Sawmills
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MIZEN SAWMILL STUDY BENJAMIN MASON Mason’s
first mill was on Welshpool Road (Now Welshpool Road East) near the
intersection of Lesmurdie Road, the ‘mill’ was started in 1860 (McIntosh ,
N.D, p. 17).
Lands Department plan Canning 182 records an “old mill” on Location 174 (see
below), however the plan predates the roads referred to by McIntosh. Lands Department
map 1/80 appears to verify McIntosh’s position, it shows Lesmurdie Road running
through location 174.
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BENJAMIN MASON AND HIS WIFE ELIZA, |
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SECTION OF MAP CANNING 182 SOURCED FROM STATE RECORDS OFFICE (LANDS AND SURVEYS DEPARTMENT) |
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All
cutting at this location was by the pit saw method. It appears that all log
movements and movements of sawn timber was by horse and bullock teams. The
timber at this location was soon cut out requiring a move to a new location,
this occurred in 1864 (McIntosh ,
N.D, p. 17).
Slee and Shaw note that Mason was marketing timber in the early 1860’s but do
not state how or from where he was obtaining his timber. It
is not clear what Mason was granted by way of timber cutting license at this
time. It appears likely that the license extended to the timber at location 174
only. In
order to put Location 174 into a more modern context reproduced below is
section of Lands Department map Kalamunda 222/3. |
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SECTION OF MAP KALAMUNDA 222/3 SOURCED FROM STATE RECORDS OFFICE ITEM 005715 |
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Note – Pomeroy Road – now Welshpool Road, Wheelwright struck out Gladys inserted. Lesmurdie Road is incomplete, Gladys Road in place. Albert Road at right angles to ‘Pomeroy Road’. The Darling Range Road Board seems to have substantially rearranged the names of the roads at a later date. Second Mill 1864 On May the 1st 1864 Mason was granted a concession to cut timber in a 1 square mile area for 12 months renewable annually (Slee & Shaw, 1979, p. 7). Benjamin Mason moved his mill to what became Canning Location 75 Carmel. The ‘mill’ was situated about 2 miles away from the old mill adjacent to what is now Mason Mill Road on the edge of Bickley Brook (McIntosh , N.D, p. 18). The location and history of this site is well documented as are the trials and tribulations that the operations suffered. These events are set out by others see (Slee & Shaw, 1979) (McIntosh , N.D) (McNammara, 1961)
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THIS MAP SHOWS THE TWO MILL SITES
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References: Article: David Mizen Images: 1 Cala Munnda A Home in the Forest - John Slee & Bill Shaw
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008 - 2021
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