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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.
These wind power pumping systems helped greatly improve the way of life on farms for rural Australians, 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.
Our windmills are available in a range of sizes. The Southern Cross Windmill can be fitted with a windwheel between 6′ and 14′, and mounted on a tower between 20′ and 60′.
Our experts can help determine what wheel and tower sizes would best suit your windmill, based on the landscape you wish to have it built on, and the level of wind your property receives.
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 number Victorian based dealers and contacts who you can contact for installation of a new windmill, or repair or replacement of an existing windmill. All of these installers are highly experienced windmill installers and repairers who can assist you with all of your windmill needs.
18 Thwaites Road
Packenham, Vic, 3810
Dean
Ph 0417 369 138
dean@completewindmillrepairs.com.au
Ballarat, Vic, 3350
Patrick Maher
Ph 0437 287 726
mahercontracting@yahoo.com.au
376 Tinamba-Newry Road
Newry, Vic, 3859
Ph 0437 461 940
marshwindmills@outlook.com
1009 Latrobe Street
Ballarat VIC 3350
Ph 03 5336 3600
admin.ballarat@midlandirrigation.com.au
84 – 86 Strickland Road
Bendigo VIC 3350
P.O. Box 1001
Bendigo VIC 3552
Ph 03 5442 5655
admin.ballarat@midlandirrigation.com.au
10 Hoyle Court
Kyneton VIC 3444
P.O. Box 543
Kyneton VIC 3444
Ph 03 5422 0000
admin.ballarat@midlandirrigation.com.au
703A Midland Hwy
Shepparton East 3631
PO Box 200
Shepparton East 3631
Ph 03 5829 2506
info@roeandcook.com.au
11 Hugh Murray Drive
Colac VIC 3250,
Ph 03 5231 5432
admin@windmillandirrigation.com.au
Even outside of the more traditional windmills that Southern Cross Windmills offer, Victorians have continued to use wind energy for electricity generation with the Stockyard Hills Wind Farm, Bald Hills Wind Farm and Toora Wind Farm helping wind power to make up 10% of Australia’s total electricity generation, and 40% of renewable energy generation.
Australia is a famously arid and tough country, and water has always been challenging to come by in rural Victoria, particularly these days with widespread green drought, and irrigators using the Murray Darling – unsurprisingly 85% of Australia’s population lives within 50km of the coast.
The arrival of the modern windmill, thanks to George Washington Griffiths, was a game changer for pastoralists and graziers, allowing them to move their farms further away from the coast for stock grazing, where land was more affordable and accessible.
Most windmills harness the power of wind to draw water from underground water tables 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 clean energy and water harvesting technology looks to modernise.
While solar pumps look promising, they certainly aren’t as tried and tested in the long run as the traditional windmill, with many properties across Australia featuring windmills that have been pumping water for more than 50 years.
Despite solar systems being advertised as a safer option, they may contain a potentially dangerous current, while the “dangerous” windmill accounts for less than 1% of all accidents on rural properties.
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.
Southern Cross has been providing windmills that Australian families and farms can rely on for over a century, and all of our windmills have 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.
All Southern Cross Windmills sold in Victoria include a 3-year warranty.
Southern Cross Windmills pride ourselves on the quality and integrity of our product. We specialise in the manufacture, installation and service of industry leading windmills around the country and across the globe.
All of our windmills are designed and engineered in-house, and are durable enough to survive in the harshest of Australian climates, rain, hail or shine.
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.
From the very first Southern Cross windmill rolling off the Toowoomba Foundry line in 1903, nobody has experience like we do of handling Victoria’s unique water harvesting needs.
The Griffiths family produced their first windmills in 1876, which were based on plans from American engineer Daniel Halladay, and improved upon for durability and functionality
These first windmills allowed rural Australians to move into more arid areas of the country for grazing sheep and cattle, and inland towns and pastoral runs began to emerge across the nation.
Now comfortably residing at the Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society, this 7.3 m Southern Cross windwheel was manufactured and transported to Mendooran in 1924.
Before being donated to the Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society by the Payne family, this antique gentle giant reliably pumped water in Mendooran for over 73 years.
Closing in on its 100th birthday, at the most recent service, all it required was some oil in order to keep it in operating condition. This Mendooran windmill is a testament to the longevity 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 Victoria you are based.
Call us today on (07) 4612 7202 for an obligation free quote.
