Pioneers of the Western Australian Timber Industry by Don Briggs скачать в хорошем качестве

Pioneers of the Western Australian Timber Industry by Don Briggs

Don Briggs, an author and historian, presents a detailed account of the early Western Australian timber industry. He begins by highlighting that the first identified eucalypt in the region was the 'Yate' in 1792, a timber known for its hardness and used in making wheels and carts. Briggs then takes the audience back to the early 19th century with Matthew Flinders' circumnavigation of Australia and the initial mapping of the continent, which was then known as New Holland. He points out a significant gap in the early maps of the southwest, a result of the presence of French explorer Nicolas Baudin in the area at the same time. This rivalry between the English and French spurred the British to establish a settlement. The presentation continues with the establishment of the first settlement at King George's Sound (now Albany) in 1826 by Major Lockyer, who was tasked with making friends with the local Noongar people and starting timber cutting operations. The early method of cutting timber was through sawpits, a labor-intensive process. A key figure in the timber industry was Captain James Stirling, who was granted a vast 90,000 acres of land near Cape Naturaliste. The timber from this area, initially called Swan River Mahogany and later known as Jarrah, became highly sought after for boat building due to its resistance to seaworms and barnacles. The timber trade flourished, with exports going as far as Mauritius. The presentation also touches upon other important timber pioneers and companies, including J. H. Monger, W. P. Clifton, and the Millar brothers, who established significant timber operations in areas like Bunbury, Busselton, Torbay, and Denmark. The construction of jetties at Bunbury and Busselton in 1864, using convict labor, was a major step in facilitating timber export. The talk also mentions the development of railway lines, such as the one from Jarrahdale to Rockingham, to transport timber. Briggs shares historical photographs and anecdotes, including the story of the steam train 'Ballarat', which was brought from Victoria to work in the timber industry, and the tragic tale of Henry Yelverton, the only timber pioneer to die from an accident at one of his mills. The presentation concludes with the devastating Karridale fire of 1961, which destroyed all the buildings but resulted in no loss of life due to early departures. Video created by Dotch Dis Productions,    / @dotchdis  .