A mill was started at Liverpool on the Georges' River about 1866 and was known as The Collingwood Paper Mill, and later as the Liverpool Paper Mill. Equipment included power plant, 5 stationery rag boilers, 4 breakers, 6 beaters and one machine with a deckle of 75 or 80 inches, made by James Bertram & Sons, Leith Walk, Scotland. The paper was glazed by 3 stacks of calenders. The number of employees engaged at the mill was probably about 90 - 60 men, 25 girls, 5 boys.

Australian woods were experimented with and Mr. Saunders believes the woods used were a pine growing along the Georges' River, stringy bark and also salt water rushes. The paper made from these materials was handmade, and it is said that the quality of the product was fairly good.

The syndicate behind the Botany Mill bought the concern in about 1901 for £ 9,000 including 40 acres of land. The machine was sent to Melbourne and most of the other machinery and equipment was sent to Botany or sold as scrap. Mr. Saunders believes the site is now occupied by Australian Woollen Mills.

On the other side of the Georges' River, at Moorebank, one Joseph Wearne ( or Whern ) built a single vat machine and it appears that most of the machinery - including the paper machine - was crudely fashioned and was probably handmade. It was erected in about 1876 and the number of hands engaged was 35 or 40. This mill was completely destroyed by a fire which ravaged the country in about 1880.

Another mill was started at Waterloo - on the site now occupied by Burroughs, Welcome - by George Adams of Tattersall sweep fame, round about 1888. Water was supplied from an old brick pit adjacent to the mill. Mr. Saunders knows little about this mill, but thinks the machine in use was about 50 inches wide. The mill was sold and closed down in about 1899.

( Information from John A. Saunders, an early employee, who is believed to have started work at the Collingwood Paper Mill about 1869. He later worked as a Blacksmith at the Botany Paper Mill. His notes were recorded on 19 August 1935 )

Source:

Amcor Archives ( Reference; 104/16, File No. 342 ) (University of Melbourne Archives, Baillieu Library, Melbourne)

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