The History of Dight Falls

By mcinn22
  • Charles Grimes led his his survey party

    Charles Grimes led his his survey party
    It was held on a river expedition to the Yarra Falls
  • Melbourne was eventually settled.

    Melbourne was eventually settled.
    Land was sub-divided and the first public land sales were held shortly after.
  • John Dight purchases Melbourne block 88

    John Dight purchases Melbourne block 88
    It included 26 acres of land along the Yarra River for £481 at the Port Phillip land sales held in Sydney.
  • John Dight owns a flour mill

    John Dight owns a flour mill
    He notified customers of his through The Sydney Herald that he was leaving for Port Phillip
  • The first steam powered flour mill was established

    The first steam powered flour mill was established
    John Dight owned it and it was created in Melbourne
  • The Dight family's mill and land along the Yarra changed

    The Dight family's mill and land along the Yarra changed
    Hands a number of times in the mid to late 1800s.
  • The Dight family abandon flour milling

  • The property sold to Edwin Trennery

  • The original mill on the river bank was unoccupied until 1888

    When flour millers Gillespie, Aitken and Scott, operating under the name of "Yarra Falls Roller Flour Mills" constructed a new mill and associated buildings at this site
  • The mill race was rebuilt

    The mill race was rebuilt in much the same position using
    bluestone blocks from Dight’s old mill building, and a new mill
    and associated buildings were constructed. This enterprise was
    sold in 1891 to the Melbourne Flour Milling Company.
  • The mill changed hands for a final time.

    The mill changed hands for a final time in 1909 before it was
    destroyed by fire. The mill race and ruins of the mill can still be
    found at Dights Falls today.
  • The first documented reconstruction activity occurred

    The first documented reconstruction activity occurred in 1918
    when part of the timber weir washed away in flood waters. The
    Minister for Public Works at the time declared that the weir would
    be rebuilt, although the extent of these works is not known.
  • A breach of the weir on 24 December 1940

    A breach of the weir on 24 December 1940 prompted another
    rebuild and the distribution of 1.5 tonnes of rock from the edge of
    the weir downstream.
  • A further breach of the weir occurred after heavy rainfall in 1967.

    A further breach of the weir occurred after heavy rainfall in 1967.
    Most of the timber decking, walings and rock fill had washed
    away or were irreparably damaged during this flood.
  • In 1993 Melbourne Water, recognising that the weir was a barrier to fish migration constructed a rock fishway to allow fish to move around the weir.

    In 1993 Melbourne Water, recognising that the weir was a barrier
    to fish migration constructed a rock fishway to allow fish to move
    around the weir. Whilst considered best practice at the time, the
    rock fishway way was only partially effective and the Dights Falls
    Weir continues to act as a major barrier to native fish migration
    in the Yarra River.