Community Contributed
Forestry and Sawmilling in the Horowhenua
Sawmilling played a big part in early Levin providing work for the settlers. There was a ready market for timber with the Railway as the engines were fired with wood. Once their bush-clad sections were cleared, dairying became the main source of income for most of the settlers.
The Horowhenua used to be covered in dense native forests. With the opening of the railway in 1886, the forests were felled for timber and thus the sawmilling industry began in the Horowhenua.
This packet of material was originally created for use by students from material held in the Horowhenua Historical Society. It has been re-created here using the digital resources available in Kete Horowhenua.
The trees were felled by axe:
And hauled out using bullock teams:
This photo, taken before 1900, shows a bullock wagon hauling a log along what is now The Avenue. It was used in the book - "From Bush to Borough - Levin Golden Jubilee Celebrations, 1906-1956" - page 18, with caption: Dick and Frank Russell's bullock team, November 1, 1901:
Tracks were cut through the bush and tramlines laid to take the logs to the sawmills:
Sometimes bridges had to be built to carry the tram tracks:
Sometimes horses were used to transport the logs as shown in this photo showing the loading of a white pine log - taken around 1904.
There were many sawmills throughout the region.
Bartholomew & Dunn operated a sawmill at the Avenue / Roslyn Road. The mill was built in 1888 and operated until 1895:
Bartholomews also had a mill working in the Makahika Valley (east of Levin from 1906 to 1914):
Prouse operated a mill in Cambridge Street, Levin opposite the Railway Station between 1891 and 1907:
There was also a Prouse's Mill operating in the Ohau Valley (later to become Gimlett's Farm).
Whiley's had a mill at Ohau:
