Kin Kin Sawmill

The tiny timber town of Kin Kin still has an operating sawmill. These have become quite rare in Queensland. The mill was established in 1948 by Arthur Hempsall and his son Lionel. It manufactured packing cases for the local fruit growing industry. Not only did this region produce the most timber in Queensland in the mid-20th century, it also produced the most fruit. Kin Kin was Queensland's foremost banana growing area. The mill also produced cases for pineapples, beans, apples and plums. Cases were railed from Pomona to Brisbane and to Stanthorpe, another major fruit producing town. Traditionally, case mills were smaller than timber mills, milling smaller logs for a smaller product. When erected, the Kin Kin sawmill had only a' number one' saw bench and a docking saw. Both were originally powered by tractor. Following the installation of electricity in the early 1950s, a second saw bench was added. The mill continues to operate following the traditional packing case sequence: initial cut at the breakdown saw, sizing at the number one and two benches and cutting into lengths at the docker. This is a private business, but operations are visible from the road.