More Info →Stansell's flaxmill,Waikanae

This flaxmill was situated near the north bank of the Waikanae River, a few yards east of the railway line and north of the river bank. The locality was known as “The Pit”. Stansell’s flaxmill was operated c1899 - 1904, and was owned and managed by Mr Robert (Bob) Stansell. Mr William (Bill) Dalzell was a feeder and stripper-keeper at this mill from about 1900 until the mill closed down. He recalls that the mill was a two-stripper concern, using flax cut from swamp areas between Paraparaumu and Waikanae. A small area of flax at Plimerton was cut also. The flax was transported to the mill by horse-drawn cart and the bales of fibre were carted to the Waikanae railway station for transporting to Wellington.