Historical information

The Old Windmill is the artist's impression of what the first mill built in Mortlake would have looked like. He depicts a timber pyramid shaped mill with four large vanes, reportedly of canvas. In the background is a landscape view of Mount Shadwell and a number of houses in the newly established town. This first mill was erected to process locally-grown grain to supply the increased population of the Ararat goldfields with flour. A later mill was built in Mill Street Mortlake in 1856 by Thomas Bostock, constructed of bluestone and still stands today. The painting was created in 1916 by William Aris Alen a local artist, who did not have first-hand knowledge of the old Mill, but would have relied on descriptions from those living in the district who did, as well as possibly recollections of windmills in Europe and Britain.

Physical description

Painting

Inscriptions & markings

Signed on bottom right corner - W. Alen 1916. Sticker on back of the painting indicates it was framed by Southwest Imaging and Frames, likely in 2012.