In 1875 the Collingwood Paper Mill was sold to Daniel Williams who entered into partnership with George Murray and the mill was renamed the Liverpool Paper Mill. This mill continued until about 1905 with the buildings later being used as a woollen mill.

Upon entering the large gateway leading to the mill, the first thing which meets the visitor's eye is that of the handsome and well-kept engine-room, containing two 50- horse power steam-engines, and apart from this building there is another engine 25-horse power, specially adapted for driving the paper-machine. Adjoining this building are threee large Cornish boilers, calculated for 120lbs. steam pressure; over the engine-house is a large iron tank, capable of containing 30,000 gallons of water drawn from the River George; about thirty yards distance from the main buildings, and close on the bank of the river, from which an abundant supply of fine water is to be had, stands another engine-house, the engine of which is capable of pumping 100,000 gallons an hour into the large tank above referred to, from which there is a constant flow. Commencing at the rag-cutting and sorting room, in which a number of females are at work, the visitor is conducted to the rope and cypherus cutter, which revolves with great velocity. Above this apartment the rags are received and put through a large develling and dusting machine, from whence they are sent to the boiling apartment, containing four large stationary rag-boilers, which are capable of holding a ton; and imnmediately below these there is a large revolving rag-boiler. When the material is sufficiently boiled, it is then sent to the apartment containing four rag-breakers, holding two hundredweight each. These breakers are used for reducing the material into what is termed "half-stuff." In this state it is sent by shoots to the bleach-house - returning again to the engine-room, it is placed in the beaters, of which there are six, besides two poachers which are used to work up paper-cuttings, old account-books, waste paper, &c. After going through the beating process it is again returned to the bleach-house, containing twelve large stone chests, and when bleached, it is then sent by a powerful hydraulic lift to the second floor, and emptied into two immense chests called stuff-chests, which stand in the machine-room, an apartment measuring 100 feet long, by 25 feet wide, well lighted by a glass roof, with every care and attention to good ventilation and comfort of the workmen. In this apartment the paper machine stands, the action of which may be briefly described as follows: - The pulp vats supplied from above contain a supply of the paper material in a semi-fluid state. The pulp is held in solution and prevented from subsiding by the motion of the agitator, which revolves within the vats. The stuff issuing from the vats into the trough below, passes thence through the knotter or strainer, and flows in a broad evenstream over an apron to a revolving endless wire of gauze, which is distended, and moves over a series of copper rollers, supported upon a frame to which a slight vibratory motion is given by the crank. The object of this motion is to assist in distributing the pulp evenly over the surface of the gauze to facilitate the escape of the water through its pores and the felting together of the fibres of the pulp. The wire cloth with the pulp passes onwards to a pair of wet rollers covered with felt, the surface of the upper roller being kept wet by a jet of water flowing in contact with it to prevent the pulp from adhering to the rollers. The wire cloth, with the pulp passing between these rollers, is subjected to a slight pressure, which is repeated by a second pair of rollers, similar to the first. The web of paper is then led upon and endless felt or blanket, the wire quitting it and passing round a roller, and beneath the machine, to obtain a new supply of pulp. It is now passed over the surface of the drying cylinders, each of which are heated by steam to a different temperature; the first cylinder being the coolest, and the last the hottest. After passing over these cylinders or dryers, when surface is required, it also passes through the glazing rollers; the paper is then wound upon a reel ready for the cutting machine, by which it is divided into sheets and sent to the finishing-room - a large, well-lighted airy apartment of similar dimensions to the machine-room - in which stands a large powerful hydraulic press, where the paper is put up in reams and finished ready for market.

From our engraving it will be observed that a branch from the Government Railways runs into the mill, giving every facility for quick dispatch of the manufactured article.

Since the new Company have started they have made printing papers, grey and brown papers, and grey paper bags, all of excellent quality.

The property consists of 14 acres, the main buildings covering upwards of 2 acres, and an inexhaustible supply of cypherus (similar to the esparto grass so much in use for paper-making at home) is to be found growing upon the banks of the George's River, upon which the mill stands.

The mill is capable of turning out 24 tons made-paper weekly, when working double shifts.

The agents in Sydney are Murray, Dunlop, and Co. Home agents: Murray, Harvey, and Co., Edinburgh.

In 1883 a picnic was held for the workers at the mill.

This mill was being run by James Moir & Co. in the 1890's. It ceased production about 1905 when staff and machinery were moved to other paper mills. In 1910 the buildings became the Challenge Woollen Mills.

Source:

Amcor Archives (University of Melbourne Archives, Baillieu Library, Melbourne)

Keating, Christopher On the Frontier, A Social History of Liverpool (Hale & Iremonger)

Liverpool Sesqui-Centenary Commemoration - One Hundred and Fifty Years of Progress from Town to City (Liverpool Municipal Council, 1960)

Newspapers:

New South Wales: "Illustrated Sydney News"; "Sydney Morning Herald"; "Town & Country Journal"

Papermaking in New South Wales to 1900  |  Back to Home Page