The Fyansford Paper Mill: Industry, Ingenuity and Community

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Rod Morrison, whose knowledge of the Fyansford Paper Mill is prodigious, has proved central to the renewed public interest in this important industrial site. Rod’s involvement began during the COVID shutdowns, when Highton Rotary suddenly found its usual fundraising activities suspended. Looking for a project that could continue despite restrictions, a small Rotary team turned its attention to the long‑neglected history of the mill. With encouragement and access to material from then‑owner Alex Robbin, the group undertook what became 18 months of sustained research, ultimately producing the first modern, consolidated account of the mill’s past.

That research laid the foundation for the regular public tours Rod now leads every Sunday and on weekdays by arrangement. His talk to our members drew on that work, weaving together the industrial, social and engineering history of a site that once stood at the forefront of Victoria’s manufacturing ambitions.

A Valley on the Brink of Change

Rod began by situating the mill within the broader development of Geelong. The 1840s were a period of extraordinary expansion, with the town’s population increasing twelve‑fold between 1840 and 1846. Industry followed quickly. A flour mill was already operating on the opposite bank of the Barwon by 1849, and Captain Andrew Volum, a figure who would later become central to the paper mill story, had established himself in the district by purchasing a brewery in Corio Street in 1853.

By the early 1870s, demand for paper was rising sharply. In 1874, Scottish engineer Andrew Miller was brought to Victoria to establish a new mill, and he selected Fyansford for its steep river fall and reliable water supply. A painting from 1876 shows the valley almost entirely without trees—not because it had been cleared, but because the landscape was naturally dominated by native grasses.

Building an Industrial Landmark

Construction of the Barwon Paper Mill was ambitious in scale and cost. When production began in 1878, the mill was powered by a dramatic 85‑foot drop from the water race into a turbine tower. Most of the machinery was imported from Edinburgh, while the turbine itself came from Belfast and produced an impressive 270 horsepower. The total cost of the project was £50,000—equivalent to roughly $50 million today.

The mill’s dependence on the river created seasonal challenges. Low summer flows often forced production to halt, and three coal‑fired boilers were eventually added to keep the machinery running during dry periods. Even so, the mill represented a remarkable feat of engineering for its time and quickly became a major employer in the region.

Inside the Mill: Labour, Danger and Ingenuity

Rod’s description of the paper‑making process brought the mill’s interior vividly to life. Like the early mills in Sydney and Collingwood, Fyansford relied entirely on rags as raw material. Women sorted incoming fabrics, removing buttons and buckles—so many that “hundreds and thousands” still turn up on the site today.

The most dangerous work fell to a small group of workers, including two women and two boys, who fed cloth into revolving drums that shook out dirt and dust. With no machine guards, injuries were common, though remarkably no deaths were recorded. The cloth was then boiled in spherical caustic‑soda boilers for several hours before being beaten into pulp, bleached, and fed into a massive nine‑roller paper machine. Early paper was brown and uneven, but the addition of alum and lime allowed the mill to produce newsprint and a range of specialty papers.

The mill also manufactured paper bags, glazing them with starch for strength.
Working hours were long and gruelling—initially sixteen hours a day, later reduced to fourteen and eventually twelve. Yet Captain Volum was remembered as a comparatively considerate employer, even as the work remained physically demanding.

Fire, Hardship and Changing Fortunes

In January 1884, disaster struck when a fire broke out and destroyed much of the mill. The cost of replacing the windows alone was £4,000, but Volum carried only £1,000 in insurance. He responded by bricking up the openings, a decision that worsened working conditions but allowed the business to continue.

After Volum’s death, the mill entered a period of instability. It was purchased by three investors in 1885, sold again in 1888 after several difficult years, and later forced to cease production during a six‑month coal strike in the early 1900s. Despite these setbacks, the mill remained a significant presence in the district for decades.

A Century of Ownership: The Hore, Robbins and Hamilton Families

The mill’s later history reflects the changing needs and fortunes of the region. Manufacturing ceased in 1923, and in 1929 the Hore family purchased the site, operating it as an ice‑works for much of the twentieth century. Their stewardship preserved the buildings, even as the industrial machinery fell silent.

In 2001, the property passed to the Robbin family, whose willingness to share archival material played a crucial role in enabling the Rotary research project. It was during this period that Rod first became involved, meeting Alex Robbin in 2021 and beginning the work that would lead to the current public tours.

The site is now owned by the Hamilton Group, which has announced plans for a full restoration of the mill complex—an undertaking that could secure the future of one of Victoria’s most significant industrial heritage sites.

The Water Race: A Fragile Survivor

No account of the mill is complete without mention of its 950‑metre water race, a defining feature of the site’s engineering. Restored in 1982, the race was not maintained by the City of Greater Geelong or the State Government after 1991. In June 2021, a major breach occurred.

One researcher has suggested that the damage may have been caused deliberately, with explosives placed behind sandbags and the water muffling the sound.
Despite community offers to help fund repairs, efforts to restore the race have repeatedly stalled, leaving this important structure vulnerable to further deterioration.

A Heritage Site Re‑Energised

Rod’s talk made clear that the Fyansford Paper Mill is far more than a relic. It is a rare survivor of Victoria’s early industrial era, a site of engineering innovation, and a place shaped by the labour of women, men and children whose contributions deserve to be remembered.

Thanks to the research undertaken during COVID and the ongoing work of Rotary volunteers, the mill has re‑entered public consciousness. Rod’s tours continue to draw visitors, and the Hamilton Group’s restoration plans offer hope that the site will once again become a vibrant part of Geelong’s cultural landscape.