General News
21 September, 2022
“A salute to agriculture”
TERANG has an eye-catching new addition after a restored windmill was constructed in the heart of town last week.
TERANG has an eye-catching new addition after a restored windmill was constructed in the heart of town last week.
The Terang and District Historical Society recently received approval from Corangamite Shire Council and the Department of Transport for the installation, which is located on High Street opposite the BP petrol station.
The windmill serves as a nod to the agricultural history of Terang, as well as an arts initiative associated with this Friday’s Terang Colour Festival.
Terang Men’s Shed member John Carroll, with the assistance of other members, provided refurbishments to get the windmill ready for installation.
“I straightened up the frame, and did a fair amount of work on the wheel and the headframe – which carries the wheel,” he said.
“We didn’t want it to feel new, we wanted to keep it as close to its original condition as possible.
“So many things get over-restored these days.
“Thank you to the other members of the men’s shed for their help, I wasn’t on my own.”
The windmill is a product of former windmill manufacturing company Fuller Windmill, which operated out of Terang from 1920 on Grey Street.
The concept to refurbish and install the windmill was led by the Terang and District Historical Society.
Terang and District Historical Society member Des McKinnon said he was thrilled to see the installation complete.
“It’s terrific because it’s been a real work in progress,” he said.
“It’s only a small construction but the preparation and the paperwork was as much as if we were building a massive shed.”
Mr McKinnon said the windmill stood as “a salute to agriculture”.
“Quoting Fletcher Jones; Terang has been the golden heart of the western district,” he said.
Plans are currently underway to install a second windmill at the south-west entrance on the Warrnambool side of Terang.
