By: robyn S30th Apr 2026 11:54AMThe Cooran Blacksmith shop was established in 1915 this photo is about 1918. In the photo to the right is Thomas Arthur Sanderson with his young daughter Jean.
It was William Sandersons business he was a Blacksmith, Carriage maker, Wheelwright and Farrier as well as an amateur Vet ( people from all over would bring their animals to him to cure) beside William and Bridgets home closer to the Cooran Mountain they had land that they would keep the bigger animals to be treated).. His son Thomas Arthur Sanderson (lived across the road with his wife Agnes and family [now known as 6 prince street]) worked with him. this photo is a front view from Prince street (then known as William street to the locals due to William Sanderson and William Kenny living in the street).
William Prior to this had blacksmith Shops in Gympie and after the gold mining slowed down he moved to Pomona in about 1910. and built a modern blacksmith shop which can be seen in the 1912 Noosa Advocate Christmas edition. Thomas (Tom) Arthur Sanderson also much later had a blacksmith shop in Pomona and was built by Mr Page for him across from the old Butter Factory where the agricultural shop is now. Another son Albert (Bert) Henry Sanderson was a Sargeant Farrier in the First world war and also worked as a Farrier in Pomona, just post the war, another son George Alexander Sanderson was also a Blacksmith and prior to World War I probable worked with his brothers in Pomona and in Gympie (as at one stage they had working blacksmith shops in Gympie, Pomona and Cooran - NEVER IN COOROY as i have seen written up by someone)sadly George was Killed in Action in France in 1918..