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The Southern Cross Windmill is the original Australian windmill pump. In 1876, the Griffiths family, led by George Washington Griffiths introduced the first windmill pumps to the rural Australian public, based on blueprints by American inventor Daniel Halladay.
The Southern Cross Brand began making windmills Northern Territory could rely on, and are still Australian owned and made to this day, building windmills and water storage solutions for people all across the country.
These wind power pumping systems helped greatly improve the way of life on farms for local farmers, and in the early 1900’s, the Griffiths family decided on the name Southern Cross for these wind pumps.
The oldest form of renewable energy, over a century later, many Australians still rely on these windmills to provide adequate water for livestock or crops, and ensure their way of life.
Southern Cross Windmills are available in a range of both windwheel and windmill tower sizes, and our experts can help you find the windmill that best suits your needs.
Our ‘FA’ Series towers come between 20′ and 60′, and the ‘IZ’ windwheels are available in sizes starting at 6′ all the way up to a 14′ wheel. The dimensions of your windmill will be determined by your surrounding landscape.
The Southern Cross “FA” Series Windmill Towers are available in the following heights:
The minimum recommended tower height for each windwheel size, is as follows:
Southern Cross have a dealers located all across Australia, including in the Northern Territory, who you can contact regarding repair or replacement of an existing windmill, or the installation of a new windmill. All of these dealers are Northern Territory locals, who are highly experienced windmill installers and repairers who can assist you with all of your windmill needs.
1090 Stuart Highway
Bees Creek, NT, 0836
Ph 0429 537 237
d.d.milne@bigpond.com
18 McKenzie Place
Yarrawonga, NT, 0830
Ph 1800 532 023
darwin@waterdynamics.com.au
Southern Cross Windmills can be found littered all across the Northern Territory, including the stunning centrepiece at The Old Quarry in Alice Springs.
As time has gone on, the worlds use of windmills has evolved from humble wind pumps and grain grinding facilities to large scale energy production, with wind farms full of impressive wind turbines stretching across large tracts of land and providing power generation to towns and communities.
More than 80% of Australians live within a mere 50km of the coast – a testament to how dry and harsh the Australian climate can be – and access to reliable water has always been a challenge for rural Australians.
When George Washington Griffiths brought the Southern Cross Windmill to rural Australians, it was a game changer, allowing pastoralists and graziers to explore further away from the coast for stock grazing and pastoral runs.
Most windmills are used to pump water from underground aquifers deep below the surface, but they can also be repurposed to redirect water from a river or creek, or pump it into or from a dam.
The solar water pump has recently presented itself as the latest challenger to the windmill, as water harvesting technology looks to modernise.
Windmills are proven to have a lasting success that remains to be seen with the more modern solar pumps, with plenty of properties across Australia boasting wind pumps that are more than fifty years old and still operating perfectly.
Windmill accidents make up less than 1% of all accidents on rural properties, so while solar pumps are often regarded as a safer option, they contain a dangerous current, and also pose risk of injury or death.
Also due to the lack of electricity in a wind powered pump, there is no chance of an energy surge unlike with solar panels, and the maintenance is less complex and will not require an electrician to repair.
For over a century, Southern Cross has been supplying windmills that Australian families can rely on. All of our Windmills come with a 30+ year design life.
Since 1903, over 250 000 iconic Southern Cross Windmills have been built. All windmills produced by Southern Cross are hot dip galvanised, and supported by over 100 years of winning windmill design.
Every Southern Cross Windmill includes our 3 year windmill warranty.
Southern Cross specialise in the design, manufacture, installation and service of windmills across Australia. We pride ourselves in the design and integrity of every Windmill we produce.
We design and engineer all of our windmills in house, and they are designed to be hardy enough to survive in even the harshest of Australian climates.
Authentic parts are available for Southern Cross “IZ” windwheels and “FA” towers. Parts for the retired A, J, R & Z Pattern Windmills”, “J” Series Windmill Pumps, Troughs, Check Valves, Pump Heads and Pump Jacks may still be available upon request.
Southern Cross Windmills has unparalleled experience in dealing with towns like Townname’s water storage needs, with the very first Southern Cross branded windmill being produced at the Toowoomba Foundry all the way back in 1903.
The Griffiths family produced their first windmills in 1876, which were based on designs from American inventor Daniel Halladay, and improved upon for durability and performance
The introduction of windmills to the Australian outback enabled rural families and pastoralists to occupy more arid areas of the country, causing towns and pastoral runs to begin growing across these areas.
Now comfortably residing at the Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society, this 7.3 m Southern Cross windwheel was built and transported to Mendooran in 1924.
The magnificent windmill is now used solely for display purposes, but it pumped water reliable for 73 years before it was donated to the Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society by the Payne family.
Closing in on its 100th birthday, at the most recent service, all it required was some oil so as to keep it in operating condition. This Mendooran windmill is a testament to the durability and dependability of a Southern Cross Windmill.
Have you recently bought a new rural block? Maybe you’re looking to rely less on mains or rainwater supply?
Southern Cross Windmills can help you meet your specific water storage needs, no matter where in the Northern Territory you are based.
Call us today on (07) 4612 7202 for an obligation free quote.
