Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 - 1954) Fri 2 Nov 1917103936

The death of Mr George Hilfers oc-
curred recently at the residence of his
son-in-law, Mr. G. Baass, of Minlaton.
In the early days Mr. Hilfers was a
well-kinown figure in Gawler, Prior to
the eighties he was the owner of the
flour mill at Stockwell, from where he
came to take over the old Albion mills
at Gawler: He joined Mr. James. Daw-
son as partner, and they decided to
reconstruct the whole of the machinery,
the crushers at that time being stones.
The rollers were put in, making this
the first mill in the Commonwealth to
have the roller system. The partners
turned out first-class flour, and had big
business in export to New South Wales
and Queensland. In 1882 Mr. Dawson
died, and the company reorganised, Dr.
F. W. H. Popham and Mr. B. E, Deland
(father of the present miller at Blyth)
coming into partnership. This was
carried on until 1890, when the com
pany was added to by- the addition of
Mr. W. R. Cave. The business done
was enormous, the trade being prin-
cipally with England. In 1893 came the
big crash, and the mill went down with
it, the losses being too heavy to re-
trieve. Mr. Hilfers joined with Mr.
Cave as manager of his wheat depart-
ment in Adelaide, where he remained
until within three years »ago. The
Albion mill never regained the dignity
of a flour mill for it was purchased by
Messrs. Howell and Knox, the ma-
chinery being sold, and the building
transformed into a chaffmill. Deceased
left a widow arid three children — Mr.
James Hilfers, of Blackwood; Mrs. S.
Barbour, of Western Australia; and
Mrs. G. Baass, of Minlaton — and seven
grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Hilfers
celebrated their golden wedding about
18 months ago.