Eudunda - Flour Mill built for E Davey & Sons, then owned by A F Boer Limited & finally Laucke Mills. South Australia
THE EUDUNDA BOILER EXPLOSION
Eudunda, August 18
Last evening at about half-past 6, the township of Eudunda was startled by a loud report, and a shock as though a thunderbolt had fallen or an earthshock had taken place, and in a moment volumes of steam and fragments of brickwork, iron, and timber, were seen flying in all directions from the back portion of Messrs E Davey & Sons' flourmill.
Soon a large crowd of persons gathered in the vicinity, and upon inspection it was found that one of the boilers which supplied steam to the engine had burst. The boiler, which was one of a nest of three, was situated at the outside of the two others, and was lifted clean out of its bed and hurled a distance of about 40 yards, going through in its course a large stack of bran and other mill products. It then passed across the railway line, a portion of which was torn up, and took a slight turn, coming in contact with the dwelling-house of Mr A Hannaford, watchmaker, carrying away the wall, and at last resting with half of its length in the kitchen of the house.
William Charnstrom, the engine driver of the night-shift, whose dead body was found lying beneath a large piece of masonry, weighing about 10 or 15 cwt, was busy with some little job. He had just started the engine for the night, and was standing directly in front of the boiler: close by was Mr E White, foreman miller, who was severely scalded, and a few feet away a young man, O E B Kunoth, who escaped with a shock.
Mr George Davey, representative of the firm, who lives close by, was quickly on the scene giving instructions. Only 10 minutes before Mr Davey had passed through the boiler-house, and spoke to the men, when everything seemed right.
Mr Charnstrom, who was a very old servant of the firm, was widely known and respected, and much sympathy and sorrow is felt for Mrs Charnstrom and the family, which is a large one, many of the children being young. Mr W Charnstrom jun, who had been working at the mill, left here for Quorn the previous day.
Mrs Hannaford, who was just about to pass from the dining-room into the kitchen as the boiler came into the room, was prostrated by the shock.
Large pieces of iron were carried a hundred yards, whilst smaller bits of iron and wood were sent fully 500 yards. The boiler flue is flattened and split and torn in a surprising manner, whilst the back end is clean gone and the front end is torn away from the flue. The portion of the line torn up was soon made fit for the passenger train to pass. Mr Healy and his men working with a will to get it ready. The ascending steam and fire presented a very striking sight.
August 19
The funeral of Mr Charnstrom took place today and was largely attended. [Ref: Advertiser (Adelaide) 20-8-1900]
*EUDUNDA, April 19
When Messrs Edwin Davey & Sons' flourmill was destroyed by fire in February 1919, it was expected by local people that it would soon be rebuilt, but up to a few days ago this expectation was not fulfilled— At one time there was a movement on foot to acquire the property and start a co-operative milling company. However, the price asked by the owners was deemed excessive, and further as Mr Boer the well known miller of Stockwell had acquired a property in Main Street with the intention of erecting a mill thereon those interested in the co-operative scheme withdrew their support.
Mr Boer then made active preparations for erecting his mill. He bought a complete mill at Maffra, Victoria, the owners of which were unfortunate in as much so as that though they had excellent and up to-date machinery, it could not treat the grain grown in the district and produce good flour.
The whole of the machinery and building were trucked to South Australia and stored in the large wheat store Mr Boer had bought here, and preparations were complete to start the new mill immediately when Messrs Davey & Sons made them an offer of the old mill property, which they accepted.
It is gratifying that this has occurred as the old mill as it stood was an eye-sore, and a mill in the main street would not be an improvement to the town, and again the old mill stands in a position in the town most suitable for the purpose. Builders are now renovating the old mill. Experts declare that the old walls are strong enough for the purpose if replastered. It is expected that the mill will be ready for work by November. [Ref: Kapunda Herald (SA) 7-5-1920]
*Mill Merger Embraces Angaston, Stockwell, Eudunda
Mr F Laucke and his sons have acquired the milling interests of Messrs A F Boer, Ltd, in one of the biggest industrial mergers this district has seen for a long time. It involves the important flour mills at Stockwell and Eudunda, which now become part of the enterprise represented by mills at Greenock. Angaston and Strathalbyn. Messrs Condor, Max and Hans Laucke are managing directors at these places.
Mr Werner Laucke will assume the Eudunda managership, and Mr Herb Boer will temporarily continue in charge at Stockwell—a post he has held with ability for many years: in fact, the Boer brothers, Herb and Arthur, principals in the firm, have become widely known during their 52 years operation and expansion.
The move will not make any material change in the individual mills, all working to capacity of the available manpower; but it will bring a deserved happiness to that beloved character, Mr F Laucke, Greenock, who will be 79 on March 8 next. Few men have so bravely, industriously and conscientiously shaped their lives to a good purpose, or built such a tribute to their ability.
With him it has ever been a hobby, rather than toil, and he infuses into his relationships with his family the understanding and vision that have made him so great an individual. With a happy twinkle in his eyes, he maintains his interest in the business, is managing director, and treasures a lot of friendships made along the way, which not always was smooth.
Mr Laucke came out in May of 1895 to be head miller in the Angaston mill they now own. It was conducted then by the Daveys, who started the old Penrice mill in the early 50s. It was burned down in 1886, and the present mill was erected in 1887 and subsequently extended. Mr Laucke was head miller for the Daveys at Angaston, Salisbury and Eudunda, in turn.
In June 1899, he bought the Greenock mill from Mr Finck and built it up until December, 1905, when an 80 hp engine was installed and the boiler burst in an explosion which involved him in a loss of around £1,400—a lot of money at that time. Scene of the wreckage was such that his friends despaired of his ever starting a mill again.
Quietly, he set to work to retrieve his loss, and installed the first producer-gas engine in Australia. Through droughts and difficult years, he held to his goal and by his integrity and fair dealing helped many producers to carry on to success. That he knew his profession fully is indicated by the list of shows and other exhibitions whereat he was recognised as an authority on wheat.
As his boys came on they joined him in the business, taking over the Angaston mill in July, 1933. It was converted to electricity in 1937, when a 75 hp motor was installed, displacing the 600 tons of firewood that used to be stored for the boilers. The mill at Strathalbyn (which last year celebrated its centenary) was acquired in 1927, when Mr Laucke became senior partner, and Hans has since extended and built up that section of the firm's interests. [Ref: Leader (Angaston SA) 25-1-1951]
Eudunda - Flour Mill built for E Davey & Sons, then owned by A F Boer Limited & finally Laucke Mills. South Australia
THE EUDUNDA BOILER EXPLOSION
Eudunda, August 18
Last evening at about half-past 6, the township of Eudunda was startled by a loud report, and a shock as though a thunderbolt had fallen or an earthshock had taken place, and in a moment volumes of steam and fragments of brickwork, iron, and timber, were seen flying in all directions from the back portion of Messrs E Davey & Sons' flourmill.
Soon a large crowd of persons gathered in the vicinity, and upon inspection it was found that one of the boilers which supplied steam to the engine had burst. The boiler, which was one of a nest of three, was situated at the outside of the two others, and was lifted clean out of its bed and hurled a distance of about 40 yards, going through in its course a large stack of bran and other mill products. It then passed across the railway line, a portion of which was torn up, and took a slight turn, coming in contact with the dwelling-house of Mr A Hannaford, watchmaker, carrying away the wall, and at last resting with half of its length in the kitchen of the house.
William Charnstrom, the engine driver of the night-shift, whose dead body was found lying beneath a large piece of masonry, weighing about 10 or 15 cwt, was busy with some little job. He had just started the engine for the night, and was standing directly in front of the boiler: close by was Mr E White, foreman miller, who was severely scalded, and a few feet away a young man, O E B Kunoth, who escaped with a shock.
Mr George Davey, representative of the firm, who lives close by, was quickly on the scene giving instructions. Only 10 minutes before Mr Davey had passed through the boiler-house, and spoke to the men, when everything seemed right.
Mr Charnstrom, who was a very old servant of the firm, was widely known and respected, and much sympathy and sorrow is felt for Mrs Charnstrom and the family, which is a large one, many of the children being young. Mr W Charnstrom jun, who had been working at the mill, left here for Quorn the previous day.
Mrs Hannaford, who was just about to pass from the dining-room into the kitchen as the boiler came into the room, was prostrated by the shock.
Large pieces of iron were carried a hundred yards, whilst smaller bits of iron and wood were sent fully 500 yards. The boiler flue is flattened and split and torn in a surprising manner, whilst the back end is clean gone and the front end is torn away from the flue. The portion of the line torn up was soon made fit for the passenger train to pass. Mr Healy and his men working with a will to get it ready. The ascending steam and fire presented a very striking sight.
August 19
The funeral of Mr Charnstrom took place today and was largely attended. [Ref: Advertiser (Adelaide) 20-8-1900]
*EUDUNDA, April 19
When Messrs Edwin Davey & Sons' flourmill was destroyed by fire in February 1919, it was expected by local people that it would soon be rebuilt, but up to a few days ago this expectation was not fulfilled— At one time there was a movement on foot to acquire the property and start a co-operative milling company. However, the price asked by the owners was deemed excessive, and further as Mr Boer the well known miller of Stockwell had acquired a property in Main Street with the intention of erecting a mill thereon those interested in the co-operative scheme withdrew their support.
Mr Boer then made active preparations for erecting his mill. He bought a complete mill at Maffra, Victoria, the owners of which were unfortunate in as much so as that though they had excellent and up to-date machinery, it could not treat the grain grown in the district and produce good flour.
The whole of the machinery and building were trucked to South Australia and stored in the large wheat store Mr Boer had bought here, and preparations were complete to start the new mill immediately when Messrs Davey & Sons made them an offer of the old mill property, which they accepted.
It is gratifying that this has occurred as the old mill as it stood was an eye-sore, and a mill in the main street would not be an improvement to the town, and again the old mill stands in a position in the town most suitable for the purpose. Builders are now renovating the old mill. Experts declare that the old walls are strong enough for the purpose if replastered. It is expected that the mill will be ready for work by November. [Ref: Kapunda Herald (SA) 7-5-1920]
*Mill Merger Embraces Angaston, Stockwell, Eudunda
Mr F Laucke and his sons have acquired the milling interests of Messrs A F Boer, Ltd, in one of the biggest industrial mergers this district has seen for a long time. It involves the important flour mills at Stockwell and Eudunda, which now become part of the enterprise represented by mills at Greenock. Angaston and Strathalbyn. Messrs Condor, Max and Hans Laucke are managing directors at these places.
Mr Werner Laucke will assume the Eudunda managership, and Mr Herb Boer will temporarily continue in charge at Stockwell—a post he has held with ability for many years: in fact, the Boer brothers, Herb and Arthur, principals in the firm, have become widely known during their 52 years operation and expansion.
The move will not make any material change in the individual mills, all working to capacity of the available manpower; but it will bring a deserved happiness to that beloved character, Mr F Laucke, Greenock, who will be 79 on March 8 next. Few men have so bravely, industriously and conscientiously shaped their lives to a good purpose, or built such a tribute to their ability.
With him it has ever been a hobby, rather than toil, and he infuses into his relationships with his family the understanding and vision that have made him so great an individual. With a happy twinkle in his eyes, he maintains his interest in the business, is managing director, and treasures a lot of friendships made along the way, which not always was smooth.
Mr Laucke came out in May of 1895 to be head miller in the Angaston mill they now own. It was conducted then by the Daveys, who started the old Penrice mill in the early 50s. It was burned down in 1886, and the present mill was erected in 1887 and subsequently extended. Mr Laucke was head miller for the Daveys at Angaston, Salisbury and Eudunda, in turn.
In June 1899, he bought the Greenock mill from Mr Finck and built it up until December, 1905, when an 80 hp engine was installed and the boiler burst in an explosion which involved him in a loss of around £1,400—a lot of money at that time. Scene of the wreckage was such that his friends despaired of his ever starting a mill again.
Quietly, he set to work to retrieve his loss, and installed the first producer-gas engine in Australia. Through droughts and difficult years, he held to his goal and by his integrity and fair dealing helped many producers to carry on to success. That he knew his profession fully is indicated by the list of shows and other exhibitions whereat he was recognised as an authority on wheat.
As his boys came on they joined him in the business, taking over the Angaston mill in July, 1933. It was converted to electricity in 1937, when a 75 hp motor was installed, displacing the 600 tons of firewood that used to be stored for the boilers. The mill at Strathalbyn (which last year celebrated its centenary) was acquired in 1927, when Mr Laucke became senior partner, and Hans has since extended and built up that section of the firm's interests. [Ref: Leader (Angaston SA) 25-1-1951]