Grandchester Sawmills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grandchester Sawmills |
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Sawmill in 2015
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| Location | Symes Street, Grandchester, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1941 |
| Official name: Grandchester Sawmills | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600730 |
| Significant period | 1941 (fabric) 1941-ongoing (historical/social) |
| Significant components | silo, machinery/plant/equipment - forestry/timber industry, petrol - station, residential accommodation - housing, shed/s |
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The Grandchester Sawmills is a special place in Grandchester, Australia. It's a historic sawmill business that uses steam power. Built in 1941, it's still operating today. This sawmill is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
A Look Back: The Sawmill's Story
Starting Up During Wartime
The Grandchester Sawmills began in 1941. It was started by the Gillam brothers. This was during World War II. The war meant a huge need for timber. Buildings were needed quickly for military purposes. This made the demand for cut timber grow very fast.
Long before this, in 1853, one of Queensland's first big sawmills opened in Brisbane. Sawmills quickly became common. They were a key part of the economy in many regions.
The Power of Steam
What makes the Grandchester sawmill unique is that it runs on steam. This is quite rare in Queensland and Australia today. The main steam engine was made by "Marshall Sons & Co. Ltd" in England. It was built a long time ago, possibly before 1911.
This steam engine had an interesting journey. It was first used in a Nestle's factory in Toogoolawah. After that, it powered the butter factory in Lowood. Later, it moved to Hoods Sawmill in Gatton.
Initially, the Gillam brothers used two smaller engines. But they later got a large boiler from a railway steam engine. This boiler was built by Walkers Limited in Maryborough in 1966. It's special because it burns sawdust from the saws. This makes it a very cheap and efficient way to create power.
Still Going Strong
The sawmill is still working today. It's a small family business. They mostly cut timber used for making crates.
In 2007, a fire damaged the mill. But it kept going and is being restored.
What Does the Sawmill Look Like?
Location and Main Building
The Grandchester Sawmills is on Symes Street in Grandchester. It sits on a sloped piece of land. Behind it is the Main Line railway. You can see Grandchester railway station from the back of the mill.
The main sawmill machinery is inside a building with a gabled roof. One end has a lower, sloped roof. The large railway boiler sits under this part. The roof is held up by round timber posts. The building does not have any walls.
How the Machinery Works
The mill is powered by the large railway boiler. This boiler is called "Old Reliable." It heats water to make steam. This steam then powers the main steam engine.
The sawmill uses a system of belts and pulleys. These connect the steam engine to the saws. All the saws, except for one small electric one, run on steam power. There's also a tall, pyramid-shaped silo behind the main building. This silo stores the sawdust. The sawdust is then used as fuel for the boiler.
Other Buildings on the Property
There are three other buildings on the land. One is a timber house to the north-west of the mill. Another small timber building is directly in front of the mill. This building used to be a petrol station. The third small timber building is to the north-east of the sawmill.
Why is This Sawmill Special?
The Grandchester Sawmills was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
A Link to Queensland's Past
The timber industry has always been a big part of Queensland's story. Timber workers were some of the first Europeans to settle here. The Grandchester Sawmills shows how the timber industry has changed over time. It opened during World War II when a lot of timber was needed. The mill has stayed successful by changing what kind of timber it cuts.
A Rare Example of Steam Power
This sawmill is one of the very few steam-powered sawmills still working in Queensland, or even Australia. The old machinery used here is uncommon. It also shows interesting old technology.
Connected to the Community
The sawmill has a strong connection to the Gillam family. They have owned and run it since 1941. It also has a long history with its employees. This makes it important to the local community.
