I enjoy windmill photography because it gives me a chance to get out of the rat race and enjoy the countryside. Around where I live in Canberra, there are numerous drives off the beaten track waiting to be explored for their windmills. Yass River Road is one such drive, and until yesterday, was still unexplored.
The first mill on offer was this amalgam of an Alston tower with an 8-foot Southern Cross Z pattern head. I always wonder what happened to the original head when I see hodge-podges like these…
This mill is clearly not pumping anymore – the pump rod has been disconnected!
Whirring away happily in the cold winter breeze.
A bit further down the road and we came across the two Southern Cross mills show at the top of the page – one Z and IZ pattern each.
Southern Cross Z pattern (left) and IZ pattern (right) mills for comparison
This comparison shows a few key differences between these similar mills. At left is a Z pattern, which has slightly narrower sails that give the windwheel a toothier appearance and a corrugated iron sheet tail that is much longer than broad. At right is an IZ pattern, which has broader sails giving the appearance of a much fuller windwheel, and a swallowtail or fishtail sheet tail. The Z pattern shown here is a 10 foot – note the ladder on the left side of the gearbox – and the IZ is an 8-foot.
It was a rather windy day, so both were spinning madly.
Heading back towards Murrumbateman, we came across a mill I had photographed previously – a 17 foot Southern Cross R pattern. Like so many mills today, this one no longer pumps, and has been replaced by a motor-driven pump installed at ground level under the tower proper.
The R pattern mills are the Rolls-Royce of windmills both in Australia and internationally, with a sophisticated oiling system that both circulates oil through the immense head casting and allows the oil to be replenished at ground level. Note also the substantial platform mounted on the head casting, complete with its own tower. Unfortunately, the R pattern is no longer made. Maybe one day it will be ressurected…
Like with all modern windmills, it is very good at self regulating; note the tail is raised and swung around to the left as the wind blows beyond the critical speed…
Only for the tail to swing back down and around when the wind eases up. Note the substantial double-ring windwheel that is characteristic of the earlier variants of these mills. The top photo also shows that the windwheel is getting a bit too close to the tower for comfort, suggesting the front bearing will need to be replaced soon. Otherwise, it will quickly become a wind-driven angle grinder!
There are a few R patterns around the Canberra area, including a gigantic 30-foot mill at Lanyon Homestead, just south of the suburbs of Banks and Gordon. This second 17-footer stands less than a kilometre away from the one shown above, out in the middle of a large paddock.
