Much has been written about the early cedar cutters of Mullumbimby there is very little relating to the later timber industry, especially details of all the sawmills scattered throughout the region. Source: The Northern Star
A recent publication fills a gap by recording the many years of history concerning the sawmill at Mullumbimby run mainly by the Hollingworth family.
The book, The Mullumbimby Sawmill, has taken many years to compile by well-known family historian Nicholson Hollingworth.
It has been published by the Brunswick Valley Historical Society and contains many excellent photographs as well as a fascinating history of the Hollingworth family.
Nicholson (Nick) Hollingworth is the fifth generation of his family to be involved with the timber industry.
The history of the Mullumbimby mill actually starts in Lismore where JE Glasgow had established another mill alongside the Richmond River.
Joseph Nicholson Hollingworth, son of early Lismore settlers Thomas and Ann Hollingworth, was born in 1864.
He received about three months schooling before he was 14 and began working for his mother’s brother, Thomas King, felling scrub near Woodburn.
Twelve months later he commenced an apprenticeship with JE Glasgow at his Lismore sawmill.
Joseph eventually became a millwright and master sawmiller.
In June 1902 Joseph purchased Glasgow’s Mullumbimby mill for £900.
After a short time he had a partnership agreement with his cousin Robert Raymond Mallet who, apparently, had been involved with exporting timber from Western Australia at one time.
It is not clear whether the partnership included the mill itself or whether it solely referred to the sale of the timber. In documentation the two men are referred to as timber merchants though it was the Hollingworth & Mallet Saw Mill.
The Mill was situated in the middle of some heavily wooded areas, which made delivery of logs more convenient.
The partnership of Hollingworth & Mallet was dissolved in 1915 and Joseph became the sole proprietor of the business enterprise. Joseph died in 1919 in the influenza epidemic.
Following his death the business was made into a company with various family members being involved.
In 1964 the business was sold to Standards Sawmill Co that closed the mill down. The site is now occupied by the Byron Shire Council Chambers.
