Yarloop Workshops facts for kids
Inside the main workshop, major features of the image are a self-propelled steam tractor, a steam locomotive, and wheel lathe
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| Location | Yarloop, Western Australia, Western Australia |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Defunct | |
| Designated | 12 May 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1203 |
The Yarloop Workshops was a special place in Yarloop, Western Australia. It was a big workshop where machines for trains and timber mills were fixed and even built!
This workshop was open from 1901 to 1978. Two brothers, Charles and Edwin Millar, first built a timber mill here. As their business grew, they needed a place to keep all their machines working. So, the workshop became a central spot for maintaining equipment for Millars Karri and Jarrah Forests Limited. This company had 26 timber mills and a huge railway system connecting them all!
What made the Yarloop Workshops so cool was that they made most of their own parts. Instead of waiting for parts to arrive from far away places like the United Kingdom, they crafted them right there. In 1978, a big storm called Cyclone Alby badly damaged the workshops. After that, Millars moved their operations. The site changed owners a few times before Bunnings bought it in 1983.
Contents
A Look Back: Workshop History
The Millar brothers started with a timber mill on this site in 1895. As they cut more timber, they needed to keep their machines in top shape. By 1901, the site was fully dedicated to fixing and maintaining Millars' equipment.
Making Things for the War Effort
During both World War I and World War II, the workshops helped out with the war. They changed from making timber machinery to making weapons and other important items for the soldiers.
Busy Times: Peak Production
In the 1930s, the timber industry in the region was at its busiest. Millars ran 26 sawmills and had a huge private railway system to move timber. The Yarloop Workshops were the heart of all this activity. More than 100 people worked there!
The workshops even had a foundry, which is a place where metal is melted and shaped into parts. They made all sorts of parts they needed. They also created a massive collection of wooden patterns, which are like molds for making metal parts. These patterns are still kept at the workshops today!
The 2016 Bushfire
On January 7, 2016, a big bushfire swept through the area. Sadly, the Yarloop Workshops, along with most of the town, were destroyed by the fire.
