In the 1850s the three-storey Randell Mill was built in the town of Blumberg (now
Birdwood) and the adjoining four-storey Peerless Roller Mill was built in 1888, producing premium quality superfine flour. Electricity replaced the original Watt steam engine in the 1930s but the striking
chimney was retained.
View of the Randell Mill and Peerless Mill buildings, Blumberg, c.1900
By the late 1940s the Mill ceased production, replaced by newer and larger flour mills at
Port Adelaide. The machinery was sold for scrap and the building abandoned.
In 1964 the building was purchased by Jack Kaines, along with fellow motoring enthusiast Len Vigar, to house their collections. The following year the Museum was opened to the public, rapidly developing over the next decade.
One of the Museum's founders, Jack Kaines, on a Brough Superior motorcycle out the front of the Mill building
The collection featured curios, collectibles, objets d'art, and an aircraft, alongside a motoring collection. A company of private shareholders purchased the Museum and, under the leadership of Gavin Sandford-
Morgan, was promoted as the
Birdwood Mill Pioneer, Art and Motor Museum.
Len Vigar's Car at Eden Valley
The photo above was taken in 1959 at
Eden Valley , SA, In front of the
Eden Valley Post Office and
General Store when my parents were running the store and PO, the car with the
Grey bottom and Black top belonged to Len Vigar , he was one of the enthusiasts who got the Museum up and running.
Peerless Mill Birdwood
In 1976 the South Australian Government purchased the Museum to avoid the collection from being dispersed. Since 1982 the Museum has been the responsibility of the History Trust of South Australia (now History SA). In December 1998 the new pavilion was opened with a focus on Australian Motoring History. The National Motor Museum has established a strong reputation as a centre of specialisation for Australian motor road transport history.
Current research has included the personal histories of some of the Museum's founders and collecting photographs documenting the original Museum.
Birdwood Hotel
The
Birdwood Hotel even has a vintage vehicle mounted on the front , it is about 100m further along the main Street.