Nannup Timber Mill Precinct

Child Places

• 15280 Forestry Cottage 1571
• 17500 Forestry Cottage 2301
• 15280 Forestry Cottage 1571
• 17494 Forestry Cottage 1082
• 17496 Forestry Cottage 2315
• 12991 Forestry Cottage L2309
• 17493 Forestry Cottage 1816
• 17494 Forestry Cottage 1082
• 17502 Forestry Cottage 2387

Values

The place is understood to be the largest jarrah sawmill still operating (under contract with State Govt until 2013) in the State and is one of a diminishing number of mills that formed a key industry in the development of the south-west of Western Australia.

The place is rare as an extant timber mill and associated machinery in Western Australia.

The place has high aesthetic value as an industrial landscape comprising a number of prominent and unusual forms including the chimney, incinerator and ‘Betting Ring’.

The place has the potential to reveal the changing nature of milling technology through the 1900s and into the 21st century.

The place demonstrates the practice of providing accommodation to employees working at the site.

The place also represents a Timber Mill site used for tourist purposes.

Physical Description

Nannup Timber Mill is an operational jarrah sawmill, including timber processing facilities, offices and workers cottages.

The site is located on the west side of Warren Road, just before it becomes the Vasse Highway, via Mill Street. Mill Street runs in an east-west direction, with prominent signage at Warren Road, and terminating at the Milling yards. A gravel car park is located to the south of Mill Street, and a bituminised parking area to the north for the office/administration building.

The Mill includes a series of saw tooth sheds with a prominent, corbelled brick chimney, large circular steel incinerator, and circular timber framed and corrugated iron milling ring called the ‘Betting Ring’. A separately located timber framed, weatherboard and tile administration building is located at the entry to the milling yards.

The timber workers cottages are located in two settlements; one to the north of Mill Street, on View Terrace, and one to the south off a gravel drive parallel to Warren Road.

The buildings are typically timber framed and weatherboard structures with gabled roofs and broken-backed verandahs set behind simple picket fences, often with adjacent timber framed skillion roofed carports. Notable features include external galvanised chimney flues and simple timber framed casement windows.

History

‘Nannup Timber Mill was constructed in 1925/26 by the Kauri Timber Company after the closure of Barrabup and Ellis Creek Timber Mills. The mill was owned by the Kauri Timber Company until 1963 when it was owned by Douglas Jones Pty Ltd, then Millars and then Bunnings. The original steam powered mill burned down in 1954 and was subsequently replaced with a mill powered by electricity. The original mill chimney constructed in 1925 remains.’

‘Adjacent to the mill are a number of mill cottages which are also important to the history of the place. Some of the cottages including the mill manager’s house were relocated from Ellis Creek and Barrabup. The manager’s house is believed to have come from Barrabup.’

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity- High
Authenticity- Moderate/ Low

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.