Timber Punt Wilson River

Timber logging played an important role in the earliest days of European settlement throughout the Rollands Plains and Telegraph Point area. Cedar, rosewood and beech were the main timbers harvested locally. Logs were brought in to the Wilson River by bullock team, or sent downhill via a system of timber chutes. Log punts ran along the Wilson River to the Ballengarra Wharf to take timber from Upper Rollands Plains to Port Macquarie. The log punts would nose into the bank so the logs could be rolled onto the punts with a steam driven deck winch.

From: The Sydney Morning Herald Fri 2 Feb 1906 Page 5

TIMBER AND FARMING COUNTRY

The main road to Telegraph Point passes over the Cooperabung Mountain, and drops rapidly on to the Wilson River, just where that watercourse takes a wide sweep and seems to boast that, however much the forest scenery of the roadside may have pleased the traveller, yet he has seen nothing beautiful till he came to that spot. It is a lovely picture. In the foreground is the life and bustle of a timber mill- the whirring saw, the slowly passing log. The bend in the river, with its placid waters and richly verdured banks, has the middle distance; and beyond the prospect is agrarian. Pretty farms and not too pretty farmhouses finish the setting.

Out along the road beyond comes the echoing crack of the bullock-driver's whip, and with their heads down and shoulders set to the yoke the 16 bullocks of a team pull steadily and swing rhythmically as they draw a huge ironbark log down the highway. The keen eye of the "bullocky" can detect the least flaw in the hauling, and simultaneously he knows which of his team has been "loafing." With a special diction, of which he is master, he mentions the matter to the offender by naming him in the presence of his comrades in the yoke, and he is at once the most conscientious working bullock In the world. Several of the other 15 venture to take advantage of the diversion of their lord and master's attention, and are caught in flagrante delicto. Then bullocky's face is a picture of disgust. The huge thong is swung round his head, the names of half a dozen of the team are hurled at them, the whole lot feel the cowhide, every head is bent down to the yoke again, the waggon rumbles on steadily, and bullocky shoulders his whip and relights his pipe.

The mill here is owned by the North Coast Company, and employs about 100 men. The township itself is placed further up the road, and has its well-kept little hotel, a store, and a blacksmith's shop. The timber industry was no doubt the principal local justification for the uprising of the village, be cause the output of blackbutt, Ironbark, and tallow-wood is heavy. Then there was the through traffic, but by-and-by the little place will have to spread itself for the expansion of agriculture and dairying.

Bullock Team circa 1934
Cutler Wagon and Bullock Team 1934

Many local farmers throughout Rollands Plains and Telegraph Point used timber from their properties as an additional income source. Several timber mills were established to process the timber. During the construction of the north coast rail line, producing railway sleepers became a major industry in the area.

Each family had their own distinctive brand for marking their timber. Each registered sleeper cutter would use their own marking hammer to brand their sleepers to ensure they were paid for the sleepers they cut. It was a requirement of the Department of Railways that a unique brand mark be placed on both ends of each sleeper. Sleepers produced on private property also needed to display a 'PP' brand on each end. Improperly branding timber that had been cut on Crown land with the PP symbol was a serious offence.

Port Macquarie Museum - Object # 2003.102.

This timber-marking hammer was used by the Thompson family on their farm, 'Green Acres', at Upper Rollands Plains during the early 1940s. It was manufactured by Gilpen. It has a steel head and wooden handle. The hammer head has a personal brand 'U1' at one end and a 'P' at the other.

Norris Drew Thompson and his son Wal Thompson used the timber-marking hammer to brand sleepers cut on their property. The sleepers were hauled to the railway station at Telegraph Point for sale to the railways on a scheduled 'pass day'. Individual sleepers were inspected for quality, classed, and passed for payment.

All sleepers supplied to the NSW Government for construction of the railways had to be exactly 8 foot long. As each sleeper was completed, the sleeper-cutter would swing his branding hammer into the end of the sleeper embedding the brand up to 6cm deep into the grain of the timber so it remained easily visible.

Visit the Port Macquarie Museum online archive to learn more about the artefacts on display from the Rollands Plains and Telegraph Point area.

Clyde Hoole (left) Bert Clarke (centre) and George Farrawell (right) at Telegraph Point circa 1950s.

The Kempsey Museum also has a working model of a saw mill complete with little saw, mill workers and bullock team. The hidden electric motor drives the leather belts to demonstrate the working parts of the saw mill model.

Telegraph Point Hardwood Timbers

Telegraph Point Hardwood Timbers

Telegraph Point Hardwood Timbers continues the tradition of timber felling in the area. The saw mill at Cooperabung supplies dressed timber and a range of timber products to Port Macquarie, Wauchope, and throughout the Mid North Coast region. The saw mill is located on the property originally granted to Charles Steele in the 1830s. It was previously called Coopers Saw Mill and owned by the local Cooper family.

Timber in the Archives

Early editions of local newspapers and government gazettes available online at Trove mention the local timber industry, efforts to transport timber, fluctuating prices, criminal offences, injuries and fatal accidents, the establishment of mills and a range of other timber related news.

Timber Values.
A Queensland exchange says that consequent on the big rise in the price of pine timber, hardwoods, which were in little demand in years gone by, are now being inquired for in large quantities. As much as 10s 6d per 100 for 60-inch girth, and 10s for under, is being freely offered for flooded gum. The buyers are willing to book large orders for forward delivery at that price.
It is said the timber is being largely used for soldiers' homes, and is considered very suitable.

The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate (NSW : 1882 - 1950) >  Sat 3 Apr 1920 > Page 4 > Timber values.

ALLEGED TIMBER STEALING
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MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CASE.
- At the Port Macquarie Police Court on Tuesday last, before Mr. F. Potts, P.M., Hamlet Mackay proceeded against King Richards on a charge of stealing part of a tree from his property at
Ballengarra.
Mr. L. J. Hardiman appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. A. C. Elliot for defendant.
Hamlet Mackay, sworn, deposed: I am the owner of 100 acres of land in the Parish Cairncross, County Macquarie. I saw defendant on the areain question. I am charging him with stealing one white mahogany tree. He cut 14 railway sleepers from the tree. Later I saw the timber branded J.R., his father's brand.  Defendant admitted cutting the timber. I never gave authority to anyone to cut timber on any of my property. Defendant formerly had permission to cut girders only on this property. This timber was removed over twelve months ago. Other timber had been removed. I value this tree at £3.
To Mr. Elliot: After writing to my father I received a letter from my brother Ivor. I told my brother to take charge of any timber cut at the time. My brother was only to deal with girder timber cut. I did not see Sergt. Duff about this timber. I rang him up and said King Richards was removing timber. I believe the Sergeant went up. He told me over the phone my brother had given authority to cut timber. The Sergeant told me if I swore information in Kempsey they would go on with the case. On Richards' own admission other sleepers were cut. I checked 90 odd. There were others. Richards said he had permission to cut the timber.
To Mr. Hardiman: Richards did not admit how many sleepers he cut. There were 130.
Ivor Mackay, sworn, deposed: My brother has a property at Ballengarra. I went to see my brother on account of seeing sleepers near the property. This action is a result thereof. I never gave permission to defendant to cut sleepers on the property. About 15 months ago he had permission to cut girders, with provision that I must remove the timber. He had no authority from me to cut sleepers, and never reported doing so.
To Mr. Elliot: In August, 1925, Richards got permission to cut girders on the property. I don't remember H. Vogele asking for permission to cut the timber. I remember H. Mavin speaking to me about timber. He did not see me again and ask for the timber, and I did not tell him he was too late. I never told Vogele I had authority from my brother to sell the timber. I never told Sergeant Duff there was no
case, that I had given Richards permission. I got fined £4 for cutting a stick once for which Vogele failed to take out the necessary license.
King Richards, sworn, deposed: I met plaintiff when he came to brand the sleepers. I have known Ivor Mackay for five years. I wrote in August, 1925, and asked plaintiff for the girder timber. Later Ivor Mackay said his brother had authorised him to deal with the timber. He sent me word and arranged about royalty and drawing. I was getting my horse shod when plaintiff went by. I saw him hitting the sleepers. I went up and he asked who cut the sleepers. I told him I did. Sergeant Duff came up the next day. When Sergt. Duff and Ivor Mackay came up to me, the latter told the Sergeant he had authority to deal with the timber for his brother and had done so.
To Mr. Hardiman: I asked for the girder timber, and got permission to cut it. There were no conditions about the cutting. I arranged with Vogele to pay 1/- royalty and drawing to Ivor Mackay. I left the property and then went back to cut sleepers. I arranged to pay royalty on the timber cut. I sent word by  Bede Mackay. I did not mark grey gum sleepers as ironbark.
To Mr. Elliot: I had a conversation with Ivor Mackay after the drawing was finished, and he let me cut the sleepers at Crown royalty. Anyone passing could see me cutting timber on the property.
Sergeant Duff, sworn, deposed: I had a telephone conversation with plaintiff in December, and he told me someone was stealing his timber. I went to the property and saw Ivor Mackay. I told him what I came for. Both he and Richards were there to see me. Ivor Mackay said his brother was rather hasty and there was no stealing about it. He said he had a communication from his brother from Junee to do as he liked with the timber. It was stated Richards had cut timber there before. I rang up plaintiff when I came back and told him I did not think the case was one of stealing, and would not go on with the case, but he could lay an information. He asked me to deliver a message to his brother about not moving the sleepers, that he would deal with Richards.
After hearing evidence the case was dismissed with the costs against defendant, of £3/3/- professional, £3/3/- witnesses . £2/5/- travelling and 4/6 costs of court.

Tue 15 Feb 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234324219

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