Woolwash - Jordon Mills

Woolwash - Jordan Mills (c1900)

Jordon Mills Woolwash

The Woolwash (renamed Jordan Mills in 1899) figured prominently in life of Joseph Henry Cragg and his family. It is believed he started the business sometime after he arrived in Riverstone 1883. Before Joseph built Redgate on Farm Road at Riverstone in the 1890's he would have lived in Tumbledown Barn which was situated quite close to the woolwash. Later on when Joseph moved to Redgate John Towers would have taken over Tumbledown Barn. There are many articles from the Windsor Richmond Gazette that have references to the Woolwash. Below are links to the Articles:

15 Mar 1890
"All the low lying land about Eastern Creek is flooded...Messrs J. H. Craig[sic], J. Court and others are flooded out. The traffic between here and Marsden Park is blocked, as the water is about 8 feet deep on the bridge."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

22 Mar 1890
"Mr. Joseph H. Craig[sic] of the woolwashing establishment on the South Creek, has purchased for his own use a grand boat which he landed here on Saturday morning by the goods train. The craft which is imported from Norway, is a substantial and well-finished one, and will carry sixteen passengers. Mr. Craig[sic] intends christening her 'Swan.'"
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

20 Jul 1890
"Wanted, A YOUTH to work at Woolwash. Apply J. H. Craig[sic], Tumbledown, Riverstone"
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

01 Aug 1891
"Owing to the increase of mutton demanded in Sydney and the London market, and the number of skins to be dealt with, Mr. J. H. Craig[sic] has now 30 persons employed at his woolwashing establishment at South Creek. Joe will make things hum."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

26 Jan 1895
"If Ted Vaughan and Ted Ollerenshaw had any intention of rowing...They could comfortably row from Mr. J. H. Craig's[sic] wool establishment to within about 70 yards of the meat works, a course of about two miles..."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

31 Jul 1897
"Rain commenced to fall here last Friday night week and continued until Monday afternoon, nearly five inches being recorded. Eastern Creek rose within a couple of feet of the bridge on the road to Marsden Park. Mr. J. H. Craig[sic] was obliged to remove his wool to higher ground to prevent it from being swept away."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

23 Apr 1898
"Mr. Frank Hayes is again located at the wool-scouring works at Tumbledown."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

28 Jan 1899
"Mr J. H. Cragg is busily engaged in making great improvements at his wool-scouring establishment on Eastern Creek, in order to bring it up to the mark and thus meet the wishes of the Board of Health. In future no washing will be done in the Creek, and the refuse water will be run off so that it will not reach that stream."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

15 Apr 1899
"The fellmongery known by the name Tumbledown has been altered to Jordan Mills, which name it will be known by in future. A quantity of machinery has been placed there, and other big improvements have lately been carried out."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

14 Jul 1900
"Last week Riverstone was visited by a flood which in my opinion has done more damage than all the previous floods put together...The loss at Jordon Mills Woolscouring Works is very extensive, and damage has been great."
Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

11 Aug 1900
"We are told that the wool-washers at Eastern Creek recently went on strike, and the staff is now an entirely new one. The genial Mr. Cragg is a straight goer and will stand no nonsense." Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

29 Jun 1934
"In 1885 a small wool-scouring plant[Jordon Mills?] was built in one of the paddocks near the works, where all the pieces of wool were removed from the heads and legs of the sheep were treated. The venture however was not a successful one, as the water used in the scouring was not suitable for the production of good coloured wool. The scour was partly broken up during a flood in 1900 and never re-opened" Top of Page
Top of Jordon Mills Description

John Towers (1873-1941)

John Towers was the manager of the Woolwash that Joseph owned. John married Joseph's daughter Adelaide Rachel Cragg on 4 Feb 1896. They had 3 children:

John Joseph Towers (b. 7 Feb 1897)
Stanley Ernest Towers(b. 28 Aug 1898)
Henry Charles Towers(b. 28 May 1908)

Top of Page

Sydney Jarman Cragg (1881-1948)

Sydney Jarman Cragg was Joseph's 6th child and 3rd son. He mostly worked at the meatworks 2.5 miles away from the Woolwash. He married Emily Scholey 6 Jul 1904 at St. Pauls Church, Riverstone. They had the following children:

Mary Anne Cragg (b. 1905)
Sydney Joseph K. Cragg (b. 16 Jul 1907)
George Alfred Cragg (b. 28 Jul 1908)

Top of Page