Name John Dunn Role Miller | Died 1894 | |
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Books A Miller's Tale: The Memoirs of John Dunn of Mount Barker | ||
John Dunn Sr. (13 February 1802 – 13 October 1894) was a flour miller in the early days of the colony of South Australia; a parliamentarian, philanthropist and a prominent citizen of Mount Barker, South Australia.
Contents
- Career
- Politics
- Church
- Philanthropy
- Hay Valley Windmill
- Mount Barker
- Bridgewater
- Port Adelaide
- Port Augusta Jetty and Mill 1880
- Family
- John Dunn Srs siblings
- References
Career
He was born in the parish of Bondleigh, Devon, the son of a small farmer. At the age of 10 he was working as a servant, then for seven years was apprenticed to a miller at North Tawton. He was then appointed manager of a steam mill in Bideford, Devon and in 1836 owned his own mill at Monkleigh, some 6 km to the south. On the suggestion of his brothers, who had emigrated earlier, he, his wife and four children, left for Australia on the Lysander, arriving at Port Adelaide on 6 September 1840.
He found employment with Borrow & Goodiar, then purchased land near his brother's property at Hay Valley (near Nairne), which he farmed and in 1842 built a windmill for grinding flour, possibly the first in Australia. The variability of wind in the area limited its usefulness, particularly as he had built the windmill with a fixed mechanism, and the angle of the sails could not be changed to match wind direction, and he ordered a small steam engine from England. While waiting for its arrival he worked for Ridley, helping to construct his famous reaper, proving its performance on D. McFarlane's land at Mount Barker.
For a time he managed the South Australian Company's first steam mill in Adelaide, which had been set up by William Randell.
His first steam mill, in Mount Barker, began working in 1844, the second steam mill in Australia at a time when South Australia was the only wheat producing colony in Australia.
Soon Ridley's, Hart's, Magarey's, and other brands of flour were exported to the other colonies, then overseas. Dunn's milling and grain business grew until the firm had eleven steam flour mills, five fitted with more modern roller machinery. Dunn's first steam mill was decommissioned as a flour mill by 1899, converted to become ancillary to leather production.
Dunn admitted his two sons into partnership as well as his son-in-law W. Hill, and his brother-in-law G. Shorney. W. H. Dunn left about 1875 to farm in the North, and the remaining partnership was continued until the death of Hill in 1885 and Shorney in 1891. John Dunn retired from the business in 1889, leaving John Dunn, jun., as head of the firm.
Politics
He was on the Mount Barker council its chairman.
Church
John Dunn was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and paid for the construction of the church building in Mount Barker which bears his name, opened in September 1884. He also paid for the construction of several rows of houses for the benefit of the invalid elderly of the district.
Philanthropy
He gave to the people of Mount Barker the "Dunn Memorial Church" which was opened in September 1884, and "Dunn Park" on the occasion of his 90th birthday,
He died with an estate of around £100,000 with substantial bequests to a large number of charities, many associated with the Methodist Church and Prince Alfred College.
Hay Valley Windmill
His first mill (1842) was a fixed windmill at Hay Valley, near Nairne.
Mount Barker
His second mill, a far more ambitious three-story stone mill powered by steam, was built in 1844, in steam 1 October 1844.
Bridgewater
Around 1857 Dunn bought part of section 1141 of Bridgewater to erect a steam and water mill which, for most of the year, was operated by water from Cox's Creek. In 1870 a flood washed away the mill dam, which had only recently been completed, together with the older dam and three bridges. From 1958 the mill was used as a bond store for Hamilton's Wines and is now owned by Petaluma Wines and operates as a restaurant. The building, on Mount Barker Road, is a tourist attraction; the millwheel operates electrically.
Port Adelaide
Erected by John Dunn jun. after his abortive mission to the South Seas, this steam mill went into operation early in 1866, but was burned down late that year. As this closely followed a strike followed by a lock-out, sabotage was suspected. It was rebuilt the following year. John Dunn jun. rejoined his father's company around the same time as the other family members became joint partners, and the Port Adelaide mill was acquired by the company as the price of his readmission. In 1887 the building was again destroyed by fire.
Port Augusta Jetty and Mill (1880)
A steam mill, using all the latest technology, was installed at Port Augusta in 1880.
Family
He was born the son of Charles Dunn (1770 – 17 June 1850) and Thomasin Dunn, née Hooper (1771 – 29 April 1852) who followed their children to South Australia. They were buried at Blakiston, South Australia.
He married Ann Rowe (1802 – 24 November 1870) in 1828. Their children were:
On 27 February 1872 he married again, to Jane Cork Williams (c. 1834 – 7 June 1929), the eldest daughter of John Williams. (John Dunn Jr. had married her sister Elizabeth.)
He died at his home, "The Laurels", which was built in 1857
John Dunn Sr.'s siblings
William Henry Dunn MHA, William Paltridge MHA, Herbert Charles Dunn MHA, agriculturist Charles Dunn (1796–1881) who founded Charleston, South Australia, the Rev. William Arthur Dunn, president of Prince Alfred College, architect Hedley Allen Dunn, and embezzler and arsonist Alfred Henry Dunn (c. 1845–1904) were also closely related.