Rosewood History

From Queensland Times (Ipswich), Saturday, 19 December 1914, page 7

Through the Rosewood District
 (1)
(By Our Travelling Representative)

The Rosewood District is entered upon a few miles west of Ipswich, and extends westward to the Little Liverpool Range, the old boundary on the north being a line running from Hatton Vale via Brightview, Tarampa, Through Lowood and on to Glamorgan Vale. On the South the boundary is marked by the peaks on the Little Liverpool Range between Laidley Creek and Sandy Creek, thence westward from a line from Moorang through Mutdapilly, on to Amberley.

 At the time of my visit to the district, with the exception of a small area at the extreme southern end, was suffering from the prolonged dry spell there having been practically no rain whatever from the third week in October till the last week in November. Before that stream of dry weather had set in there were parts of the district which had unfortunately been out of the rain area, and the conditions existing there were certainly wretched. The whole district however, is one which rapidly recovers if a downpour of any quantity is experienced, and it is therefore not surprising to find there is a general air of prosperity, and, through good management, combined with the “good old times” quite a number of farmers have been able to retire and live comfortably in their reclining days.

The district is about evenly divided by the South-Western railway line. On the northern side the land from Thagoona on to the Brisbane River is practically all scrub country, and decidedly thickly settled. There is a heavy percentage of German farmers and all recognise the splendid advantages and conditions which they have enjoyed living under the British flag, and all would willingly help to maintain the freedom they now enjoy. In conversation with most of these settlers, one is quite surprised to hear of the tyrannical conditions obtaining in Germany, regarding a man endeavouring to secure independence. Such a position is almost practically  unattainable to the man who has to work for his livelyhood, for ambition and energy are crushed by the magnates who dominate their fellow countrymen.

But what is the position here today? One finds scores on scores of independent German people who came to our fair State practically penniless, but who, by sheer pluck and determination, combined with the more liberal land laws offering 30 years ago, are now in a position to hand over their properties to relatives and live comfortably. 

The dairying industry is the principal occupation followed-in fact, the first dairy factory in Queensland was established at Lanefield, near Rosewood. Some three station properties, all of small areas, are still held for grazing purposes, and on account of their proximity to the markets, are decidedly remunerative. 

There is not very much done in the timber industry, the bulk of the timber having been utilised in years gone by.

At Walloon coal mining affords employment to a goodly number of miners and Messrs. W. R. Black Ltd., have opened up a new mine near the Thagoona-Walloon road, bout half-a-mile from the railway line. The mine had been connected with the main line by means of a tram-line. 

Besides the coal mining industry at Walloon, Mr. G. F. Muller conducts a tannery, now on a somewhat smaller scale than previously, owing to the big increase in the price of hides, and the difficulty in procuring them. The present output represents about 50 hides weekly. Mr. Muller had had a life-long experience in the business and worked in one of the first tanneries built in the State. The bark used for the purpose of tanning is now all imported from South Australia and the duty thereon is a very heavy item. Still, the quality is responsible for the proprietor continuing to draw his supplies from that source. 

There is also a butter factory owned by Messrs, W. Siemon and Son., which enjoys a good patronage. The form has always been noted for its high class cattle, raised on the Prospect Hill Dairy Farm. 

From Walloon on to Kirchheim, practically all scrub country is traversed and mixed farming is followed. There has been a good deal larger area put under sugar cane during the past few years and the farmers who have experienced thus far, are all so well pleased with the result that they have increased their plantings considerably this year. The result, as seen by others, has been the means of inducing scores of farmers to go in for this crop, which promises to be one of the best paying ventures if the land is out of reach of frosts. Last year Mr. W. Gibson, at the conclusion of the crushing season, interviewed most of the cane growers and an agreement entered into made the growing of this product more satisfactory to both parties. There is no doubt that if a good season is experienced this time, a record crushing will be offering next year, for there is now a big increase in the acreage under crop.

Mr. J. Koch, of Kirchheim, informed me that his crop this crushing was in the vicinity of 170 tons, whilst Messrs. Dilger Bros, in the same locality, cut about 200 tons. The price paid by the mill is very much more remunerative than was at one time the case.

A butter factory owned by Mr. A. L. Frederich does good business at Marburg.

The Marburg Sugar Company’s mill, formerly owned by Mr. T. L. Smith, and situated about a mile north of Marburg, is connected to the railway line. The existence of this mill at Marburg has improved the conditions immensly for the farmers who cultivate cane. In speaking to Mr. Gibson, on the last day of this years’ crushing, I was informed that the crushing this year totalled 4000 tons of cane compared with 5700 tons last year. This shortage is accounted for by the fact that last season was very dry in the last half-year and was really too adverse to planting operations being carried out. The supply for this crushing comprised consignments from Roadvale, Teviotville and Englesburg in the Fassifern district, whilst the bulk of it was produced in the kirchheim and Marburg districts. Mr. Gibson is confident that next year the mill will have a six months crushing as the area this year is very much in excess of anything planted previously. 

In response to an address by Mr. Gibson at Pine Mountain last season, many farmers there have notified their intention of going in for sugar cane so the supply will be augmented from that centre also. The crushing this year engaged 30 hands for seven weeks and it was an agreeable circumstance that the whole crush was successfully completed without a hitch of any kind in the working of the machinery, The proprietor is very confident that the farmers who have signed an agreement to plant a certain area with cane will honour their promises, and, if so, the success of the industry  will be individually improved by the grower and the mill proprietor. Mr. Gibson is handicapped by the small output at present as the upkeep of the mill, the overhauling of the machinery &c. for such a long time with no result occurring, are a dead loss, whereas, if the output were greater, a more remunerative result would be experienced all round. The advantage to the dairy farmer in planting an area of cane in such seasons as we have presently experienced is obvious, inasmuch as when the natural grasses fail and dry weather precluded the raising of green fodder crops, the cane which is a great drought resister can be utilised for cow-feed, and not only is it nutritious and strengthening, but also stimulates milk production. Cane cultivation really forms mind of an insurance against drought, for the constitution of cattle can be improved by feeding on it, and horses can be worked on it when it is chaffed whilst pigs relish it when thrown to them in the rough state. Consequently the advantage to the stock owner is decidedly beneficial and, in a good season, the product can be disposed of at possibly the most remunerative price per acre of any kind of crop at present raised. There is no doubt that the future of this industry is particularly bright and the mill proprietors deserve every consideration for their earnest endeavours to promote the expansion of this industry, which has proved to be of great assistance toward the development of Marburg.