Jarrahdene Mill

Statement of Significance

Jarrahdene Timber Mill (former) is of significance: • As an important former mill site, which has not been subject to redevelopment and which retains significant archaeological evidence relating to the operation of the local timber industry in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, and to the lives of the people who worked and lived in the mill settlement. • For its association with the establishment of a major timber industry in the Karridale district by M.C. Davies in the late nineteenth century. • For its historical association with a larger group including the other M.C. Davies timber mills in the Karridale district and with the railway system that was established to service this industry. • For its association with Millars Karri and Jarrah Company (later Millars Timber and Trading Co.) which was formed from an amalgamation of a number of major Western Australian sawmilling companies in 1902. • As a major centre of local employment from 1895 to 1913.

Physical Description

The site of the former mill is located on Jarrahdene Road (now a narrow forestry track) at the following coordinates: 34.118282, 115.086809.This site has evidence of heavy ground disturbance over a large area, including deep pits, cuttings, trenches and mounds. There is also clear evidence of former structures (metal frames, timber posts, brickwork and foundations) and surface evidence of site occupation (broken crockery etc). To the south and south-west of this site, in the vicinity of Boulter Road (another forestry track), there is an over-grown high embankment (clearly evident near the crossing over McLeod Creek – GPS Coordinates (-34.120346, 115.096607), which marks the alignment of the main railway line that served the local mills and was later adapted as the Western Australian Government railways line from Margaret River to Augusta. Jarrahdene was served by a spur off this main line (see 1911 newspaper article below), for which earthworks also remain.

History

M C Davies established sawmills at Coodardup, Karridale, Boranup and Jarrahdene from the 1880-90s and almost single-handedly created a market and efficient industry for Karri and Jarrah hardwoods.Opened in 1895, Jarrahdene was the fourth timber mill erected by Davies Timber Co. It was served by a private railway which delivered logs and then transported the cut timber to jetties at Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay (facilitating the export of timber to destinations around the world): There is a hungry mill down the line at Jarrahdene, awaiting …. the rake of jarrah logs [which the engine] has previously hauled from the "top” .... Jarrahdene is situated on a short branch line, and invisible from the main line, so that the visitor does not see the mill to which the logs are bound, the mail van being detached at the points and left standing in the bush until the logs are run up to the mill.In 1902, M.C. Davies Karri and Jarrah Company Ltd along with Imperial Jarrah Wood Corporation and six other timber companies in operation in Western Australia amalgamated. Karridale became part of the combined company, Millars' Karri and Jarrah Co. (1902) Ltd. However, market changes and reduced viability of the local timber practices led to the progressive closure of the local industry, with Jarrahdene being the last of the mills to close, in 1913. In the period following the closure of the mill, a number of buildings and materials were removed, as was common practice. For example, the Jarrahdene store was relocated to Augusta as the town’s first hall.It appears that the mill and associated settlement was fully abandoned by 1917 when a visitor to the district described travelling: Past deserted Jarrahdene, past the ruined relics of the timber mill which once worked busily on the melancholy Boranup mere An archaeological investigation of the site was undertaken by Jodee Smith (supervised by Shame Burke) as an Honours dissertation in c.2004. This identified a large complex of material, relating to the mill, the site of the manager’s house (McGregor's), which was on an elevated site, and the separate workers' living area, which was down the slope toward McLeod Creek.This research concluded that the Jarrahdene site is very important archaeologically.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low: The place has been considerably altered, with the loss of significant fabric. The original intent/character is no longer clearly evident. Low: The use has been discontinued and the original use cannot be readily discerned.

Condition

Poor.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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