Photographed near Port Lincoln, South Australia in August 2002 by B. G. Hewitson.

The Varcoe Windmill

T. H. VARCOE purchased a blacksmiths shop from a Mr Williams in Mt Gambier, South Australia in 1911. In 1913 the business, now known as the VARCOE FOUNDRY, moved around the corner from the original premises to Ferrers Street, Mount Gambier. In 1928 Thomas Hornsby VARCOE applied for a windmill patent. The foundry site was sold in 1979 to the Mt Gambier City Council. Also in 1979 the windmill business was sold to CHAPMAN & SAUNDERS PTY LTD. and they continued production of VARCOE windmills until December 1984 when DEAN & McCABE was set up with the intention of continuing the production of VARCOE windmills. Their address in 2001 was 2 Ramsay Ave, Mt Gambier, South Australia.
There were several different models of windmills produced. These included a direct action oil bath type manufactured in c1920 and claimed to be the first of its type in the world. There was also a pipe cylinder oil bath type, a turks cap oil bath type which was a single geared windmill with heavy cast cap. It had a walking beam drive and 5 single rod spokes with 3 blades to a section. There was also a witch's hat type.
DEAN & McCABE produced the 6 & 7 ft Junior windmill which was a direct action windmill with sealed ball bearings and a 3 inch stroke.
The VARCOE 6, 7 & 8ft windmills were double geared and the fan was assembled onto a fully welded, galvanised steel frame on a 4 post tower.
The VARCOE 10ft windmill was a geared windmill mounted on a 4 post tower. The fan was made up of 6 segments.

Early T.H.VARCOE FOUNDRY photograph courtesy of DEAN & McCABE, Mt Gambier, South Australia.
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