Mill Trading: At Middleton in the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia

When passing through Middleton on the Fleurieu Peninsula make sure you drop in at the town's old Mill. It’s one of the classic reminders of the region's rich farming and commercial past.

The imposing Mill makes it the perfect showcase for the big, bold and chunky furniture pieces that partners Mid Crabtree and Kelle Spry source through their company Mill Trading.

The philosophy at Mill Trading is ‘waste not, want not’ with Mid and Kelle recycling everything they can get their hands on. Mill Trading is an absolute treasure trove of exotic pieces from around the world.

Imagination is the key.

Mid and Kelle showed us a workbench that came from Latvia that would now make a good base for the sound system and CD collection. If you like chunky pieces of industria, check out how they’ve used industrial patterns. Pattern makers used the wooden pieces to replicate steel drive shafts and drive wheels. Mid has transformed many of the patterns into stylish furniture.

“This table was built from two separate patterns. They were built by pattern makers to be sent to the foundries to be cast in steel. I think this one came from Port Adelaide, from the Department of Marines and Harbours. Another piece was from Perry Engineering,” said Mid.

“In a way we’re preserving a lot of the history. The integrity of these pieces is second to none and personally I couldn't bear to see them on the scrap heap.”

That's where Greg Hooper, who worked at the old Islington Railway Workshop thought the wheel of an overhead crane which he built would end up. He was shocked and thrilled to find it at Mill Trading.

“It's good to see things like that being used and not actually being left in the workshops and being eaten by white ants. It's actually nice to see it all being used for a functional purpose.”

Step into Mid's shed and the array of patterns is stunning. At the time of Postcards’ visit he was working on a pair of wheelbases from the door of a large warehouse. To us it looks like junk but to Mid it's something else entirely.

“This piece of what looks like a bit of rubbish used to hang doors from a warehouse. And with just a little bit of manipulation and massage we'll turn it into a coffee table, which we can wheel around. Very portable.”

Mill Trading is at the Middleton Mill. And is open Friday to Sunday from midday until 5pm.

Mill Trading
Middleton Mill
Mill Tce, Middleton
Open Fri to Sun Midday until 5pm

For more info please email info@postcards-sa.com.au