The 1930's heard the sound of the Miner's pick and shovel, taken over by the Timber Cutter's axes and saws, harvesting the giant Cedar logs of the fields which had become a State Forest. The first known Timber Mill was built in 1905 at "Louisavale" by Thomas Hawkins This Mill was burnt down and then rebuilt by Hancock and Gore and operated until 1922 when the Mill and dwellings were then transported by Bullock Team to "Foxlowe", now called Jimna.

Hancock and Gore built another Mill at "Monsildale" which was dismantled and sold to the Americans for the Second World War in New Guinea.

By 1923 the "Jimna" mill was in full operation turning out 80,000 super feet of sawn timber weekly. Most of the Pine logs were taken by steam driven "winch" located at "Pig Pocket" Mr. Tom Davis being the first Jimna Saw Mill Manager. Logs were snigged and transported by Bullock Team until the motorised transport and tractors replaced them.

 In 1947 fire destroyed the Pine Mill boilers steam engines and generators. In 1947-48 a new Pine Mill and Power House were built and most of the equipment was converted to all electric power. Mr. Albert "Pop" Murphy was one of the last Bullock teamsters known to operate in the early 1950's.

The biggest Pine Log ever handled at Jimna Mill was cut in 1942 and yielded approximately 3,450 super feet. The record for the greatest daily output of pine was 48,000 super feet in 8 hours and for 10 hours work on the same day the cut was 64,500 super feet. In 1964 the biggest ever Hardwood Log was cut called "Blackbutt" Log.  It was over 6 feet across the butt and long enough for all 50 pupils of the school to be photographed standing in front of it. It yielded approximately 4,400 super feet of sawn timber.

The Pine and Hardwood Mills operated when Jimna township and its population reached its peak, until economics forced its closure in the early 1970's The Mill was dismantled in mid 1970's taking with it the employment hence the closure of the Store, Butcher, Baker Shop and Post Office.

A steam driven sawmill was established at Sunday Creek in 1948 and operated until 1963 the buildings being purchased by the Forestry Department. The last surviving Mill operated at "Yednia" until it closed in 1992. 

 

Logs coming into the Jimna Mill


           
 Jimna Mill, 1923. Tom Davies was the manager