Located on the northern outskirts of Launceston, running through Ravenswood, Waverley and across to Paterson’s Plains is the Distillery Creek.
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Previously known as Drivers Run, the creek gained its new name when the Caledonian Distillery was set up in 1824 by James Towers.
At that time there were 16 breweries and distilleries in the colony.
The first distillery of its kind in the north, it ran until 1830 when Mr Towers tried to sell it due to the rising cost of grain.
This proved unsuccessful, so he returned to England and his brother, Robert Towers took it over.
Robert had previously owned a brewery in Launceston.
Robert passed away in 1832 and his brother-in-law David McGowan took over the distillery.
McGowan ran the operation successfully until the 1839 Distillery Prohibition Act was brought in and saw an end to all distilleries until 1847.
David McGowan owned land surrounding the mill and farmed a property called “Ravenswood”, later giving the name to the nearby suburb.
The creek was an ideal location, perfect for a clean supply of water for a distillery and even more perfect for a flour mill.
The Harden Mill was established in 1859 by James Scott.
He had retired from a career as a surveyor and having had experience running the Perth Mill took the opportunity to build a mill on his land by the creek.
Despite the official starting date being October 1857 the mill itself was not up and running until February 1859.
An advertisement by Cable and Paterson appeared at this time advertising grist at nine pence per bushel.
In 1863 E Gaunt and C Cowle took over the lease of the mill, changing the name to Gaunt & Co.
The mill was to see many changes of lessees over the next few decades.
It also had its fair share of problems, one being the local council who often shut the water supply off to make repairs to the water tunnel.
In 1884 after the death of Scott the trustees were advised to sell up the mill and surrounding farm.
Over the years equipment was sold off to various parties and in 1899 the mill was sold to Robert Hogarth who owned the Waverley Woollen Mills.
The output from the flour mill was relatively low compared with previous years and it had stopped working by 1905.
The building was used as a store for the woollen mills and in 1932 was dismantled completely.
The distillery building is still standing and is a private home.
