One devastating wildfire and two years later, Mostert’s Mill is once again looking like a windmill.
The mill, located next to Philip Kgosana Drive in Mowbray, was badly damaged in a runaway fire that broke out on Sunday 18 April 2021.
Within a few days of the blaze, Friends of Mostert’s Mill (FoMM) began to rally behind the restoration of the heritage building, raising funds and overseeing the reconstruction process.
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Residents have been following the progress of the restoration project with much excitement and admiration. On Wednesday 1 March, the pre-assembled wind shaft and sails were installed.
John Hammer, chair of FoMM, explains that it was a huge task.
“Normally, you would lift the wind shaft into the mill with the cap (roof) off. But with the wind shaft made of newly cut timber, we had to wait as long as possible to place it for the wood to cure. But we couldn’t go through the entire winter with the cap off. We knew we could feed it through the front gable, so – with the help of a 1000-liter ‘flow-bin’ to use as a counter-weight – that is what we did.”
When People’s Post spoke to Hammer a few months after the wildfire, he said they aimed to hold the opening ceremony on Saturday 22 April – the closest Saturday to the date that the windmill burnt down.
This week he said that while they would not have the mill done by April, it was only a matter of months before the sails of Mostert’s Mill would be turning again.
“We have to wait for the sail cloths and the millstones to be shipped from the Netherlands. Crowdfunding done in the Netherlands covered the cost for both of these, including shipping,” says Hammer.
He explains that it was a second-hand pair of millstones that were purchased.
“So they are being refurbished and the sail cloths are being made now. We couldn’t make them until the woodwork was done and fitted because we needed to get the right dimensions. They will be shipped when the sail cloths are ready.”
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Hammer said they anticipated that the biggest delay would be getting it through customs.
“We have been told there is a two-month delay in getting anything out of the docks in Cape Town,” said Hammer.
In the next few weeks, the team will be installing beams, floors and the ladders – made by Kimon Mamacos from Senitnel Timbers in Hout Bay – inside the mill.
Having taken up the challenge to rebuild the mill locally, the completion of the project will be quite a feather in the Western Cape’s cap. Lifting his cap to all the local artisans and contractors involved, Hammer said the project has been fantastic.
“Except for the odd little hiccup here or there. Ninety-eight percent of the time it went really smoothly. And we are within budget. More good news.”
