Jimna Single Men's Barracks (former)

The timber town of Jimna was established by Queensland timber firm, Hancock and Gore in 1922. The company evolved from one established by Thomas Hancock in Ipswich in 1872. By the early 20th century it has mills in 13 rural centres in Queensland, five in Brisbane, and at Rosebery and Lismore in NSW. Jimna (formerly Foxlowe) was established through the relocation of the Monsidale sawmilling operations. The sawmill machinery, 16 houses, butcher shop, store, blacksmith shop and provisional school were relocated. The proximity to the Kilcoy railway station ensured the viability of the town. Freight costs were reduced by milling the logs first. By 1924, the mill had been enlarged and it was capable of producing 80,000 superfeet of timber weekly. The area around Jimna was predominately rainforest, thick with hoop pine initially. When this valuable resource was cut out, Jimna became the site of reforestation experiments. A plant nursery and hoop pine plantations were established in 1938. The mill continued operations until the early 1970s when it became more economical to transport logs to mills on the coast. The single-men’s barracks, cookhouse, store school and some married men’s housing are all that remain of this once vibrant township.