Jarrahwood Townsite & Mill

Statement of Significance

Jarrahwood Townsite & Mill, a complete mill and settlement in a leafy setting, has cultural heritage significance as one of the early forest settlements in the region, designed in local vernacular and standard pattern style. It is important because of its level of intactness and its close connection with the timber industry makes it significant in the milling history of Busselton.

Physical Description

Jarrahwood is a forestry timber town comprising sixteen dwellings and a timber mill. The site retains an authentic timber milling settlement atmosphere and a leafy setting. The dwellings evoke a local architectural style in the form of modest gable roofed, timber weatherboard clad houses fronting the garden with the ubiquitous local architectural feature, the verandah. Most of the buildings are standard pattern dwellings reflecting practices from first half of the twentieth century with examples spanning almost this entire timeframe. A timber picket fence encloses the cluster of buildings on a tightly organized site. The mill still remains to the present day.

History

Timber milling continued as it had from the mid nineteenth century, as a main activity with the Jarrahwood and Sawmills Co (formed in 1902) continuing to operate at Jarrahwood until the 1970’s55 and the Wonnerup Mill starting in 1921 to mill mature Tuart Trees. With the Railways Department’s orders for Tuart being filled, the mill temporarily closed, re-opening in 1924. After 1927, demand again dwindled and, with the onset of the Depression, the mill closed in 1930. A small spot mill had also been erected at Ludlow in 1928 to cut pine trimmings, closing in 1936 but, then, a decade later, another mill was erected. Jarrahwood mill closed finally in 1982 and continues as a small settlement in a forestry area.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Degree/High Degree Integrity Notes: The place retains a high degree of integrity. Authenticity Notes: The place retains a high degree of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update