User:Lahany/Partingtons Windmill

Charles Frederick Partington was an immigrant from Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. In May 1850, for £200, Charles Partington purchased land in Symonds Street now occupied by the Langham Hotel Auckland and constructed the Partington's Windmill at a cost of £2,000. The height, distinctive shape and prominent position made it a land mark and throughout its life it was used as a navigation device by shipping. During the Maori Wars which raged from 1861 to 1866, Charles Partington served with the British cavalry and the mill landed a lucrative contract to supply the Army troops with food, chiefly biscuits, but also flour and crushed corn. The Windmill stood for 100 years until May 1950 when it was demolished.

In addition to a son, Joseph, Charles Partington had a daughter Maria, a budding artist who married David Goldie a prominent timber merchant and politician and one-time Mayor of Auckland. They had a son born in Auckland on 20 October 1870 and named him Charles Frederick Goldie after his maternal grandfather. Charles Goldie went on to become the famous New Zealand artist C F Goldie, best known for his portrayal of Maori dignitaries.

Charles Partington and his son Joseph’s name live on at the Langham Hotel Auckland at Partingtons Restaurant.

History
1850 Charles Partington built a brick, four bladed, clockwise running windmill on the current site of Langham Hotel Auckland

1851 Steam flour milling equipment was installed and it was renamed the Victoria Flour Mills and Steam Biscuit Factory. The first flour was advertised for sale in August.

1877 Charles died and son Joseph Partington took over

1931 The mill was gutted by fire but it was restored and continued to grind grain 1941 Joseph died and the mill was demolished in 1950

1983 Sheraton Auckland opened in February

1988 A New Zealand 80 cent postage stamp was released in November, depicting a view of Auckland in 1852 and Partington's mill can be seen on the horizon

1998 Great Eagle Holdings Limited purchases the hotel building

2005 Great Eagle Holdings Limited assumes management and the Hotel is renamed Langham Hotel Auckland

2006 A NZ$12m refurbishment completed to reflect Langham look of sophisticated opulence