Building the Fyansford Paper Mill, on the Barwon River near Geelong, commenced in the 1870s and was completed in 1878. When the site opened, it was claimed to be one of the most advanced paper mills in the southern hemisphere.
At the time, there were seven paper mills in Australia and Fyansford is one of the earliest and operated for the longest period.
The mill used rags, offcuts of rope, recycled books, sails, straw, cloth and other by products collected from around the region as its main feedstock rather than wood fibre like Maryvale in Gippsland.
In 1895, the Australian Paper Mills (APM) acquired the complex and operated it until 1923.
From 1929 to 1941, the site was home to the Hydro Ice Company which used it as cool stores and to manufacture ice. The site was acquired by the Australian Navy during WWII.
The Fyansford Paper Mill remains as one of the most complete of its kind, still retaining many of its original mill buildings and water race.
Photos: State Library Victoria.
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~paper/barwon.html
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