The Wharncliffe Saw Mill was constructed and opened by the Forests Department of Western Australia in 1967. It was fully operational for 14 years, producing sawn pine from local pine plantations (pinus radiata and pinus pinaster species). The saw mill employed 10 people who, on average, cut 90 logs per day. The timber was used primarily in the construction of packing boxes and crates etc. The timber was transported by truck to the Wonnerup Siding in the Tuart Forest near Busselton and sent by train to Perth. In the latter years of the mill’s operation, it was leased to a private saw milling company until its closure in 1982.
The Chimney Trail at the north of Wharncliffe Mill takes you to Keenans Number 1 Mill, which was built in the early 1960’s by the Forests Department. It was the first pine sawmill in Margaret River. The mill only operated until 1967 when Keenans Mill Number 2 (Wharncliffe Mill) was built.
The old working mill building now offers a great undercover space.
The only remnants of the original mill is the round chimney, where the curved bricks were especially made, it is one of the last examples of curved chimneys in Western Australia. There is also a geocache at the Chimney.
Thanks to SeabreezeOz for offfering to maintain this cache.