"The house and land known as the Barwon House Estate has just found a purchaser in Mr. W. D. Hughes. As our readers are no doubt aware of the admirable position of this estate, standing on the high ground of Prince's Bridge, commanding a view of the valley of the Barwon and the Barrabool Hills; and, although the house was built in the early days above the flood marks of the Barwon, about half a mile on the town side of Geelong, it is without doubt a most substantially built structure. Mr Hughes will shortly remove to the house and he will then commence the erection of a Paper Manufactory, fitted with the most modern machinery for making paper bags. We understand the bag making plant will be capable of turning out three million bags weekly. There will also be added special printing machines for the printing of grocers, drapers and all other kinds of bags and wrapping papers. This industry alone will find work for fully 200 young women.

The Paper Mill will be laid out to accommodate three paper making machines. The first machine that is to be erected is now about to be despatched from England and is capable of making paper 84 inches wide. It is of the latest pattern, fitted with all improvements up to date, and has 13 drying cylinders, each 4 feet 6 inches in diameter, as well as all the requisite rolls for finishing the paper with any desired surface. This machine will be capable of making of upwards of 40 tons of paper weekly. Immediately this is in action, a second machine will be put down for making the thin glazed papers, now so largely used by drapers and soft goods houses. This will be the only machine in the Colonies of its kind. There will be room left to accommodate a third machine which it is intended to use for the manufacture of the higher classes of white and coloured printing papers. The other machinery comprised in the mill to the making of paper there will also be the finest machinery yet invented for the manufacture of all knids of paper used in Australia. In addition will be steam power of fully a 1,000 indicated horse power. The rag or pulp engine will each be double or treble the size of any yet at work this side of the "line," while the rag boiulers, choppers, dusters, &c., will all be of the most improved labour-saving kind. The mill buildings will cover an area of between three and four acres and will be substantially built of brick with stone facings. The mill chimney and boiler flues will be constructed on the most scientific principle, with due regard to economy of fuel, and nothing will be omitted to make this mill worthy of the important position it will fill as one of the largest industrial wonders in the colonies. The manufactory will be known as The Austral Paper Mills.

Mr. Hughes is being joined in the enterprise by some capitalists from England, who are quite satisfied with the state of trade in Victoria and the representations made by Mr. Hughes, and the prospects of a good return on their capital. Mr. Hughes personally will have a large interest in the concern and will have sole charge both of the Mill and Warehouse which will be opened in Melbourne, as they propose to distribute their own productions direct to the grocers, storekeepers, soft goods houses, &c., without the intervention of any of the wholesale houses in Melbourne.

In the meantime, during the erection of this new factory, Mr. Hughes has built a factory in McKillop Street, fitted with a most complete plant for printing, bag making, and the samples he submitted to us yesterday morning were really excellent specimens. Mr. Hughes gives us to understand that, when this new factory is in full work, he will find employment for at least 600 work people in the various departments."

Austral Paper Mill  |  Back to Home Page