Description

A History of the Sawmills and Tramways of Warburton and District

Hardcover | 312 pages | A4 size
Includes 280 photographs, 50 maps, diagrams, references, bibliography, and index

Just 66 km east of Melbourne, Warburton lies in a forested valley and has long been a favourite getaway for its stunning scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

In the decades before World War I, it was also the centre of Victoria’s largest sawmilling industry. Around 66 major sawmills—and many smaller ones—operated in the surrounding bush. These were linked to the railway at Warburton, Millgrove, and Wesburn by a vast network of timber and steel-railed tramways.

Over 320 kilometres of tramways crossed the rugged terrain, featuring sharp curves, steep slopes, spectacular bridges, and cable-haul systems. Timber was hauled by horses, locomotives, and rail tractors—bringing this hidden industry to life.