In 'The Cyclopedia of South Australia' printed 1909

The Totness Roller Flourmills, Mount Pleasant (Proprietor, Alfred Townsend)

modelled from a stone mill by Mr. Henry Giles, and carried on by him for thirty-five years. It was remodelled from a stone mill by Mr Townsend when he took possession in 1900, and brought under the Cornelius Internal System, since which time the annual output has been about 3.500 bags of flour, the plant being capable of turning out fifty five bags in twenty four hours. Mr Townsend is a native of Mount Torrens, South Australia, where he was born in 1864, and is the fourth son of Mr Richard Townsend, who came to the State when a lad of seven, and has been identified with the Mount Torrens district for half a century. Having completed his education at the same place, the subject of this memoir served his apprenticeship to the milling trade under his father, who carried on the business at Mount Torrens now owned by his son, Mr Dick Townsend. Abandoning the milling industry, he apprenticed himself to the wheelwright and carpentering trade, and afterwards turned his attention in other directions, serving in all eleven years as apprentice to various trades. He concluded his training by making himself conversant with machinery, and supervised the erection of the Arltunga Government Cyanice Works at a later date, prior to which he established a wheelwright and carpentering business at Mount Torrens, and carried it on in conjunction with his brother for six years. Returning to the place of his birth, Mr Townsend worked in the mill in that district for several years, and in 1900, taking over the Totness Flourmills, converted them into up-to-date roller mills, his practical knowledge of the trade and experience in machinery proving very useful to him in this undertaking. Since this date he has carried on successfully, the trade being chiefly local. Mr Townsend has been closely associated with the progress of the Mount Pleasant Institute, and is its President. He inaugurated the movement for lighting the streets of the township with acetylene gas, and was instrumental in having the Institute enlarged and a skating-rink built., being generally recognised as the prime mover in all matters relating to the improvement of the place. He is a member of the Oddfellows' Order, and takes a great interest in all the sporting and social functions of Mount Pleasant. Married in 1885 to Mary Ann, daughter of the late Mr P. Mullins, a well known identity of Mount Torrens, his family consists of two sons and one daughter, his son Percival Seymore being head miller of the Totness Mill, under his father.

In 1923 a fire destroyed the premises. By 1935 the mill was in deterioration with part of a wall collapsing.

In the 1950s the chimney was impacted with salt damp and deemed dangerous so a decision was made to demolish it. With the District Council machinery involved this was achieved.

Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954), Friday 14 September 1923, page 5

MOUNT PLEASANT.

A link in the chain connecting the past and the present has been snapped through the fire which destroyed the mill last week. The erection of the building dates back to between 65 and 70 years ago, when the late Mr. Henry Giles had it built. At that time it was the only mill between Adelaide and .Mount Pleasant, later the one at Gumeracha was erected. In the year 1866 Messrs. T. and H. A. Giles arrived from England and joined their uncle in his large business, which, in addition to milling, comprised gold buying, wattle bark, &c., and later a butter and cheese factory was carried on. A large business was done, to which was added the carrying of goods to Adelaide and the Murray Flats, which at that time were being opened up for settlement. Good harvests followed, and an immense trade between the Flats and the mill was established. It was found necessary to start a store to supply the needs of the numerous traders who brought their various products and required goods in exchange. In those early days Mount Pleasant was a busy centre, the main street being lined from one end, and extending to where the Church of England now stands, with teams, bullocks, and waggons of all descriptions. Work was plentiful in those days, and a large staff of workmen found employment. Fortunately the machinery had been removed by Mr. Ben Giles a few years ago from the mill, otherwise the loss would have been greater. A large stock of groceries and drapery from the store has been destroyed.

Mr. F. Loveday has not sustained any serious loss, as willing helpers were soon on the scene and helped to remove several motor cars and petrol from his garage. The efforts of the firefighters were concentrated on the stables and sheds adjoining, which belong to Mr. Davey, and which were saved. The fire reel and hose from "Rosebank," the property of Messrs. G. & R. Melrose, did good work in preventing the fire from spreading. After raging for about three hours, all that was left were the walls and twisted iron.

The sight was witnessed by all the residents of the town and district, who are thankful there has been no loss of life involved.

There is no clue as to the origin of the fire. ...