History
"Crago’s mill, originally named Federal Flourmills, was designed by Sydney architects Nixon and Allen, while the erection of the machinery, boiler and engines was entrusted to Messrs T Robinson & Son Ltd, of Rochdale, England and Kent Street, Sydney. The Mill was continually altered and upgraded to accommodate new technologies and make various wheat and flour products."The Bakers & Confectioners’ Journal, 23 December 1907, Mitchell Library
At the peak of its operation, the mill ran 24 hours a day milling 3 types of wheat: off grade wheat which is low in protein, general purpose wheat used for plain flour and hard wheat which is high in protein and used for self-raising flour. Wheat was off-loaded 3 times a day at 5am, 11.30am and 6pm.
The mill ceased operations in 1984 when it was sold by Allied Mills Pty Ltd and converted to artists’ workshops. For the next 20 years the mill was used by painters, sculptors, musicians, stained glass makers, dancers and many other creative people. The adjacent silos were subdivided from the site in 2002 and converted to residential apartments. In 2007, work begins on the conversion of the building into the Flourmill Studios.