Grandchester Sawmills
| Grandchester Sawmills | |
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Sawmill in 2015
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| Location | Symes Street, Grandchester, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 27°39′36″S 152°28′04″E / 27.66°S 152.4678°ECoordinates: 27°39′36″S 152°28′04″E / 27.66°S 152.4678°E |
| Design period | 1939 - 1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1941 |
| Official name: Grandchester Sawmills | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600730 |
| Significant period | 1941 (fabric) 1941-ongoing (historical/social) |
| Significant components | silo, machinery/plant/equipment - forestry/timber industry, petrol - station, residential accommodation - housing, shed/s |
 Location of Grandchester Sawmills in Queensland
Location of Grandchester Sawmills in Queensland
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Grandchester Sawmills is a heritage-listed sawmill at Symes Street, Grandchester, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1941. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The Gillam brothers started the Grandchester Sawmills in 1941. While at this time World War II brought a severe reduction in housing activity, after a short resurgence when the depression lifted, the declaration of war with Japan at the end of 1941 was followed by a huge upsurge of construction for military purposes. As structures were needed quickly and were expected to be temporary, the demand for milled timber grew rapidly.
One of Queensland's earliest major industrial enterprises was William Pettigrew's sawmill in Brisbane. Opening in 1853, the sawmill predated the separation of Queensland as a colony by six years. Within two decades sawmills were commonplace and were an important investment in the regional economy.
The Grandchester sawmill is powered by steam and this factor makes it an unusual phenomenon in Queensland and Australia. The steam engine was built by "Marshall Sons & Co. Ltd, Engineers, Gainsborough, England." The date of construction is unclear, however a small plate records a machinery inspection in 1911. The steam engine was first used in the Nestle's factory in Toogoolawah (since demolished). It was then used in the Lowood butter factory and afterwards in the Hoods Sawmill, Gatton.
Initially, two traction engines were used for boilers but the brothers acquired the boiler of a No. 922 Ipswich based railway steam engine, built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough in 1966. The boiler is fuelled by sawdust from the circular saws and is a cheap and efficient method of power.
The mill is still operating, being a small family operation cutting mainly crating timber.
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