Pemberton Mill & Chimney Complex

Child Places

• 11381 Pemberton Timber Mill Workers' Cottages Precinct
• 25055 Single Men's Huts
• 25055 Single Men's Huts

Statement of Significance

Scientific, Historic, Representativeness and Social

Physical Description

• Mill complex spread over large area; • Made up of large industrial buildings, milling machinery, sheds, storage bays and vehicles; • The old brick chimney is still intact – a relic of a past era; • The complex includes the Mill Workers Cottage Precinct (refer to separate entry); • The railway line runs along the edge of the complex, and; • At the top of the hill are the remnants of the single men’s’ quarters.

History

The Pemberton Mill is located at the heart of Pemberton, both physically and historically. The mill was first established in 1913-14, and the town grew up and thrived or struggled according to what was happening at the Mill. The history of the mill is a parallel story with the history of the timber industry in Western Australia. The mill was erected in 1913 on Reserve 16354, held by the State Saw Mills on a 999 year lease. The current mill buildings are not all original, as the mill operations have changed and developed as needed. What follows is a summary of the development of the timber industry in general, and the Pemberton Timber Mill in particular. The Pemberton Mill Workers’ Cottages Precinct grew up around the mill and is a significant heritage icon in the town. This has been recognized by registering it on the State Register of Heritage Place. The precinct is a complex of single storey timber weatherboard residences , including related structures with corrugated iron roofs, in the Federation Bungalow and Inter-War Bungalow style in Pemberton, in Broadway, Brockman St, Dean St, Pine St, Kelly St and Karri Rise. The cottages were built by the State Saw Mills from C1913-1914-20, 1924-26 and C1951 to accommodate workers employed at the Big Brook (Pemberton) timber. The buildings were constructed by the company’s workforce. The mill site included the mill, locomotive workshops and sheds, and stables. Accommodation was built using the local timber, which in this case was karri. In the 1930s milling methods underwent significant changes. Diesel machinery was introduced for log hauling, and the introduction of motor transport led to the review of the use of locomotives to transport logs from the bush to the mill. There were further changes to milling in the post war era. Increased mechanization accelerated production. Power sawing replaced axe work, and trucks gradually superseded steam locomotives. The timber industry was mainly controlled by three large businesses, Millars Timber and Trading Co, Bunning Bros and State Saw Mills. At this period Pemberton was the largest of State Saw mills’ operations with 379 people employed there m most of whom were accommodated in mill housing. In 2004 the Mill continues to be a focus for the town of Pemberton. It employs approximately 100 staff, as against the 400 who once operated the mill and the associated mill town activities. Refer to 16.6 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Fair Authenticity: Fair

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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