Northcliffe Timber Mill Group

Values

The place is an excellent example of an intact 20th century timber mill with associated structures and worker accommodation.

The place is representative of the type of timber mills constructed in the south of Western Australia in the 20th century and demonstrates the practice of private companies providing accommodation and social infrastructure for its employees.

The place is associated with the economic and social development of the township of Northcliffe specifically and the Southwest region more generally.

The place has defined the community of Northcliffe for half and century and its closure is representative of changing attitudes towards environmental management and economic development.

Physical Description

The group contains numerous timber framed structures and a large open gravelled area containing the Mill sheds and machinery associated with the running of the mill. The buildings are arranged in a formalised grid pattern by bituminised roads, consistent setbacks and open lawned areas.

The group contains:

Approximately 35 residences (some with separate timber garages/outhouses), a hall, the Northcliffe Workers Club, a manager’s office, a large gravelled Milling Operations area containing several sheds housing machinery, and timber and wire fencing.

The group elements are accessed via bituminised roads that run in a roughly east-west direction off Wheatley Coast Road, with the operations area located to the far eastern end of the site.

The site is located approximately 3 kms south of Northcliffe on the east side of Wheatley Coast Road and covers an area of approximately 2kms square. It is accessed off either Mill Rd no.1 or Mill Rd no2.

The group comprises a number of simple timber framed structures clad with weatherboard and corrugated iron. The structures are utilitarian in nature, with simple plan configurations and hipped or gable roof forms, representative of timber construction technology in the early 20th century.

There are two primary forms of workers cottages: one with simple gabled roof and skillion verandah with enclosed rear portion, the other with projecting, gable front room and broken-backed recessed verandah.

The Workers Cottages, Hall, Manager’s Office and Northcliffe Worker’s Club buildings are generally in sound to good condition, although some roofing shows signs of rusting and timbers require some maintenance. The milling operations area containing the sheds could not be accessed, however, it appears that the major visible structures are in good condition.

History

After World War Two, the Northcliffe area was targeted for soldier settlement and the establishment of a timber mill. The Kauri Timber Company (Nannup) began construction of a mill, 26 mill houses, a boarding house and a rail spur line in 1947. By 1959, the mill town had grown to 100 houses and the town of Northcliffe had developed along with the timber industry, boasting increased business premises and private residences, a club, hotel and school.

In 1963 Bunning bought two more sawmills at Northcliffe on the Gardner River from the Swan Timber Co., a subsidiary of the British-owned Borneo Timber Co. These mills had previously belonged to the …Kauri Timber Co. which had withdrawn from Western Australia in 1963.

The No. 1 mill at Northcliffe had a capacity of 24 000 super ft of karri a day and the No. 2 mill was a small unit cutting jarrah sleepers.

On 23 February 1966 the no 1 mill caught fire…The fire was so intense that it was impossible to get into the mill and sound the alarm so car horns were tooted in unison to raise the town fire brigade. By morning the estimated damage was $250 000 but the engine room and boiler were saved and this was an important factor when an alternator was attached to the old engine and cables run into the company’s jarrah mill across the river. A new mill was built in 1966 with Laurie Jones as millwright.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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.