An early attempt to establish a paper mill in Victoria, Australia was made by Alexander Martelli , an Italian architect and surveyor with an office at 32 Collins Street, Melbourne. He was probably working for, or in partnership with, Thomas Kenny.

In October 1862 he prepared plans and applied to the Victorian Board of Land and Works for a grant of 3 acres of land on the south bank of the River Yarra close to the Queen Street Bridge. He spent over six months negotiating with the government and the Emerald Hill Council, mainly in relation to conditions for the input and output of water for the mill. The conditions imposed were apparently unacceptable to Martelli as he did not proceed with the matter.

Alexander Martelli's Plan of the Proposed Site for a Paper Mill at South Melbourne.
(PROV VPRS 44/P0, Unit 62, 63/3949) © State of Victoria.
Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.

Emerald Hill Municipal Council's Revised Plan for Martelli's Proposed Paper Mill at South Melbourne.
(PROV VPRS 44/P0, Unit 62, 63/3949) © State of Victoria.
Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.

Sources:

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

D'Aprano, Charles From Goldrush to Federation (INT Press, Ascot Vale, Vic., 1997)

Victorian Public Record Office (PROV VPRS 44, Unit 62)

Newspapers:

Victoria "The Age" & "The Argus"

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