As white settlement spread along railways and through the agricultural areas of Australia, almost every important town boasted a large sophisticated flour mill.

This handsome illustrated survey of flour milling reflects the story of Australia in general. Long before colonists arrived, Aborigines milled flour for bread and cake. In convict times there were treadmills and windmills. Later, mechanised mills symbolised progress and prosperity: heroic monuments of industrial architecture dominating the skyline.

But they were dangerous places to work, and THE POWER OF FLOUR reports many fires and explosions. The story in recent generations is one of declining numbers, as vast enterprises concentrate milling in large modern plants. Thanks to the corona virus, flour sales have reached record levels.

Over 150 illustrations show mills from every state, and informative text links the highs and lows with the history of the times.