To remind us of the significance of the timber industry to this State I’m reproducing an article that appeared in newspapers around 12 July 1935. I found it in the Coolgardie Miner but it also appeared in many other papers, including the Harvey – Waroona Mail on the same date.
Millars’ Timber and Trading Co. Ltd., export more hardwoods than all export firms of, not only Western Australia, but probably of all other States. It controls in all 14 mill stations. The mills are on a scale not approachable elsewhere in Australia.
Starting in a small way at Torbay, near Albany, in 1884, as C. & E. Millar, then later at Denmark as Millars’ Karri and Jarrah Forests Ltd., then, in 1902, as Millars’ Timber and Trading Co. (1902) Ltd. On the amalgamation of several companies, it finally became the Millars Timber and Trading Co. Ltd. and to-day is known throughout the Commonwealth, India, China, South Africa, America and the United Kingdom in all their timber centres. It has spent enormous sums on opening up distant markets and made known the qualities of jarrah and karri, not only to its own advantage but that of the State.
Its progenitors, Charles and Edwin Millar, were railway contractors. They built the G.S.R. from Beverley to Albany that was eventually taken over by the State from the W.A. Land Company. Up to 1904 extensive operations were carried on in the karri areas of Denmark. From thence on operations were confined to exploitation of the jarrah forests, starting at Mornington and Yarloop and gradually extending to Canning, Jarrahdale, Kirup, Jarrahwood, Worsley and other districts. Offices and branches for the disposal of the sawn and hewn products were opened in all important towns, Eastern States capitals, and overseas cities.
When Millars’ plants were in full operation they employed nearly 3,000 men, paying nearly £2,000,000 in wages and taxation. At the peak of production they had an outturn of 120,000,000 super feet. To accomplish this it was necessary to employ 600 horses, 38 locomotives, 500 trucks and to keep 350 miles of railways in good running order. Steam haulers supplemented the work of the horses. To-day horses are being gradually superseded by oil tractor.
In common with others, timber suffered badly through the Great War when ships were scarce and transport dangerous. Almost every mill was closed down, but with the war over and a spirited effort being made to restore trading conditions, most of the mills were soon in commission again. A measure of prosperity continued until about 1928 when the first effects of the coming serious depression were felt. By the end of 1929 its disastrous effects were keenly felt, and shortly afterwards mill after mill had to be closed. Large numbers of men were forced into idleness.
A healthier tone prevails to-day, and Millars’ have been able to re-open some of their mills, including Hoffman, Mornington and Jarrahwood. Canning was kept running continuously to maintain supplies for the local markets. Nanga Brook partially filled the needs of overseas demands. Employment fell at the zero stage of the depression to under 250 men; to-day the figure has risen to 1,200 and will rise still further during the year. Millars’ Company maintains depots and stocks in such distant places as Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin in New Zealand: Capetown, Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa: Delogoa Bay, Colombo, Bombay, London and Antwerp, and is actively represented in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, in the Malay States and the Phillipine Islands, where it has associate sawmills, making up probably the largest sawmilling concern in the world. Its Perth home is St. George’s House, one of the most noble edifices in this or any other city; its main timber yard is in Nash-street, where a large and varied assortment of timber is always stocked. Here, too, are its main carpentry and joinery shops. There are depots in all suburbs.[1]
Allan Ward, Hon. Curator, Yarloop Workshops Inc.[2]
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[1] 1935 ‘Australia’s Largest Sawmillers.’, Coolgardie Miner (WA : 1935 – 1954), 12 July, p. 7. , viewed 23 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217997334
[2] From ‘The Phoenix Rises Very Slowly’, Part 27.