This galvanized steel structure is more accurately known as a windpump. The technology was first developed in Australia in 1876 by the Griffiths brothers, inspired by the pioneering designs of American engineer Daniel Halladay. Windmills like this harness renewable wind energy to draw water from deep underground bores and dams, sustaining livestock, irrigation systems, and remote homesteads across the outback.

The wheel’s aerofoil-shaped blades capture the wind, converting rotational motion into the vertical pumping action that lifts water to elevated storage tanks. A tail vane keeps the mechanism aligned with the wind while also helping protect it against storms. Southern Cross windmills became essential to farming life over many generations, enabling settlement and safe grazing in dry and isolated regions of Australia. They're built for harsh conditions and minimal maintenance.