Elgin Vale Sawmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elgin Vale Sawmill |
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Elgin Vale Sawmill from SE, 2008
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| Location | Manumbar Road, Elgin Vale, Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1940s – 1960s (post-World War II) |
| Built | 1944 |
| Built for | T H Spencer (mill owner) |
| Official name: Elgin Vale Sawmill | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 17 September 2010 |
| Reference no. | 602762 |
| Significant components | mill – timber / sawmill, boiler room/boiler house, artefact field, office/administration building, engine/generator shed/room / power supply |
| Builders | Wilson Hart Limited |
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The Elgin Vale Sawmill is a special old sawmill located in Elgin Vale, Australia. It's a "heritage-listed" site, which means it's important to Queensland's history. This sawmill was built in 1944 by a company called Wilson Hart Limited. It replaced an older mill that had burned down. Today, it's a great example of how timber was processed long ago.
History of the Sawmill
How the Area Developed
The land around Elgin Vale was first settled by Europeans in the 1840s. A large property called Manumbar was set up in 1847. Later, in 1878, a special area was kept aside as a "Camping and Water Reserve." This was important because it had the only reliable water source nearby.
Timber cutters started working in the South Burnett region in the 1870s. They cut down trees for local towns and sent logs to Maryborough. When a railway line was built to Kilkivan in 1886, it became much easier to transport timber. This helped the timber industry grow a lot in the South Burnett. Many sawmills were built to cut the timber.
Early Sawmills and Hoop Pine
The first sawmill at Elgin Vale was built in 1908. It was later moved in 1914. The main type of tree cut in this area was the hoop pine. This wood was popular for building houses across Queensland. A large area of hoop pine forest near Elgin Vale became a State Forest in 1914.
Spencer's Mill and Timber Towns
In 1926, a man named T.H. Spencer planned to build a new, bigger mill at Elgin Vale. He got permission to cut a lot of hoop pine from the nearby forest. Spencer also needed to build homes for his workers. This led to the creation of a small "timber town" at Elgin Vale.
These timber towns were common in remote areas. They had houses, a boarding house, and even a school. The school at Elgin Vale operated until 1977. An old building was turned into a community hall, which became a social hub for the workers.
Changes in Ownership and Modern Transport
Spencer moved his old mill's machinery to Elgin Vale. The new mill started working in late 1927. However, Spencer soon sold the mill to Wilson Hart Company Limited, a big timber company from Maryborough. Spencer continued to manage the mill for Wilson Hart. He also brought in modern vehicles like caterpillar tractors and trucks to transport timber.
Challenges and Rebuilding
The mill produced many things, including 150,000 butter boxes in its early years. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the mill sometimes had to close. In 1934, Wilson Hart's main mill in Maryborough burned down. Many workers moved to Elgin Vale, making it a very busy place.
During World War II, there was a high demand for timber. The Elgin Vale mill helped by sending wood for ammunition boxes. Sadly, in May 1944, the Elgin Vale sawmill itself was destroyed by fire. But Wilson Hart quickly rebuilt a new mill by October of the same year. This is the sawmill you see today.
How the Mill Worked
The new mill was designed to move logs efficiently. Large logs were rolled onto a "Canadian bench" where a big saw cut them into smaller pieces called "flitches." These flitches then went to other saws to be cut into boards. Smaller logs could be cut by a "frame saw" that cut many boards at once.
The mill used steam power. A boiler, located below the main floor, heated water from Moonda-Waamba Creek. The steam powered a large engine, which then turned a main shaft. Belts and pulleys connected to this shaft powered all the different saws and machines in the mill. Waste wood from the cutting process was used to fuel the boiler.
Later Years and Closure
By the late 1940s, the Elgin Vale sawmill was one of the largest in Queensland. Even when electricity became available in 1965, the mill continued to use its steam engine for power. The mill kept working well into the 1970s because of the high quality of its hoop pine timber.
In 1978, Wilson Hart was bought by another company. The Elgin Vale mill kept operating for a while longer. However, by 1986, the mill had cut almost all the available timber in the area. Also, its old steam-powered technology was becoming outdated. The Elgin Vale sawmill closed down on March 16, 1987.
The Sawmill as a Museum
After the mill closed, the local councils bought it to turn it into a museum. Some buildings were sold, but the main mill and some houses were kept. A new boiler was installed. Today, the Elgin Vale sawmill is sometimes operated for visitors, showing how these old steam-powered mills once worked. It's a rare look into Queensland's past.
What the Sawmill Looks Like
The Elgin Vale sawmill is a large complex. It includes the main mill shed, a separate office, and the remains of the old timber town. There are also two small cottages and a toilet shed.
The Main Mill Shed
The mill is inside a big, rectangular shed with open sides. It has a gabled roof made of corrugated iron. Inside, you can see all the milling equipment. There's a main floor where the cutting happens. Below this floor are the drive shafts, belts, and pulleys that connect to the steam engine.
Outside the shed, there's a ramp made of large logs. This ramp helped feed logs into the main saw. Inside, you'll find different saw benches, rollers, and winches. There are also old tramways with trolleys that moved the cut timber.
In one corner, at ground level, you can see the two boilers, the steam engine, and a huge flywheel. A tall metal chimney sticks up from the boiler. This is where the steam was made to power the whole mill.
The Office Building
The mill office is a small, rectangular building near the main shed. It's made of timber and has a corrugated iron roof. It has a small entrance porch and several doors and windows. This is where the mill's paperwork and management happened.
Remains of the Township
Behind the mill shed, you can see what's left of the old timber town. There are old timber stumps, concrete slabs, and pieces of metal. This area is now mostly grass, but it shows where the workers' homes and other buildings once stood.
Cottages and Toilet Shed
There are also two timber cottages and a small toilet shed near the mill. These were likely homes for some of the mill workers.
Why the Sawmill is Important
The Elgin Vale Sawmill is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's very important to understanding Queensland's history.
Showing History's Patterns
This sawmill helps us understand how the timber industry grew and changed in Queensland. It was one of the biggest sawmills in the state by the late 1940s. It shows how steam power was used to cut hoop pine, which was a main building material. The remains of the old town also show how communities were built for workers in remote timber areas.
A Rare Example
The Elgin Vale sawmill is special because it's one of the few steam-powered sawmills in Queensland that is still mostly complete and can even be operated. Many sawmills like this used to exist, but most are gone or have been changed. This mill gives us a rare look at how things used to be.
Learning from the Past
The remains of the Elgin Vale township can teach us a lot about what life was like for timber workers and their families in the 1900s. Studying these remains can help us understand how these communities were organized.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The Elgin Vale sawmill is an excellent example of a steam-powered softwood sawmill. Its location near a creek for water and close to timber forests is typical. The way the mill is set up, with the log ramp, different saws, and the steam engine below, shows exactly how these mills were designed to work efficiently.
Beautiful and Evocative
The sawmill site has a special feeling about it. The old, weathered timber and corrugated iron buildings look strong and industrial. This look, combined with the quiet countryside, creates a powerful image. The remains of the old town also make you think about a way of life that has mostly disappeared in Queensland.
