That remains his clearest memory for his three-and-a-half years working for PE Power Transport during the late 1950s. Once a week, he was sent to the Murrumbidgee Milling Company on Edward Street.

He'd haul up to 6 tonnes of flour onto his truck, bag-by-bag, ready to be delivered to each bakery in Wagga.

"I do remember that shine on the floors from where the bags were dragged out," Mr Peacock said.

"It was so shiny across that one patch. The bags were so heavy, lifting them was the quickest way to get fit. I was the fittest I'd ever been back then because of it."

Historian Geoff Burch recalls that during its busiest times, The Mill produced many of the nation's favourite flours.

"I went through it years ago, and it used to be magnificent," Mr Burch said.

"They used to make 15 or 20 brands just from the one line. Basically the same but with a different name."

Soon after his time with the transport company, in 1962, Mr Peacock joined the Wagga Fire Brigade. He would return to the Murrumbidgee Milling Company - or The Mill as it's become known - on occasion with his new vocation.

"We'd get the odd call out to The Mill in those days, there'd be fires around the external part of the building," he said.

"Sometimes there'd be a build-up of dust on the machinery that would cause a fire. They'd keep it all very clean, but you'd have to be very careful with that fine flour dust. It was always a worry."

Most of the time, Mr Peacock recalls, the fires were minor. But in 1984, a bigger disaster befell The Mill.

The Evening News reported that around midnight on October 22, sounds of gunfire was heard around The Mill. It turned out to be an exploding boiler.

"The engineer had banked up the fires, leaving all snug for the night at 11 o'clock," The Evening News reports.

"There was then only 80lb pressure of steam on the boiler, which exploded blowing out the crown, the fire doors and fire bars."

The explosion "scattered" firewood that had been heaped outside the boiler, but no major damage was done to the building.

Although work was not delayed and no injuries were reported, it did cost the company about £400 to replace the damaged boiler.

The history of The Mill is a tale of boom and bust. It was built and opened by James J. Mawson in June 1890.

According to an article in The Sydney Mail published in October 1897, at that time, the building may have cost a grand total of just £2500.

During its early years, it was run by water power through the Murrumbidgee River, until an agreement with Wagga Municipal Council in 1922 allowed electricity to be used to supply operations.

At the height of its production, The Murrumbidgee Co-operative Milling company was the second-largest flour milling company outside of Sydney.

But troubles first struck in June 1896, when the Goulburn Evening Penny Post reported The Mill was "temporarily closed for a few weeks in consequence of the high price of wheat".

Directors at the time were battling against high railway rates that apparently favoured the city and penalised the regions.

After weathering through, it was once again closed in June 1920.

The Maitland Mercury Weekly reported the mill had again "suspended operations" because "no grain is coming forward".

"The wheat position in New South Wales is illustrated by the fact that the Murrumbidgee Milling Company's mill at Wagga has suspended operations," the article stated.

"Other mills in the state are working very short hours, and wheat-producing districts where there are idle mills are drawing flour supplies from Sydney."

Just six years later though, The Mill was inundated with stock, requiring it be opened additional hours over the busy Christmas period.

The staff took some time off for Christmas before the gates were "thrown open" early on December 28 "in order that farmers will be subjected to no delay when they arrive with their wagons."

Under the headline 'For Urgent Attention' in the December 24, 1926 issue of The Daily Advertiser states: "A large volume of wheat is pouring in through the silos".

"With the advance of the grain harvest the deliveries of wheat are becoming heavier each day," the article reads.

Yet, a few years later in a May 1929 issue of The Argus The Mill had to be temporarily closed again, due to lack of stock volumes. Due to the ebbing demand, the article states: "Since December, The Mill has worked three shifts".

"In the present depressed state of the market, the directors considered it inexpedient to continue operations. The directors are hopeful the mill will be re-opened within a few weeks," it reads.

But not only is The Mill a story of economical and agricultural triumphs and pitfalls, more recently, but it has also seen numerous national and international owners.

In 1987, The Mill was purchased by Goodman Fielder who continued its operation. Though, it eventually fell out of use in December 2000 and spent a long time in dormancy before it changed hands once again in 2011.

This time, it was sold to Chinese investors.

A year later, in May 2012, the adjoining pub - The Red Lion - was demolished to make way for what was promised to be a $32 million redevelopment of the site.

Plans to turn The Mill into a residential complex took a step forward in April 2015 and in June 2016, construction of the Sturt Highway apartment block was completed.

Since 2016, businesses have come and gone from the site in rapid succession, taking up shopfronts under the residential tower over varying lengths of time.

The first to arrive was the Pig & Pastry, which opened in 2017. Then The Dynasty restaurant moved in later the same year and was quickly followed by Lone Star Steak House and an Asian supermarket.

By 2018, they were each, in turn, closing their doors. The Pig & Pastry was the first to go, citing lower than expected foot traffic. Then in January 2019, the Yenda Brewery pulled its plans to move into the site.

It was then not until March 15, 2019, that The Mill Holiday Inn and Suites were announced, and interest was once again piqued around the site. Construction for the hotel began officially earlier this month.

But throughout its long history, The Mill has maintained its iconic status in Wagga.

"It adds to the charm of the town. It's a beautiful, solid, well-built building that adds that tone to the city," Mr Burch said.

During the current construction of Holiday Inn, developers have committed to refurbishing the inside of The Mill but retaining much of its yesteryear look.

"It's one of those buildings that can be easily modernised. That colonial and early heritage style home is still very popular, people really like that," Mr Burch said.

"This is a unique building. It can't be easily replicated. It's genuine, it has a story and that's what people are looking for. I'd hope a lot of it would be retained."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: