120 years of production on the Lane Cove River
The Chicago Starch Mills opened on the banks of the Lane Cover River (at the junction of present-day Mowbray Rd West and 170 Epping Road, Lane Cove) in 1894. Willoughby Council has installed a Heritage Plaque in the vicinity to commemorate the Mill. The wording on the plaque is:
- In 1891 Harry Clifford Love leased property from Mrs Sidney Brodie Whatmore, who had obtained a rescission to acquire the crown land on the Lane Cove River. In 1894 he opened the Chicago Starch Mills and in 1907 and 1908 purchased the land. Initially the mill made cornflour and laundry starch. By 1911 Clifford Love and Company processed oatmeal and other commodities. In 1966 Corn Products Company bought the factory. Fielders bought a share of the company in 1977 and the remainder in 1986, trading as Goodman Fielder Mills Limited. In 2000 the company was sold to the Penford Corporation and now trades as Penford Australia Limited.
In August, 2013 the Mill was being operated by Ingredion.
NOTE: This story draws heavily on the book by Beverley Johnson
The Chicago Starch Mills that opened on the banks of the Lane Cove River on the 3rd November, 1894 were used to manufacture starch and cornflour. It appears that the industry began in buildings previously erected by John Sugden Berry, a bone dust manufacture who had operated a boiling down works on the site of the future mill. Harry Clifford Love, first leased the property from Mrs Sidney Brodie Whatmore in July 1891 and purchased the land on which the mill stood in 1908.The mill had been built within the 100 foot reservation, land by law owned by the Crown. However, Mrs Whatmore had applied for and been granted a rescission and was thus able to alienate and sell the land.
The two products manufactured at the Mill (starch and conflour) both required copious quantities of water.
WATER SUPPLY
Until 1890 water was supplied to parts of the North Shore from the Paddington Reservoir via Dawes and Milson Points. In 1892 an alternate supply became available. From Potts Hill Reservoir water was fed by gravity using caste-iron pipes to a new pumping station at Ryde. From there it was pumped through a wrought-iron pipe across the Lane Cove River to two service reservoirs at Chatsworth (sic)(Chatswood). The mill connected to this pipeline. In 1916 there were concerns about the quantity of water used by the mill – daily readings were taken.
FIRE & RECONSTRUCTION
In 1897 the mill was almost destroyed by fire. The fire had broken out in the room where hot pipes dried the starch. At this time the four mill buildings were of brick and weatherboard with iron roofs. A replacement mill was built to plans by architect Geo. W Durrell. The new mill was constructed of wood (ironbark), oregon, hardwood and kauri with a galvanised iron roof. The river-front gable had barge boards of redwood.
SOURCES OF POWER & HEAT
The original power for the mill was steam The exhaust steam was used to dry the cornflour and starch. Coal was used to feed the steam boiler using an elevator system. The cost of transporting coal to the mill was high. Coke was sourced from the North Shore Gas Company (later taken over by Australian Gaslight Company – AGL). Due to the cost of coal the owner of the mill (Clifton Love) was recommending conversion to oil. In 1949 the mill had to close because of a coal strike. One of the boilers was converted to oil.
Oil was delivered up the Lane Cove River by a Shell lighter (small draft boat) from Shell at Greenwich.
ELECTRICITY
No record exists of the way the mill was originally lit. In 1912 the issue of electric lighting was discussed with Chatswood (sic) (Willoughby?) Council. However the outcome was that tenders were called for the mill to be lit by electricity from the company’s generator and batteries.
As self-producing power became relatively expensive, in 1914 the company again approached Willoughby Council, without success. In 1919 the company contacted the city council (City of Sydney ?) about supply. But once again this appears to have resulted in DIY outcome.
In 1929 additional electricity plant was installed – a Bellis and Morcom engine. This engine was donated to the Sydney Powerhouse Museum in 1994. It is on display and regularly operated at the museum.
Owners & Managers
- Harry Clifford Love – Owner
- Clifton (Joseph Clifton) Love – Owner
- Peter C. Millar – Manager
- John Newell – Blacksmith
- Annie Paton Love (wife of Harry
- Horace (David Horace) Love – Manager
- Mr Fleeting – Manager
- Mr H (Harold) Millar – Manager
- Mr Cross – Manager
- Mr Richards – Manager
- Mr Benson – Manager
Refer a list of works at the mill below
Trademarks
- Ship Cornflour
- Mazaca Cornflour
- Rumford Cornflour
- Clifton Cornflour
- Rumford Starch
- Clifton Starch
- Horace (David Horace) Love
There are photographs in Johnson’s book showing Mill workers. Many of the people are identified by name.
Telephone
The telephone preceded the 1897 fire. It was used to call the fire brigade.
Lane Cove River Transport
In the early days the most common method of transport to the Mill was by boat. The first boat used was the Lighter “Nellie“, owned and operated by the Jenkins family of Millwood Farm, Little Blue Gum Creek. The Nellie was built in 1882 by Hilton Bros. and the Jenkins used it to transport fruit to the city. In 1911 Martha Jenkins sold the Nellie to Clifford Love. The Nellie was renamed Nellie Love in 1918. By 1926 only the hull of the Nellie Love was worth keeping she was stripped and used as a barge.
The Annie Love, combination launch and lighter was built in Berry’s Bay in 1909. It was sold to Stannard Bros in 1938. The Peggy Love was built in McMahons Point in 1927.
Trade marks & brand names
There was a plethora of trade marks, brand names and packing used for the products of the Mill.
SHIP
Used for some cornflour products.
CLIFTON’S LILYWHITE STARCH
The trademark registered was for the whole packet. An example of this packet is at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum.
LAUNDRENA
The word ‘Laundrena’ was the trademark. Laundrena was associated with a starch product.
NEWTON’S CORNFLOUR
Appears to have been registered as a trademark for an export cornflour product.
MILKRICHA
Milkricha was a gluten meal mixture sold to the dairy industry.
CLEMENT’S, WADE’S, BROWN & POLSON CORNFLOUR
Clement’s cornflour was sold in Queensland, Wade’s in New South Wales and Brown & Polson’s in Victoria.
O-SO-SOFT
A bath starch of coloured and scented starch crystals.
BONDCOR
A one-pack adhesive used in the corrugated board industry.
Packing the products
In August 1916 the Australian Manufacturer argued that a housewife no longer needed to buy in bulk from her grocer. The intelligent, economic housewife could now buy what she needed in cartons, tins or bottles.
Packing starch was a hard, tiring job, all done by hand.
In 1914, Clifford Love & Co. contemplated a new machine for packing cornflour
Processing the raw products
For rice starch (such as Clifton’s Lilywhite Starch), the process consisted of steeping (to pass slowly through small openings or pores) the rice in a caustic soda solution, putting through a buhr mill (a grinding machine utilising a fixed and mobile surface through which materials pass). The resulting slurry went to a vat where the starch settled and the liquid containing the protein was siphoned off.
For maize starch and associated products the process consisted of separating the parts of the kernel (germ, fibre, gluten and starch. Each was then processed for a specific use. After seeping, the maize was put through buhr stones to tear, rather than grind, the softened kernels. Then the pulp went to the germ separator. Because the germ is lighter than the grain, separation was by gravity. The germ was removed by skimmers. The solids sank and were passed through a series of shakers. What was left after the shakers was the starch and gluten slurry.
Cornflour
Starch was put in the settling vat and water added. The starch would settle and any gluten remaining would float. The gluten would be removed by suction pump and dried.
Starch
Starch intended for domestic or laundry use was moved to separate vats where water and caustic soda (and ‘blue’) was added. The starch settled and was moved into a starch press and water was vacuumed from it. The starch was wrapped in paper, tied with string and dried. The drying process caused a crust to form on the starch. This was removed by hand using a large knife. The starch was then packed.
Feed House
All residue from the various processes was pumped to the feed house to be processed into cattle food.
Raw Materials
Rice
In 1894 most of the rice in the colony was imported (from China or India). By 1934 rice was being sourced from Leeton.
Maize
Maize (corn) during the early years of production seems to have been sourced from around Grafton on the north coast of NSW. In 1915 maize was purchased from South Africa. In 1918 the Macleay River was mentioned as a source..
Advertising
A variety of methods were utilised to promote the products. These included:
- Show Cards – large display cards showing the product arranged in the window of a shop
- Window displays – using dummies of the products and Show Cards
- Picture Show Advertisements – in city and suburban theatres
- Public Places – using hoarding posters and at city and suburban railway stations, on ferries and wharves
- Exhibitions – local and international. The Great White Train which toured the State for 6 months
- The Commonwealth Trades Alphabet – designed for school children
- Newspapers – in city and country papers
Getting there by road
In 1883 Willoughby Council had decided to clear and stump Mowbray Rd West from the Lane Cove Rd (now Pacific Highway) to the river. Unfortunately, work stopped about 2/3 of the way along the road. By 1920 there was a clear need for a formed road to the Mill and the tender was let and the road constructed. In 1938 the Epping – St Leonards Main Road (Epping Rd) was being constructed and routed across Mill land. This interfered with the Mill access road. It wasn’t until 1944 that a new access road was completed.
The construction of the road meant that grain could be transported to Lane Cove by semi-trailer (or by train to St Leonards) then by truck to the Mill.
2010: Corn Products International changed name to Ingredion.
Ingedion ( – 2013): http://www.foodinnovation.com/foodinnovation/en-us/Company/Pages/History.aspx
Johnson B, c. 1995, The Corngrinder – A hundred years of corn milling on the Lane Cove River, Goldman Fielder Ingredients Limited, Lane Cove
Title: Goodman Fielder (GMF) / Bill Pridham.
Author: Pridham, William.
Other Authors: Warburg Dillon Read Australia Equities.
Published: Melbourne : Warburg Dillon Read, c1999.
Subjects
- 332.670994
Libraries Australia ID
Boiling down is the process of rendering fat from animal carcasses to producetallow. It was a common small-farm activity for making soap and candles for domestic use, but was industrialised in the early 19th century, particulalry in Australia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_down
Supreme Court of New South Wales
Stephen J., 18 July 1889
Source: Sydney Morning Herald , 19 July 1889, p. 3
No. 1. Jury Court – (Before his Honor Mr. Justice Stephen and a jury of four.)
MONROE V. PERRY.
Mr. Tarleton, instructed by Mr. J.A. Cahill, appeared for the plaintiff. The defendant did not appear. This was an action brought by Eliza Monroe, widow, who at one time carried on business as a dressmaker, against John Sugden Berry, widower, to recover £500 damages for breach of promise of marriage.
http://www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/case_index/1889/monroe_v_perry/
Workers at the Mill
Allan Bonny
Allan Valerie
Atkins Gordon
Austin Steve
Banks George
Banks Karl
Banks Carl
Barrett Dick
Barrett Dick
Beaumont Peter
Beckington Tom
Beckington Joan
Bellette Doug
Bellette Ross
Bellette Warren
Bellette Brian
Benson Miss
Benson Paul
Bird Arthur
Bird Alice
Black Alice
Black Jack
Boleat George
Booth Mrs.
Booth Bobby
Bowden Basil
Brett Ernie
Brett/Howard Adelaide
Brett Bob
Bryant Lila
Bryant Neville
Bunt Harold
Bunt Harry
Burton Lou
Bygraves George
Calabro Ray
Calabro Pino
Calvi Sam
Calvi George
Christie E. (Liz)
Cleland Reg
Collett Barnie
Colvin J
Colwell Alan
Cooper Kenny
Cormack Jim
Cross Mr
Curry Tom
Curry Clive
Cutts Harry
Cutts Ann
Cutts John
Dade Tommy
Daniels Vicky
Dean Al
Dean Harry
Dean A (Albert) G
Dean Henry
Desland Bunny
Dhu Herbie
Dickens six in family
Dunn C.F. (Charlie)
Dunn Peter
Ferguson Bernie
Ferguson Rodney
Ferguson Marty
Fleeting Mr
Freeman Herb
Grant Steve
Green Jack
Hanley Merle
Hardy Tom
Hardy Basil Tom
Hawkins Joe
Hawkins Wally
Hawkins Fred
Hay Mary
Hay Tiny
Haylock B
Haylock Bertie
Heaps Sid
Heness Roy
Hewitt Jean
Hewitt Jack
Hewitt Charlie
Hewitt Betty
Hincapie Julian
Hincapie Humberto
Hoiwlett Gordon
Hopcroft Miss
Horton Barry
Howard/Brett Adelaide
Howlett Gordon
Howlett Stuart
Hudson Rod
Hudson Chris
Humphery Govia
Humpherys Mark
Humphreys Mike
Innes ?
James Gilbert
Johnson Shaun
Kemp F
Kemsley Burglar’
Kerr Jock
Kirkwood Ken
Kirkwood Jim
Knight Sid
Knight Tim
Knight Simon
Lane Bruce
Layton/Quinn Maria
Le Messurier Alf
Leggett Kenny
Leonard Allan
Livingstone R
Longworth ?
Lovell Percy
Lyndon-Jones John
Marles Bob
Marron Teddy
Martin Gloria
Masterman Marmaduke
McCarthy Charles
McClelland Gordon
McClennand Gordon
McCulloch Tom
McCulloch Marty
McDonald Billy
McNaught Ken
Merchant Bill
Millar Harold
Millar Jack
Millar Col
Millar P.C
Millar Harold ‘Acka’
Millars Jack
Miller Col
Newell John
Nichol Dave
Nichol Sid
Nichol Dave
Nicol David (Snr)
Nielsen Eric
Nugent Bill
Nugent Anthea
Oliver Dinah
Oliver May
Oliver Bill
Oliver W.H. (Harry)
Parkins Arthur
Palmer Trevor (Snr)
Palmer Trevor (Jnr)
Pattingale Evelyn
Pattingdale Errnie
Perrott Allan
Quinn Bill
Quinn Maria
Rennie Alex
Richards Rueben
Rose F (Fred) D
Ross Don
Scalia Dr. Umberto
Sharp G.V.
Shenton Neville
Short Col
Silsby Alan
Smith Dora
Smith Percy
Smith Ken
Smith Gaddie
Smith Dora
Smith Gladdy
Smith Herbie
Smith Harry
Stacey Claude
Stovey May
Stuart uncle, nephew
Taylor Thomas
Thomas Charlie
Thomas Chris
Thompson Alf
Tickner Sam (T.S)
Tickner Ted (E.G.)
Tickner Sam (S.G.)
Tickner Ted (Jnr)
Townsend Mick
Turner Sid
Turner Frank
Turner E.L. (Les)
Tyrell W
Vorlicek Big George
Wade John
Wade Jack
Wagstaff Lindsay
Wagstaff Albert (1)
Wagstaff Albert (2)
Wagstaff David (Jnr)
Walker Jack
Walker Jock
Warner Rex
Watton Flo
Watton Geroge
Watton Beryl
Watton Albert
Wearn Bill
White Dave M
White Darky’
Williams Fred
Winch Bill
Witton Frank
Woodfine Wally
Wright Ivy
Chatswood West Ward History 