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HomePrivacyTerms and conditionsAbout this site
© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
Timaru Milling Company Building

1 Mill Street, TIMARU

Private

Historic Place Category 1

List No. 239

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
James Bruce built a wooden mill on this site in 1878, but this was burned down in 1881. He began rebuilding immediately, and in September 1882 opened the new mill, which was the first in New Zealand to be equipped with a roller milling plant. It is a substantial rectangular building of brick six stories high built against the railway line. It has many arched windows at each level, and has a pleasing symmetrical appearance.

The mill has been in continuous use with little modifications for over a century and the company intends to use it into the foreseeable future.

Said to be the largest mill in New Zealand about the turn of the century, it is important as a fine working example of Timaru's milling industry, the largest in New Zealand during the wheat boom of the 1880s.

Internal features include a considerable amount of early machinery still in use, the polished wooden floors, and the spiral sack slide which connects all the floors. The slight alterations that have been made have been in keeping with the original style, and are in brick.

The integrity of this structure and its significance as the mill that revolutionised the flour milling industry in New Zealand make it an outstanding industrial structure.
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Photo competition entrant 2026 | Roselyn Fauth | 01/01/2026 | Roselyn Fauth
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Image courtesy of vallance.photography@xtra.co.nz | Francis Vallance | Francis Vallance
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Formerly J. R. Bruce Mill. Image courtesy of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa photography collection. Reg. No C.014395 | Burton Brothers Photography Studio | No Known Copyright Restrictions
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Photo competition entrant 2026 | Roselyn Fauth | 01/01/2026 | Roselyn Fauth
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Image courtesy of vallance.photography@xtra.co.nz | Francis Vallance | Francis Vallance
Timaru Milling Company Building, Timaru. Formerly J. R. Bruce Mill. Image courtesy of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa photography collection. Reg. No C.014395 | Burton Brothers Photography Studio | No Known Copyright Restrictions

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
239

Date Entered
28th June 1984

Date of Effect
28th June 1984

City/District Council
Timaru District

Region
Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Legal description

Lot2 DP18292 Lots 1-2 DP12084 TS 15-17 22 Timaru Town

Location Description

Located on Lot 2 DP 346228 (CT 189996) adjacent to 1 Mill Street, Timaru.

Detailed List Entry

Construction Details

Start Year

1882

Type

Original Construction

Start Year

2001

Type

Partial Demolition

Description

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Reference

Report Written By

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Further Information

Current Usages

Former Usages

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

239

Date Entered

28th June 1984

Date of Effect

28th June 1984

City/District Council

Timaru District

Region

Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Legal description

Lot2 DP18292 Lots 1-2 DP12084 TS 15-17 22 Timaru Town

Location Description

Located on Lot 2 DP 346228 (CT 189996) adjacent to 1 Mill Street, Timaru.

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

239

Date Entered

28th June 1984

Date of Effect

28th June 1984

City/District Council

Timaru District

Region

Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Legal description

Lot2 DP18292 Lots 1-2 DP12084 TS 15-17 22 Timaru Town

Location Description

Located on Lot 2 DP 346228 (CT 189996) adjacent to 1 Mill Street, Timaru.

Construction Information

Construction Details

Start Year

1882

Type

Original Construction

Start Year

2001

startYearCirca

Type

Partial Demolition

Description

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Construction Details

Start Year

1882

Type

Original Construction

Start Year

2001

startYearCirca

Type

Partial Demolition

Description

In circa 2001 the three storeyed structure at the complex was demolished. However, the six storeyed structure remains.

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Location

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