Scotsdale Road Bridge

Statement of Significance

Scarcity value: The activities of the Millar Brothers in the coastal district was once of major importance to this area. The built miles of tramlines and numerous bridges. While it is possible to approximate the route of mane of the tramlines (a large number of modern dirt roads in the area were once the tramlines), the survival of physical evidence is minimal. The Tramway Bridge is an important piece of physical evidence which has survived from this period.
Historical Significance: The Tramway Bridge is an important piece of tangible evidence of the once thriving timber industry based around Denmark. The Millar Brothers’ Timber Industry made an important contribution to the economic growth of Western Australia and their presence in the Denmark region opened up this area for later settlement.

Physical Description

The timber bridge appears to span a small culvert. Construction is squared pit-sawn timbers for the framework and adzed planks for the decking. The massive nature of the supporting timbers has no doubt contributed to the survival of this bridge. The bridge is currently covered with a layer of soil vegetation which protects it from vandalism. A further inspection of the bridge could reveal evidence of tramline or show where they were once fixed.

History

Assessment 1996
The Millar Brothers first established their saw mills in the Torbay area in 1884. By 1892, they had depleted the timber in this area and the overseas markets had become unsteady. They pulled out of this area, dismantling their mills and the tramlines.
In 1895, they secured the lease of 20,000 acres of karri forest located around the Denmark hills from the WA Land Company. They established new mill site on the Denmark river. The works at Denmark were of considerable size and the township of Denmark sprang up in conjunction with the timber milling activity. Fifty four-roomed cottages were built for workers, a store, a butchers shop, a blacksmiths shop, engineering works, a feed mill and offices were erected by the company.
The company commenced operations with the construction of a spot mill, which was later replaced by several permanent mills. One of these mills was the Scotsdale No 3 Mill which was located along Scotsdale Road. An extensive system of tramlines was established to bring timber to the mills. As with Torbay, the area soon became depleted of workable timber. The brothers’ failure to obtain new leases in the deep River area meant that they were forced to close their operations in Denmark in 1905.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.