Historical Connection
WA’s timber industry has a proud history spanning more than 180 years. Timber built many of our regional towns, communities and economies. WA timber provided the foundation for the Trans-Australian railway, supplying 1.5 million sleepers.
Quick Facts:
The first Timber Mill operated from Mt Eliza at the base of what is now known as Kings Park in 1833.
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WA first exported timber to Adelaide in 1850.
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Early railway lines were built with Jarrah and Karri.
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Forestry in WA: A Brief History
1820 - 1840
Pre 1829 Indigenous Australians managed the landscape for many thousands of years through the use of agriculture, thinning forests, and controlled burning.
1829 First European settlement in WA. Samples of wood sent to England.
1833 first sawmill in Mt Eliza.
1836 200 tons of wood exported to England.
1829 First European settlement in WA. Samples of wood sent to England.
1833 first sawmill in Mt Eliza.
1836 200 tons of wood exported to England.
1840-1860
1842 First forest regulations.
1844 Steam powered sawmill established in Guildford.
1845 Sandalwood exports established. Buildings constructed from local timbers, particularly Eucalyptus Marginata (Jarrah). Jarrah, Wandoo and Banksia used to build boats.
1850s Convict labour provided for forestry industry.
1854 First dedicated steam sawmill arrives via shipwreck of Charles Fox Bennett at Flinders Bay. Erected at Quindalup.
1858 Large sawmill built at Quindalup.
1844 Steam powered sawmill established in Guildford.
1845 Sandalwood exports established. Buildings constructed from local timbers, particularly Eucalyptus Marginata (Jarrah). Jarrah, Wandoo and Banksia used to build boats.
1850s Convict labour provided for forestry industry.
1854 First dedicated steam sawmill arrives via shipwreck of Charles Fox Bennett at Flinders Bay. Erected at Quindalup.
1858 Large sawmill built at Quindalup.
1860-1880
1872 First large sawmill opens at Jarrahdale with its own port at Rockingham.
1877 Royal Commission.
1879 Report on forests by Baron von Mueller.
1877 Royal Commission.
1879 Report on forests by Baron von Mueller.
1880-1900
1880s 1400 km of railway built, 200 km of which owned and operated by timber companies.
1882 First Inspector of Forests appointed to take steps to protect and conserve the forests.
1884 Timber from Southern Forests used for railway in South Australia, and later from Albany to Torbay.
1890s Gold rush sees railways extended into South West forests.
1895 J Ednie Brown engaged to compile comprehensive forest report, and recommendations for a new Forestry Department.
1896 Department of Woods and Forests established. Sandalwood plantations established.
1898 Intense competition for forest resources from English capitalists, holding 40,000 ha in leases and 27 mills. Government passes Land Act limiting timber lease areas to 30,000 ha.
1882 First Inspector of Forests appointed to take steps to protect and conserve the forests.
1884 Timber from Southern Forests used for railway in South Australia, and later from Albany to Torbay.
1890s Gold rush sees railways extended into South West forests.
1895 J Ednie Brown engaged to compile comprehensive forest report, and recommendations for a new Forestry Department.
1896 Department of Woods and Forests established. Sandalwood plantations established.
1898 Intense competition for forest resources from English capitalists, holding 40,000 ha in leases and 27 mills. Government passes Land Act limiting timber lease areas to 30,000 ha.
1900-1920
1903 Royal Commission into Forestry.
1905 Bunning Brothers expanded from building into sawmilling, later to become largest timber company in WA.
1912 Forest classification to recommend land for agriculture or forestry begins.
1914 Hewing stops in virgin forest.
1917 First permanent growth plot established at 100 Year Forest.
1919 Forests Department established.
1919 First State Forest declared at Ludlow.
1905 Bunning Brothers expanded from building into sawmilling, later to become largest timber company in WA.
1912 Forest classification to recommend land for agriculture or forestry begins.
1914 Hewing stops in virgin forest.
1917 First permanent growth plot established at 100 Year Forest.
1919 Forests Department established.
1919 First State Forest declared at Ludlow.
1920-1940
1920s 400,000 ha of forests progressively set aside as Class A reserves.
1920 Pilot plant at Crawley produces paper pulp from karri and marri.
1922 Royal Commission into financial provisions and administration of Forests Act.
1922 Lane-Poole resigns and S.L Kessell appointed Conservator.
1922 Silvicultural treatment begins in the jarrah forest.
1923 Working Plan No 1 produced for Mundaring.
1925 Big Brook first area of cutover karri forest to be dedicated as State Forest.
1927 Working Plan no 40 developed to cover the whole karri forest.
1929 Working Plan no 60 developed to cover the whole jarrah forest.
1929 Sandalwood Act passed, exporting firms amalgamated.
1930s Work force of about 1,000 employed rehabilitating forests, planting pine, and extending communications and fire control systems, as part of a government initiative to employ people during the depression. 167,000 ha silviculturally treated.
1936-7 Bad fire year leads to overhaul of fire legislation.
1920 Pilot plant at Crawley produces paper pulp from karri and marri.
1922 Royal Commission into financial provisions and administration of Forests Act.
1922 Lane-Poole resigns and S.L Kessell appointed Conservator.
1922 Silvicultural treatment begins in the jarrah forest.
1923 Working Plan No 1 produced for Mundaring.
1925 Big Brook first area of cutover karri forest to be dedicated as State Forest.
1927 Working Plan no 40 developed to cover the whole karri forest.
1929 Working Plan no 60 developed to cover the whole jarrah forest.
1929 Sandalwood Act passed, exporting firms amalgamated.
1930s Work force of about 1,000 employed rehabilitating forests, planting pine, and extending communications and fire control systems, as part of a government initiative to employ people during the depression. 167,000 ha silviculturally treated.
1936-7 Bad fire year leads to overhaul of fire legislation.
1940-1960
1939-45 Timber production decreases due to enlistment of workers in army.
1940s-50s Displaced persons from Europe move into timber industry work, advent of power tools.
Increase in number of small mills.
1950s Major shift in focus of sawmilling to the south, with the establishment of four new large sawmills.
1951 Royal commission into forestry places permits for harvest under the control of the Conservator, and sets a target of 40,000 ha for planting of conifers.
1951 Air photo interpretation program to cover the whole forest begins.
1954 Fire protection focus shifted to prescribed burning; 8,000 ha of land set aside for planting radiata pine.
1960 Devastating bushfires lead to a landmark bushfire review.
1940s-50s Displaced persons from Europe move into timber industry work, advent of power tools.
Increase in number of small mills.
1950s Major shift in focus of sawmilling to the south, with the establishment of four new large sawmills.
1951 Royal commission into forestry places permits for harvest under the control of the Conservator, and sets a target of 40,000 ha for planting of conifers.
1951 Air photo interpretation program to cover the whole forest begins.
1954 Fire protection focus shifted to prescribed burning; 8,000 ha of land set aside for planting radiata pine.
1960 Devastating bushfires lead to a landmark bushfire review.
1960-1980
1960s-70s First programs implemented to halt the spread of dieback. More than 700,000 ha quarantined.
1961 Largest lease granted to Alcoa World Alumina to mine bauxite in jarrah forest.
1964 First use of computer in WA forestry to develop karri volume table using CSIRAC computer from Melbourne University.
1965 Nearly 18,000 ha radiata and pinaster pine planted.
1965 First aerial prescribed burn.
1967 Passing of Softwood Forestry Agreement Act.
1967 First trials of reversion to clear felling of karri.
1971 Environmental Protection Authority established, recommends system of reserves be set up.
1973 Forests Department sets aside 40,000 ha east of Manjimup to protect rare mammals, followed by others near Dryandra, Ludlow and Boranup.
1975 ‘Donnybrook Sunklands’, a major Jarrah forest affected by dieback, zoned for pine plantations as rehabilitation and assurance of supply.
1975 Export market for woodchips to Japan established for paper production; woodchip plant established near Manjimup
1976 Recreation included in multiple use objectives for forests, leading to establishment of picnic facilities, nature trails and bushwalk tracks.
1976 Large scale photography begins to map dieback in quarantine areas prior to harvesting.
1976-82 100,000 ha of land along the south coast around Walpole dedicated as a national park, following a proposal from a group of foresters seeking to protect it from development.
1977 Karri yield reviewed and made publicly available for the first time.
1978 Cyclone Alby razes 900 ha of established plantation, 300 ha more burned by associated wildfires.
1979-80 Draft land use management plans published for Central, Southern and South West forests.
1961 Largest lease granted to Alcoa World Alumina to mine bauxite in jarrah forest.
1964 First use of computer in WA forestry to develop karri volume table using CSIRAC computer from Melbourne University.
1965 Nearly 18,000 ha radiata and pinaster pine planted.
1965 First aerial prescribed burn.
1967 Passing of Softwood Forestry Agreement Act.
1967 First trials of reversion to clear felling of karri.
1971 Environmental Protection Authority established, recommends system of reserves be set up.
1973 Forests Department sets aside 40,000 ha east of Manjimup to protect rare mammals, followed by others near Dryandra, Ludlow and Boranup.
1975 ‘Donnybrook Sunklands’, a major Jarrah forest affected by dieback, zoned for pine plantations as rehabilitation and assurance of supply.
1975 Export market for woodchips to Japan established for paper production; woodchip plant established near Manjimup
1976 Recreation included in multiple use objectives for forests, leading to establishment of picnic facilities, nature trails and bushwalk tracks.
1976 Large scale photography begins to map dieback in quarantine areas prior to harvesting.
1976-82 100,000 ha of land along the south coast around Walpole dedicated as a national park, following a proposal from a group of foresters seeking to protect it from development.
1977 Karri yield reviewed and made publicly available for the first time.
1978 Cyclone Alby razes 900 ha of established plantation, 300 ha more burned by associated wildfires.
1979-80 Draft land use management plans published for Central, Southern and South West forests.
1980-2000
1980 Development of FMIS, first forest wide GIS database developed in forestry in Australia.
1985 Formation of Dept of Conservation and Land Management amalgamating the Forests Dept, National Parks and parts of Fisheries.
1989 Simcoa granted a State agreement act to purchase from state forests.
1992 Significant Investment into WA Hardwood Plantations to service international demand for paper pulp commences.
1992 Wespine commenced operating in current format.
1999 Regional Forest Agreement Signed.
1999 Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting in Western Australia endorsed.
2000 Government encourages business to exit Timber Industry with buyout schemes.
1985 Formation of Dept of Conservation and Land Management amalgamating the Forests Dept, National Parks and parts of Fisheries.
1989 Simcoa granted a State agreement act to purchase from state forests.
1992 Significant Investment into WA Hardwood Plantations to service international demand for paper pulp commences.
1992 Wespine commenced operating in current format.
1999 Regional Forest Agreement Signed.
1999 Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting in Western Australia endorsed.
2000 Government encourages business to exit Timber Industry with buyout schemes.
2000-2020
2001 All old growth logging ceased.
2001 Wesbeam established.
2001 APEC Albany commences operations as woodchip exporter.
2001 Forest Products Commission split from CALM.
2003 Forest Management Plan 2004–2013 endorsed (South West forests).
2004 Management plan sets aside 60% of SW forests for conservation, 40% for multiple use.
2004 Wesbeam begins production at its Neerabup Plant.
2004 Hansol P.I. establish second woodchip export facility at the Port of Bunbury.
2005 Bunnings/SOTICO sells out to Gunn’s.
2006 Formation of Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly CALM)
2009 Formation of Australian Bluegum Plantations.
2013 Formation of Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW).
2013 Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 endorsed (South West Forests).
2014 Gunn’s collapse.
2014 Auswest purchases Gunn’s Timbers Western Australian assets.
2015 Northcliffe bushfires – 95,000 ha burnt.
2016 Yarloop Fires – extensive Pine Resource devastated.
2017 The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) brings together the Parks and Wildlife Service, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Zoological Parks Authority (Perth Zoo), Rottnest Island Authority, Conservation and Parks Commission, Swan River Trust (Swan Canning Riverpark) and Biodiversity and Conservation Science.
2018 Western Australia Regional Forest Agreement endorsed.
Sources:
Rethinking Indigenous Australia's Agricultural Past
A History of Forestry in Australia - L.T. Carron
2001 Wesbeam established.
2001 APEC Albany commences operations as woodchip exporter.
2001 Forest Products Commission split from CALM.
2003 Forest Management Plan 2004–2013 endorsed (South West forests).
2004 Management plan sets aside 60% of SW forests for conservation, 40% for multiple use.
2004 Wesbeam begins production at its Neerabup Plant.
2004 Hansol P.I. establish second woodchip export facility at the Port of Bunbury.
2005 Bunnings/SOTICO sells out to Gunn’s.
2006 Formation of Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly CALM)
2009 Formation of Australian Bluegum Plantations.
2013 Formation of Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW).
2013 Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 endorsed (South West Forests).
2014 Gunn’s collapse.
2014 Auswest purchases Gunn’s Timbers Western Australian assets.
2015 Northcliffe bushfires – 95,000 ha burnt.
2016 Yarloop Fires – extensive Pine Resource devastated.
2017 The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) brings together the Parks and Wildlife Service, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Zoological Parks Authority (Perth Zoo), Rottnest Island Authority, Conservation and Parks Commission, Swan River Trust (Swan Canning Riverpark) and Biodiversity and Conservation Science.
2018 Western Australia Regional Forest Agreement endorsed.
Sources:
Rethinking Indigenous Australia's Agricultural Past
A History of Forestry in Australia - L.T. Carron
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