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Our area abounds in history - of reminders from days gone by and the fighting spirit of the pioneers of the far South Coast and Southern Monaro. There are people who deserve to be remembered and yet we them and their achievements for granted. In Nimmitabel for example an old flour mill stands tall on a hill - yet many have no idea of it's past.
The Mill was restored by the Monaro Shire Council in1961 and has been retained as a tourist attraction in the area. John Geldmacher, a naturalised German settler constructed the mill almost without help in the late 1860's. He began to assemble materials for the mill in1865 and it was ready for use in 1872. The law of those days was not on his side however and soon after the mill was complete, Geldmacher was informed that he could not use the mill - it was too close to a public road! It was apparently alleged that the shadow of the mill fans would frighten horses travelling along the road Whether the mill was used for it's purpose at that stage or not, is still the subject of research, however Geldmacher later removed the wooden wings and converted the mill to horsepower. Many old residents nave been recorded as saying that 'some fine flour was produced by the Nimmitabel flour mill. In subsequent years the mill was again converted, Geldmacher this time turning it to timber milling. In 1885 the mill is thought to have finished it's useful life and has since stood proudly on it's windy hill doubtless the subject of innumerable conversations - not only of locals but also of those passing through. Take me time to enjoy the history of the region - inspect it, learn about it and appreciate it.
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