The original founder of Comet Windmills was  Mr Sidney Williams (1851-1936), who founded the Sidney Williams & Company in 1879 in Rockhampton QLD to manufacture a diverse range of rural products.

Comet Windmill Patterns
From 1910 through to 1925 various Windmill Patterns were introduced before mostly being superseded and replaced with today’s current Pattern sizes – ‘C’ Pattern and ‘D’ Pattern.

Australia's Leading Windmill 

For over 130 years Comet specialised in the design and manufacture of windmill pumping plants for Outback Australia. Over time pumping efficiencies were improved, as was the quality of the products, in accordance with the Company’s strict policy of endeavouring to produce the best windmill in the world.

Manufacturing facilities were established
The engineering works at Dulwich Hill covered 2½ acres of ground. This was the largest and most-up-to-date Windmill Factory in Australia at the time. In 1920 the Government introduced contracting for windmill pumping plants over the following 30 years including all Railways, Councils, Water Commission, Stock Routes, etc. In the Northern Territory, Comet Pumping Plants were the sole choice on all major Stock Routes and were the predominant force in all other states for other Government contracts. In the 1940’s the firm manufactured guns and equipment during the 2nd World War. Sidney Williams along with most other manufacturers was ordered to undertake the manufacture of items for the defence industry. These items included brake drums or bogey wheel castings for tanks and armoured carriers, steel frame army huts principally for the new guinea campaign, high precision gauges & jigs made in a specially built and equipped annexe at Dulwich Hill for the small arms factory at Lithgow and Comet Mills to equip stock routes in the Northern Territory in support of the beef industry. At its height over 500 employees were engaged by the Firm of engineers of which Mr. Williams was principal. In addition to Dulwich Hill the firm had another large works in Rockhampton – the original home of the Firm – branch offices and stores in Brisbane and in Townsville, and well over one hundred Agents throughout Australia. This is perhaps the best evidence of the superiority of COMET Mills and why they have earned the reputation of being ‘Australia’s Leading Mill’. Besides Sidney Williams and Co. being in windmills and associated pump manufacture, they were also building corrugated tanks, tank stands, sheep jetters, steel frame buildings, steel dips, fire ploughs, saw benches, winches, etc.

The company survived two (2) World Wars, depressions and three family generations and became known as ‘Australia’s Leading Mill’.

In the 1980’s the last generation Mr Bruce Williams, pursued other interests and tried to steer the business in a new direction. In 1992 Bruce sold to a Turf Irrigation business that design and install golf course irrigation. This name change had profound effects on the business. In 1998 this business was terminated. In 2002 Comet Windmills Australia Pty Ltd relocated to Macksville on the mid north coast of NSW and improved the company’s access to manufacturing facilities and services.

Recent History

In 2004 Macksville local businessman Mr Lyle Spalding became a partner and director in the company.

Comet Garden Windmills

In 2024 the main Comet Windmills business was sold to new owners but as part of the sale David Catchpole (ex General Manager of Comet Windmills for 8 years)  retained the proprietary and commercial rights to the 3FT garden windmills that are still manufactured and assembled at the main Comet Windmills factory in Macksville NSW today. David and the new Comet owners still have a close relationship. When you purchase the ornamental, smaller D Pattern scale version of the original Comet Windmills you are purchasing a windmill from the same manufacturing facility where the full size Comet windmills are still manufactured today.