Mount Gambier Fights to Save 140-Year-Old Flour Mill Wall

When developers announced plans to tear down a 140-year-old flour mill wall in Mount Gambier, South Australia, they didn't expect the entire community to stand up and say "not on our watch." But that's exactly what's happening, and it's a beautiful reminder that some things are worth fighting for.

The six-meter-tall dolomite and limestone wall has stood at the corner of Sturt Street and Bay Road since 1885. Built for the Mount Gambier Roller Flour Mill, the facade showcases the region's distinctive pink limestone that gives the city its character.

Mossop Construction wants to replace the heritage-listed structure with an 82-room hotel, townhouses, and commercial spaces. While the community embraced the development plans initially approved in 2024, a new demolition application has sparked an outcry from residents who believe preservation and progress can coexist.

The developers claim keeping the wall would cost $2.25 million compared to $118,000 for demolition, citing structural concerns. But locals aren't buying it as the only option.

Megan McKenzie, president of the Mount Gambier History Group, pointed out that unsafe sections could be removed while preserving the most historically valuable parts. "We're not worried about the other things they put behind that facade, it is the facade that is so important and should be retained," she said.

The Ripple Effect

This fight represents something bigger than one wall. Communities across Australia are proving that development doesn't require erasing history.

Photographer Ockert Le Roux noted that decades of grey paint have hidden the wall's true beauty. "If you peel that away, you're sitting with that beautiful pink limestone that Mount Gambier is known for," he said, imagining how stunning the restored facade could look integrated into modern design.

The history group's submission suggested creative compromises that would honor the past while embracing the future. Their approach shows how communities can guide development that respects heritage while meeting modern needs.

Public submissions close January 20, giving residents just days to make their voices heard. The response has been overwhelming, with historians, photographers, and everyday citizens all contributing their perspectives to the Limestone Coast Southern Regional Assessment Panel.

What makes this story truly inspiring is how a community discovered something precious hiding in plain sight and decided it was worth saving.