Buckingham Mill - Site

Statement of Significance

Buckingham Mill, has cultural heritage significance for its historic association with timber milling in the district. Its operations resulted in the establishment of the Buckingham townsite.

Physical Description

Historic Site

History

Thomas Buckingham and his brother Alexander arrived in Australia in 1850. Alexander’s sons Ernest and James arrived in Collie in 1911 and opened a mill at Buckingham. The steam-powered mill was built about 1km north of the railway line and connected to the WAGR line in 1912 at Buckingham’s Siding. The traction engine known as ‘Polly’, now located at the Collie Visitor Centre was used to haul lots to the mill and to shunt sawn timber to the WAGR siding. The mill closed during the depression years but reopened in 1933. The West Australian reported that ‘the mill has been closed down for a long time and the announcement is therefore particularly welcome. The mill is about 12 miles east of Collie, and is one of the largest in the district’. Fire ravaged the Buckingham area in 1944 and 1945 with much of the town including 11 buildings and ‘practically all the timber stacks at Buckingham’s Mill being destroyed in February 1945. The mill was operated by Buckingham Bros until 1954 when it was sold to the State Saw Mills. The Sunday Times of 4 July that year reported that ‘the industry will regret the passing out of Buckingham Bros as an entity in sawmilling…but the name will carry on for a very long period, as the mill at Buckingham has a considerable life ahead of its present location’. In 1960, the State Building Supplies (formerly State Saw Mills) was sold and Hawker Siddeley Buildings Supplies took over the mill. Further investigation is required to determine the exact location of the mill.

Integrity/Authenticity

None/ None

Condition

None

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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