HERITAGE NOOSA
HERITAGE NOOSA
Mill Point Settlement
DETAILS
DescriptionThe Mill Point Settlement on Lake Cootharaba was established in 1869 by the McGhie, Luya & Company and operated until its closure in 1892. Initially a bustling timber town, it later became part of Cooloola National Park in 1985. Founded by a group of Gympie men, the settlement was a hub for timber extraction and sawmilling. Logs were initially hauled by bullock teams, but the swampy terrain led to the construction of a tramway system, improving transport efficiency.
The sawmill processed various types of timber, which were then transported via paddle boats to Tewantin and shipped to Brisbane on the SS Cu/goa. By the 1880s, the settlement had grown to include between 100 and 150 employees and their families. It featured a school, store, butcher's shop, and a hotel, which operated from 1876 until it was destroyed by fire in 1878. The school, established in 1874, also served as a community hall and was noted for being well-equipped.
Tragedy struck in July 1873 when a boiler explosion at the sawmill resulted in the deaths of five men, who were then buried in the Mill Point Cemetery. The cemetery recorded 43 burials between 1873 and 1891, including many children who died from various illnesses.
The decline of Mill Point began in the mid-1880s due to the introduction of timber royalties by the Queensland Government in 1884, which reduced local sawmill output. The completion of the Brisbane-Gym pie railway link in 1891 further diminished the need for the settlement's operations. By the early 1890s, timber resources were nearly exhausted, leading to the sawmill's closure in 1892. Subsequent attempts to establish a farming community were unsuccessful due to unsuitable land conditions.
Today, Mill Point Settlement is a testament to the early industrial and community development in Noosa Shire. Its history reflects the challenges and triumphs of pioneering timber extraction and sawmilling operations in Queensland, offering insights into the lives of those who contributed to the region's growth and development.
The sawmill processed various types of timber, which were then transported via paddle boats to Tewantin and shipped to Brisbane on the SS Cu/goa. By the 1880s, the settlement had grown to include between 100 and 150 employees and their families. It featured a school, store, butcher's shop, and a hotel, which operated from 1876 until it was destroyed by fire in 1878. The school, established in 1874, also served as a community hall and was noted for being well-equipped.
Tragedy struck in July 1873 when a boiler explosion at the sawmill resulted in the deaths of five men, who were then buried in the Mill Point Cemetery. The cemetery recorded 43 burials between 1873 and 1891, including many children who died from various illnesses.
The decline of Mill Point began in the mid-1880s due to the introduction of timber royalties by the Queensland Government in 1884, which reduced local sawmill output. The completion of the Brisbane-Gym pie railway link in 1891 further diminished the need for the settlement's operations. By the early 1890s, timber resources were nearly exhausted, leading to the sawmill's closure in 1892. Subsequent attempts to establish a farming community were unsuccessful due to unsuitable land conditions.
Today, Mill Point Settlement is a testament to the early industrial and community development in Noosa Shire. Its history reflects the challenges and triumphs of pioneering timber extraction and sawmilling operations in Queensland, offering insights into the lives of those who contributed to the region's growth and development.
Heritage Library Catalogue
Article & Manuscript
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LocalityComoHeritage ListingQueensland StateNoosa Local Heritage RegisterMenuLocation | ComoTopic | Early Settlement
Mill Point Settlement. Heritage Noosa, accessed 17/02/2025, https://heritage.noosa.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/22689