Relative isolation due to inefficient transport seems to have been the key factor in promoting a profitable flour industry in Armidale until the end of the 1800s. Because of the lack of competition and extraordinary circumstances in wider markets, it was perceived that Armidale could compete with other wheat producing areas. However, this was not the case, as other areas were in a better position to produce a cheaper and better quality product.

The industry at first appeared to service domestic needs on farm stations, developing into a storekeeper's monopoly controlling the mills within the town. It collapsed into ruin from the inability to compete with better technology in both transport and milling, which made imports preferable to consumers in Armidale.

The below data was collected from the Statistical Register of N.S.W. All the available years of statistics have been included but there is data of some years missing. It seems that the mill numbers (figure 1) in the New England Region did fluctuate (although statistical analysis has not been run on this data as yet). The acreage of wheat planted (figure 2) however did not decrease when mill numbers dropped so one may assume that it was competition (possibly from new steam driven mills in Armidale or other areas?) and not bad harvests which caused the drop. In contrast, the number of bushels harvested (figure 3) does not seem to have a relationship with the number of acres. It may be that wheat was imported from S.A. to meet the requirements of the population and keep the mills running. It should be noted that the information is very hazy and so the data may be biased.

Mill Numbers in New England

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Acres of wheat in New England

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Number of bushels per year in New England

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