Rosewood History

Thomas Lorimer Smith’s Mill at Woodland’s Estate, Marburg (est. by his father, Charles Smith, 1877)

 WEST MORETON SAWMILLS

[Taken from the Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, January and February 1878]
The timber trade in this district has for many years past formed a most important and rising industry. Indeed, at one time during the palmy days of Ipswich timber-cutting was the chief avocation of the then sparse population, giving employment to many hundreds of people. Some of the oldest residents will doubtless still retain a lively recollection of the stirring trade which was done in the timber line in many parts of West Moreton – particularly in the vicinity of the Pine Mountain where many amongst us who are now in circumstances of comparative affluence earned, by hard steady plodding, that which gave them the first fair start on the path to fortune. Things, however, have greatly changed since then. The slow-going pit-saw of those halcyon days has now almost disappeared, and given place to its more pretentious steam rival-a change rendered necessary not merely to keep pace with this fast-moving age, but also to meet the increasing demands of the times. The result is a revived and steadily developing trade, which has never previously shown more encouraging signs of prosperity. West Moreton can now boast of several large and powerful saw-mills, not the least important of which may be mentioned those of Messrs, Hancock and Sons, one situated in the Rosewood Scrub, and the other just recently started at North Ipswich.

MR. CHARLES SMITH’S ROSEWOOD MILL
In our first article on the saw-mills in West Moreton, which appeared about a fortnight ago, we drew attention to the rising importance of the timber trade in this part of the colony, and asserted that it was never previously in a more prosperous and steadily progressive condition. Mere assertion, however, unsupported by facts, is often of little value, and very often carries but little weight. Reporters, too, are reputed with what degree of fairness we will not here stop to inquire-to have a decided propensity to exaggerate, and their reports, as a rule, are taken with the proverbial grain of salt. To guard, however, against anything of this kind, we have resolved, in whatever remarks we may have to make concerning our saw-mills, to keep as closely as we can to actual facts, and allow them to tell their own tale; so that our readers may be able to judge for themselves of the truth or otherwise of the assertion which formed the introductory paragraph of our last article. 

With this object in view, and in compliance with a kind invitation from Mr. Smith himself, we proceeded on Thursday last to the Rosewood mill. An enjoyable, although rather long, drive of some fifteen miles, over a road many parts of which sadly need improving, brought us to the site of the mill-a very pleasant spot indeed, just on the outer edge of the scrub, and on the slope – or perhaps, more correctly speaking, at the base of a rather steep thickly-wooded hill. Before proceeding to describe the mill, we may mention, in passing, that Mr. Smith was amongst the first-if not the first-of the pioneers in the Rosewood Scrub. He commenced operations in the sawing line, some twelve years ago, at what is now known as the old Walloon mill, but which, about twelve months since, was removed to the site of the new mill. It was the employment which this old mill gave that ultimately led to the earliest settlement in the scrub. When Mr. Smith first entered the Rosewood in search of timber, there was scarcely a soul to be found in any portion of it. But let anyone visit it now and see the change which has taken place since then! That comparatively narrow tract of country which but twelve years ago was fenced off, as it were, from the outer world by an almost impenetrable barrier of vines, shrubbery, and countless other woods, is now literally honey-combed-if we may be allowed the expression-with farms and teems with an industrious population of over 5,000 people. Only give the Rosewood an unlimited supply of water, and before many years have passed by it will have become one of the most prosperous localities in the colony. 

But to return. The Rosewood Sawmill is a comparatively new one, having been erected only some twelve months. The mill proper comprises one large double-roofed substantially built hardwood and pine structure, 86ft. long by 50ft. wide, with raised floor, and divided into two apartments, a sawing and a planing shed. The first mentioned, which is the larger of the two,  contains two very fine benches-one a rack and the other a running-out bench. The rack bench, made by Messrs. Chapman and Co., of Sydney, is a magnificent piece of workmanship, and is one of the best of its kind that we have yet seen in the colony. It is very powerful, reaching nearly the whole length of the building; and is made entirely of iron, on the most approved principles. This bench does all the heavy work in connection with the mill, and does it, too, to use a common business phrase, “with neatness and dispatch”, especially the latter. A 5ft. in diameter circular saw is employed here and something like a correct idea of what it is capable of performing in the way of breaking up the most ponderous logs may be formed when we state that it cuts through the wood at the rate of from 30ft. to 40ft. per minute. The logs are conveyed to the breaking-up saw in a very simple manner, and without any exertion on the part of the workmen. They are rolled from a slight incline on to the skids, which we may here mention, for the information of the uninitiated, are simply a framework of raised logs placed in parallel rows, and from these on to the trollies, which latter run along a strong wooden tramway leading to the mill. By this means the heaviest logs are removed with the greatest ease. The running out bench, too, is a handsome piece of machinery, and as useful as it is handsome. It is of very strong make, and works almost as smoothly as if fixed on a foundation of adamant. It is quite a treat to see this bench at work, and when looking at it one cannot help contrasting it with the old-fashioned “labour monopolists” of fifteen or twenty years ago. The advance is as startling as it is pleasing to contemplate. After leaving this bench the timber is conveyed on trollies along a second line of tramway to the stacking ground, of which we shall have some thing further to say anon. Attached to the main building is a saw-sharpening room; but the sharpener itself, one of the latest improvements in connection with saw-mills, is placed on a more open and convenient spot on the western side of the shed.

Leaving the sawing-shed, we entered what is perhaps the most interesting apartment in connection with the mill-viz., the planing shed. Here we saw in full work one of Ransome and Co’s. planing, grooving, and moulding machines, a remarkable piece of mechanism, and one which, in words, it would be almost impossible to correctly describe. We were assured that this machine had not its equal in the colony. It is worth a visit to the mill alone to witness the planer in operation. To see a workman, in the most mechanical fashion imaginable, insert a board in this machine, to watch it travelling through at the rate of 60ft. per minute, and then see it make its appearance at the other end planed, beaded, tongued, and grooved in the most perfect manner, is a sight well calculated to astonish those who have never seen such a machine at work before. It is indeed a perfect triumph of mechanical genius; and it is worked in the simplest possible manner. Indeed, two small boys might almost attend to it. The board on entering the machine is received by two strong iron rollers so constructed as to firmly grip the wood. As the board passes along the bottom part is brought in contact with two revolving planing knives, which perform the same operation as a jackplane does in handwork. 

As the wood progresses on its journey it is acted upon by three other planing knives, set equidistant from each other, and revolving at a very high rate of speed. These give the board the finishing touches. The top of the board is acted upon in a similar manner. The knives are adjusted by means of a regulator, and the moulding irons can be set to a width of 14in. if necessary. The operation of tonguing and grooving is performed by side cutters, which are also set to the required width or height by means of regulators worked by an iron key. At the same end is an underneath cutter for beading. This excellent machine can turn out 1000ft. of boards tongued, grooved, planed, and moulded in an hour with the greatest ease. The planing is really well done, and the boards look as if they had actually been sandpapered. The greatest expert at hand planing could not, we think, turn out anything to compare with that done by this remarkable invention. Under the same roof as the planer is a small iron hand bench for running out shingles and performing other light work and close by is a mammoth grindstone-one of a pair at the mill-weighing nearly a ton. It is worked by steam and is self-acting-that is to say, the planing irons, &c., can be so fixed to this stone that they can be ground without anyone attending to them, another labour-saver in a small way. This stone can grind an iron 2ft. in breadth. It is 4ft. 6in diameter, and 9in. in thickness, and was, with its mate, imported from Messrs. Chapman and Co., of Sydney. 

The engine which drives the rack and running-out benches is one of Cochrane and Co.’s, the celebrated Glasgow manufacturers. It is a horizontal engine of thirty-horse power (nominal), but is capable of being worked up to fifty-horse power. It is kept in a detached room, and was at the time of our visit in capital working order. It is evidently well looked after, as it deserves to be, being a fine piece of machinery, and works very smoothly. The boiler of this engine, which is also under a shed of its own, is 24ft. long and 6ft. in diameter, and the smoke from it is carried off by an iron funnel 50ft. high, which was made at the Locomotive Department of the Southern and Western Railway. On the opposite side of the building are a second engine and boiler, which were in use at the old mill. The nominal power of this engine is ten-horse. It is one of Clayton and Shuttleworth’s, the well-known Lincoln manufacturers; and, although it has been in active service for a very long time, it looked, to use a sporting phrase, as “fit” as ever. This engine drives the planing machine, small bench, and grindstone. All the shafting is under the floor of the building, consequently the workmen are not in the least degree hampered by the innumerable belts and wheels necessary to the driving of such a large amount of machinery. Everything is plain sailing in both apartments of the establishment, and the men, many of them having had long experience in this particular calling, seem to work well together. The principal portion of the machinery is propelled by a 12ft. in diameter fly-wheel and by a 10ft. wrought iron driving wheel, assisted by two pulleys. 

The water is supplied to both engines from a well close to the mill. This well is 59ft. deep, and appears to have an exhaustless supply of water in it, as during the late severe drought, when every waterhole in the locality was completely dried up, and when the water from it was freely used for horses and cattle as well as the engines, it did not show any signs of diminishing. The water from the well is raised by a force-pump worked by a clank and pulley, which are propelled by steam power. The water is received by two large iron tanks, one for each engine. The fuel for the two engines consist in part of shavings from the planing machine, which is found an easy and cheap way of getting rid of a most dangerous material. Every precaution, however, is taken against fire, and one of the first things which confronts a visitor on entering the mill is, in black and white, the imperative mandate “No smoking allowed.” 

With reference to the minor buildings on the estate, we may mention a newly erected shed 50ft. by 25ft. for holding all the planed material, chamfer, lining, and other boards. Mr. Smith intends in a few days erecting a shoot from the mill to the shed to facilitate the conveyance of the timber from the planing machine. He also contemplates laying down some additional tramways to the stacking-ground in order that the dried timber may be taken to the planer, and the newly cut from the benches to the stacks, with greater dispatch. There is a number of workmen’s houses on the ground, all of which appear to be possessed of every comfort. Besides these there are an office and several necessary outbuildings. Indeed, at the present rate of progress, the place will in a short time assume the appearance of a neat little township. Mr. Smith does not at present reside at the mill, but as soon as a few other improvements in connection with it have been effected, he intends erecting a fine large house on the summit of the hill, from which a splendid view of the surrounding country may be had. It is intended to devote an acre of ground to stacking purposes, and preparations were being made for the erection of several additional stacks at the time of our visit. 

About five acres of ground have been set apart for the mill and the buildings in connection with it, thus preventing the possibility of operations being impeded through want of room. About fourteen or fifteen hands are employed at the mill, which, we are informed, is capable of turning out 200,000ft. of timber per month, and of reducing, when in full work, about forty logs a day, not at all a bad average for a Queensland mill. The establishment is under the superintendence of a son of the proprietor, Mr. T. L. Smith, who, although quite a young man, is possessed of a good deal of business tact and energy. The whole of the buildings and machinery in connection with the mill were erected under his personal supervision, and the manner in which the work has been carried out reflects considerable credit upon him. Mr. W. H. Smith, another son of the owner, also takes an active part in the operations of the mill. 

In conclusion, we congratulate Mr. Smith upon the acquirement of such a valuable and handsome property. He is now reaping the reward of his past industry; and we wish him, as we wish all such useful members of the State, the bone and sinew of a young colony, continued success.

MESSRS. HANCOCK AND SONS’ NORTH IPSWICH MILL.
In our two previous articles on the saw-mills in West Moreton we spoke in most reassuring terms of the steadily increasing importance of the timber trade in this district. We pointed out that never before was this rising industry in a more flourishing condition, and hinted that in the future it would most surely assume still greater proportions. The events which have since transpired go in a very decided manner to confirm our predictions. Although only a few weeks have passed since the publication of the articles referred to, we find that some of our mill owners have been launching out into more extensive undertakings, and entering with renewed energy, and we must confess with a certain amount of pluck, into the sawing industry. The consequence is, that at our local mills there is increased activity, and, judging from appearances, a corresponding amount of prosperity, the building trade at the present time being in a most flourishing condition.

It may therefore be readily supposed that the mill of the late Mr. James Reilly-the largest and most complete in the district, but which at the time of the lamented owner’s decease suspended operations, would not be allowed to remain long idle; and one of our local mill-owning firms, the Messrs. Hancock and Sons, finding their operations of too limited a character, and not quite equal to the requirements of the trade, obtained a lease of the mill, and now have it once more in full swing. This enterprising firm have thus been placed in possession of a mill which in point of completeness, power, and capability is per-haps only second to one in the colony. We have on previous occasions pretty fully described this establishment, and we need not again inflict upon our readers a list of technical expressions which, to most people, are about as intelligible as would be a similar array of Egyptian hieroglyphics. We shall, however, to give some idea of the importance and capabilities of the mill, briefly refer to some of its leading features. 

We will commence with the motive power. On entering the engineer’s compartment, we found a horizontal stationary engine of thirty-five horse-power -having an 18in. in diameter cylinder and a 4ft. piston stroke, propelling the whole of the machinery in connection with the mill with apparently the greatest ease. It is a very superior piece of machinery, having been made by Messrs. Gray and Co., the celebrated manufactures of Uddingston, near Glasgow. Steam is got up by two Cornish boilers, each of which is 18ft. long by 5½ft. in diameter. We then passed into the sawing apartment, a fine, large, airy place, and admirably adapted for the purposes to which it is devoted. It contains the usual rack-bench, a very good one, a self-acting running-out bench, and a small band or jobbing bench. Two of these were in operation at the time of our visit, both cutting hardwood, and they appeared to work admirably, the first-named especially, which was reducing to the required sizes the colossal trunk of a hardwood tree measuring about 4ft. 6in. in diameter. Besides these there is a powerful and very excellently made vertical iron saw-frame, capable of working twenty saws at a time; and this, too, like every other part of the machinery, is almost perfection itself. We here noticed a capital contrivance for conveying the logs into the sawing-shed. On the river-side an incline or “slip” has been formed, and a long cable chain from a coil drum or windlass conveys the logs from the rafts to the trollies, on which they are taken to the rack-bench. This of course obviates a good deal of hard manual labour, and economises time. Passing into the next apartment, we found nothing which calls for special mention, with perhaps the exception of a saw-sharpener, by Worsam and Co., which is driven by steam. It is a really fine machine, and is said to be an improvement upon those now generally used. The office is situated on this floor, and is charge of Mr. Duncan Stewart, who was for a very long time a trusted servant of the late Mr. Reilly, and whose practical experience in the timber trade qualifies him in a peculiar manner for the position which he holds. On the same flat is a small room containing two iron turning lathes-one worked by steam and the other by hand, the latter being by Brookes Bros., of Sheffield. These are most valuable additions to the engineering part of the establishment, and when breakages occur could scarcely be done without.

Having scanned everything of special interest on the first floor, we were taken to the second flat, where we found, amongst other things, a patent planing, tonguing, and grooving machine steadily at work. Without a machine of this kind no saw-mill in the present day can be said to be complete, and by having access to it the Messrs. Hancock have removed one of the disadvantages which previously they had laboured under. We will not attempt a description of this remarkable and most intricate piece of machinery. To do so in words merely would, we fear, prove an impossible task, even if we possessed sufficient mechanical knowledge to warrant our attempting it. We would instead recommend those who take an interest in inventions of this kind to pay a visit to the mill and witness for themselves what is undoubtedly a triumph of mechanical genius. We will simply remark, in passing, that the boards are fed at one end of the machine in uninterrupted succession, and after being gripped by two fluted rollers, and brought into con-tact with a number of swiftly revolving adze irons, fixed planing irons, and side cutters, make their appearance at the opposite end, planed, tongued, grooved, and beaded in a most perfect manner, and ready, without further manipulation, for hammer and nail. The machine is capable of turning out 1000ft. of boards per hour. 

On the eastern end of this floor are five large iron tanks, which supply the engine with water, and are constantly kept full to be of service in the event of fire. In the adjoining compartment we noticed what is known as a jigsaw, fixed in a framework of iron and driven by steam. This is a very handy and most useful addendum to the machinery of the mill. It is employed principally in cutting felloes and other semi-circular work; and it certainly “walks round” the wood in a surprising manner. We also observed on this storey, at the western end, a large stack of cedar boards of a very superior description, which will doubtless not be permitted to remain very long where they are, as this particular kind of timber is too scarce, and the quality of that in question too good, to escape purchase. There is also a fine lot of timber now being stacked at the side of the mill, the pine and hardwood being particularly good; and quite a forest of logs occupy the space at the western end, awaiting manipulation, which they are under-going with all possible dispatch. It is computed that the mill is capable of turning out 50,000ft. of sawn timber per week, not at all a bad average. The Messrs. Hancock intend, however, to still further facilitate operations by fitting up a breaking-down saw, for the purpose of reducing logs, and also of erecting a small bench for the cutting of hard wood and pine shingles. We cannot conclude our remarks without saying a word or two about the workmen engaged at the mill. The lessees have been fortunate in securing the services of several of those employed by the late owner-men thoroughly up to their work, who apparently know what they have to do and do it. They seem to pull well together, and during our visit there was nothing approaching confusion. This is as it ought to be: upon good fellowship, amongst workmen as much as anything else, depends the successful working of such establishments. “It is better to be born lucky than rich,” says the old saw; if so, the Messrs. Hancock have the fates with them. 

We are glad that in one respect, at least, they intend to follow the excellent example set to all large firms by the late Mr. Reilly, that is, to make an arrangement with their workmen by which a penny from every pound paid them will be given for the purpose of presenting the Hospital with a quarterly, or half-yearly-as may be found most convenient donation, the firm themselves also very generously undertaking to give ¼d. for every pound paid by them. We should like to see this principle more generally adopted. The amount is so insignificant that the men never miss it, and there are, as a rule, very few whose benevolence is at such a low ebb that they would refuse to contribute the 240th part of every pound of their earnings towards the funds of so deserving and necessary an institution. All praise therefore to the Messrs. Hancock for imitating what is undoubtedly a good example. 

In conclusion, we wish the firm every success. It is quite true, of course, that they are endeavouring to improve their own positions in thus launching out into fresh enterprise. But they are doing more; they are, like all such firms, contributing directly to the general prosperity of the town and district; and upon these grounds, if upon no other, they are deserving of what encouragement it is in our power as public journalists to give them.