October 1870 with a conspiracy case before the court – which usefully provides detail about the mill and about Schmoll himself.
In his evidence Schmoll indicates he had been at Otepopo for seven or eight months and had leased land from George Fenwick for purposes of erecting a timber flour mill. He describes the mill as ‘nearly finished.’ Schmoll had purchased timber from Otepopo farmer James Gilham (variously Gilam) and George Cooper – who were partners in the enterprise. Schmoll accused Gilham and Cooper with conspiracy to burn down the mill in an attempt to recover insurance monies to get them out of financial difficulties. The case attracted the papers and was covered in detail. Schmoll himself was aware of the apparent plan to burn down the mill and claim the insurance, but claimed not to have agreed to the plan. The plan was thwarted by a bailiff taking possession of the mill. The magistrate, after hearing evidence, believed that there was insufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and the prisoners were discharged. Schmoll was then himself charged with having committed perjury, acting with malice in accusing Cooper and Gilham with conspiracy. A jury found Schmoll not guilty.
Meanwhile, the trustees of Schmoll’s estate offered the lease of the Fernyhaugh Mill describing the ‘valuable premises, comprising a large water-power mill, machinery, plant &c. Also, a convenient cottage.’ The mill was still incomplete with agents Sumpter and Lemon advertising for a partner (with available capital) to ‘complete the ERECTION OF A WATER MILL – wheel and most of the machinery on the ground.’ There was also sufficient water power to drive a pair of stones.
In April 1871 Frederick Luhning advertised the ‘Otepopo Mills’ as ready for receiving wheat for grinding in May. Schmoll continued to work at the mill – he was injured in an accident at the mill in May 1871, and this was reported in the newspaper. Luhning was a businessman who had interests in Queenstown and Dunedin. He was variously described as a miller, wholesale tobacconist and bootmaker. In May 1871, engineer John Hardy advertised for the erection of a ‘Stone Kiln’ at the Otepopo Mills for Luhning. This is presumably an oatmeal kiln. Luhning himself got into financial difficulties and the mill was again offered for sale along with 16 acres of freehold land. A sale notice in March 1872 described the mill as capable of driving three pairs of stones. By 1872, the mill was in the hands of Spence and Grave, who ran the Phoenix Mill further down the river, who intended to add sawmilling to their operation. The partnership changed to James Grave and James McIntosh, who advertised themselves as cash buyers of wheat for the Otepopo Flour Mills in January 1873.
Captain James Grave owned eight sailing ships that worked the Pacific waters. He was an Oamaru town councillor as well as carrying on business as a merchant and having an interest in this flour mill. He went overseas and died in Perth.
An 1873 article indicates that Grave and McIntosh remodelled the mill – and were at that time in the process of erecting two pairs of stones. The writer thought the mill in a poor position but that that might be counterbalanced by the water power. The writer feared that the river could rise on short notice and ‘sweep the wheel away, although it is secured to a large concrete pier embedded in the rock.’ The mill’s proximity to the new railway might also be to its advantage.
Court cases followed the mill again in 1873 when James Calder unsuccessfully sued Grave and McIntosh for breach of promise over work at the mill. Grave and McIntosh had asked Calder to look at the mill dam and where they wanted the piers put. Donald Douglas drew a sketch of the piers (wooden beams set on end). After experiencing the rapid rise of the river, Calder and the miller James Davidson, agreed that the best idea would be to build an entirely new dam. To this, Grave and Ogilvie agreed. After flooding delayed work, Calder built a new dam, the work taking a couple of weeks.
The Otago Daily Times reported the operation of Graves and Mcintosh’s ‘new water power flour mill’ at Otepopo in June 1873. The article mentions the modern machinery and the expense in constructing the mill which included a new road to avoid having to cross the river twice. The writer mentions that the owners contemplated ‘the raising of the dam, in order to obtain additional power’ which would give the mill the capacity to turn out 40 tons of flour a week. The proprietors also proposed to erect ‘additional machinery, and to include the manufacture of oatmeal.’ The dam ‘in the course of erection’ was damaged by flooding, owing to the cement not having set, three courses of stone were displaced and had to be repaired. The river would similarly damage Diehl and Davidson’s mill dam further downriver in 1879.
The renovated ‘Atlas Flourmills’ are described in November 1873: ‘The mill property comprises the mill, miller’s house, men’s houses, stables etc.’ and the dam, the wall of which is 6 feet in diameter, and 20 feet high; and is closed and faced with Portland cement; the back is now being filled with earth and gravel. From the dam is obtained a fall of 13ft. for the sluicehead. The mill is worked with a breast wheel which is 22ft. in diameter, and is enclosed between concrete walls, the main shaft works in a tunnel cut in the rock foundations of the mill.’ The mill, with its two pairs of stones, put out fifty tons of flour a week.
In March 1874 Grave and McIntosh advertised for tenders for ‘additions and alterations to the Atlas Mill Dam’ across the Otepopo River. In August of the same year, engineer John McGregor invited tenders for ‘Forming the Puddle Embankment, and other works required at the Atlas Mill Dam’ for James Grave.
The mill apparently closed sometime before 1881. In discussing the fire at Diehl and Davidson’s mill downriver from the Atlas Mill, the Otago Witness records that there were three mills erected in this locality and two had burnt down. The remaining mill, the Atlas had been ‘closed for some years.’
The mill and dam were a picturesque excursion for locals. The Oamaru Woollen Factory picnic was held nearby in 1897, recognising the scenic value of the place. An article in 1902 describes an outing to the river where ‘the remains of the old mill and the dam across the river, too, added a certain amount of historical interest to the place.’ The Trades Picnic Committee voted to hold their picnic on the old mill site in 1907. Some of the land close to the mill was subdivided for holiday residences as early as 1910. The Waitaki County Council had plans to bridge the river near the old mill in 1911, noting the solid rock bound approaches and long span required to reach across the deep gully.
Over the years, the site became a ruin. In 1985 archaeologist and James Grave’s great grandson Karl Gillies recorded the dam and flour mill remains (naming them Grave’s Dam) as an archaeological site under the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Recording Scheme. In the years following its closure, the mill became a picturesque ruin. The site of the mill was a popular picnic spot and historic attraction. In the 1980s the mill dam was restored and interpreted as a 1990 project. In 2016, the dam and flour mill remains are a notable historic site in North Otago, with an interpretation panel describing their history.
