Bob Manuell started with Briar Hill Timber in 1956. In this photograph, Bob is in the yard of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company in 1996.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 13 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Bob Manuell started with Briar Hill Timber in 1956. In this photograph, Bob is inspecting equipment in the factory of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company in 1996.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 15 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Bob Manuell started with Briar Hill Timber in 1956. In this photograph, Bob is standing in the doorway to the factory of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company in 1996.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 5 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Bob Manuell started with Briar Hill Timber in 1956. In this photograph, Bob is leaning on the Briar Hill Timber ute. in 1996 he was a director of, and managing the company.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 6 black and white or colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Bob Manuell started with Briar Hill Timber in 1956. In this photograph, Bob is in the office of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company. The timber panelling was harvested in the Weeaproinah area of the Otway Ranges. It was sawn on site, trucked to Briar Hill for seasoning and machined to the finished article in the late 1940s.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 8 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

April Meeting (Newsletter No. 239, Apr. 2018) Our Annual General Meeting includes the presentation of annual reports and the election of office bearers for the coming year. At this meeting we are pleased to be able to show a film of the early activities of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company, in Sherbourne Road, Briar Hill. This film details the various operations involved in this business during the 1950s/60s, from sourcing trees from the forest, to machining the timber and then manufacturing various building materials and components. A copy of this film has been generously donated to our Society by Bob Manuell, who was an active part of this family owned business, established by his mother-in-law Mrs Hazel Squire. We are fortunate that Bob has agreed to attend our meeting to add his comments and insights about some of the scenes shown. Bob Manuell was a former Shire President and Councillor at the Shire of Eltham, from 1980 until 1994, when following municipal restructure the Shire ceased upon the establishment of the Shire of Nillumbik. Bob’s father-in law Fred Squire was also a former Eltham Shire President and Councillor, having served between 1945 and 1953.1:26:38 duration Digital MP3 File 30 MB audio recording, bob manuell, briar hill timber & trading, eltham district historical society, meeting, society meeting

Black and white photographbob manuell, cr bob manuell, mandy press, opal smith

The Brair Hill Timber and Trading Company was established by Fred and Hazel Squire in 1934 to sell excess timber from their building company. It grew to include a sawmill, drying kilns, and joinery business along both sides of Sherbourne Road Briar Hill. These photographs were taken in 1996 when the sites were being reused and or sold for redevelopment. The folder was compiled by Alison Lendoudis with the guidance of her father Bob Manuell, the final director and manager of Brair Hill Timber.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active at the time of the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Large black plastic folder containing 40 photographs with captionsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill

The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was established by Fred and Hazel Squire in 1934 to sell excess timber from their building company. It grew to include a sawmill, drying kilns, and joinery business along both sides of Sherbourne Road Briar Hill. These photographs were taken in 1996 when the sites were being reused and or sold for redevelopment. This collection of negatives and photographs was compiled by Alison Lendoudis with the guidance of her father Bob Manuell, the final director and manager of Brair Hill Timber.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active at the time of the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Collection of photographs in various media: memory stick and compact disk of scanned negatives; packet of negatives, folder containing 28 strips of negatives and 1 strip of 12 negatives. 2 colour photos and a collection of unidentified black and white photos.briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill

Fred and Hazel Squire's building supplies shop opened in 1934, corner Gladstone and Sherbourne Roads. Mrs Squire run the shop while Mr Squire continued his building activities. Government contracts eventually provided financial security and allowed the business to expand.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active at the time of the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 5 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

The original Briar Hill Timber store was extended down Sherbourne Road in the early 1940s and served as the joinery and machining shop of the Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company. [In 1996, Purdy’s Furniture store, as shown in photo; Purdy's later moved up Sherbourne Road to new premises. In 2025 All Things Safety Wear, a workwear clothing store operates on this site]The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active at the time of the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 14 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

The Briar Hill Timber sawmill originally stood where Greensborough Hire Service operated in 1996. Logs from Flowerdale were dropped off at Graham Street for milling.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 7 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

The front of the Hire Services building was the sawmill’s sub power station and where general repairs were made. Mountains of sawdust accumulated at the back and local poultry farmers and market gardeners made use of this waste. Occasionally the sawdust piles burst into flames due to spontaneous combustion. The sawmill’s huge blades were at the back of the Greensborough Hire Services. Fire hoses stood ready. The sawmill ceased operating in the 1960s.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 3 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

Briar Hill Timber originally milled hardwood only. This green timber was airdried in the stackyard where the Motor Wreckers operated in 1996.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 9 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

Briar Hill Timber originally milled hardwood only. This green timber was airdried in the stackyard where the Motor Wreckers operated in 1996. After air drying the transfer trolley shifted the lengths of timber down to the kilns, which are the buildings seen in the background.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 10 colour photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

The building under the chimney housed the boiler which provided steam to heat the kilns which were located behind. The boiler had 2 fuel burners. One used sawdust, the other solid fuel, such as wood off-cuts. The chimney was the smoke outlet. Pipes brought sawdust waste from machining into the boiler room. Dust extractors on the roof are clearly visible from Sherbourne Road.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 29 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

Briar Hill Timber's steam boiler was a “Lancashire Cowley” built in 1910. It was installed during the early 1940s and used to run 4 kilns and re-conditioner until the 1960s.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 9 colour or black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

Sherbourne Road was unmade in the 1940s and narrower by 3 meters. Paddocks surrounded the new buildings. Logging trucks hauled logs up the hill day and night. This phot shows Sherbourne Road in 1996.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 8 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Hardwood from Flowerdale and the Otways was 1. Milled. 2. Air dried. 3. Kiln dried for up to a week and 4. Reconditioned. Each kiln could hold 6,000 super feet of timber. The kilns were heated by steam pipes from the boiler housed behind them.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 17 colour and black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Hardwood from Flowerdale and the Otways was 1. Milled. 2. Air dried. 3. Kiln dried for up to a week and 4. Reconditioned. Each kiln could hold 6,000 super feet of timber. The kilns were heated by steam pipes from the boiler housed behind them. Vents in the kilns’ roof allowed condensation from the steam pipes to escape.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 16 colour and black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Hardwood from Flowerdale and the Otways was 1. Milled. 2. Air dried. 3. Kiln dried for up to a week and 4. Reconditioned. Each kiln could hold 6,000 super feet of timber. The hydraulic lift on the transfer trolley enabled wood stacks to be picked up and put down readily.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 9 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

After kiln drying the wood was stacked in open sheds. The stack shown is an original timber stack straight from the kiln.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 7 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

The joinery section made house and window frames and doors to supply a booming building industry. A gantry, roughly constructed with upright poles, stood behind the lower gate. A series of pulleys allowed the finished products to be loaded onto trucks.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 16 colour and black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

This building was originally the Caulfield Morgue. It was transported to Briar Hill to store imported Scandinavian timber.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. Group of 5 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

The area further down from the sawmill and kilns was the scantling yard, where timber was stored according to thickness and breadth.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. 1 black and white photographbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

The shed behind Purdy’s was the mechanics’ workshop. The logging trucks, jinkers, bulldozers and fleet of 5 delivery trucks were serviced here. Two motor mechanics were employed full time.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 4 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

Peter Teagle inside Purdy’s Furniture. Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company originally constructed this building for making doors and window frames for army huts in the early 1940s.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 8 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill, peter teagle

A corrugated iron and timber façade links Purdy’s to Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company store. The linking building was demolished in the 1970s on order from the Fire and Electricity Authorities.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 4 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, purdys furniture briar hill

This doorway once led into the old machining area of the joinery shop at Briar Hill Timber.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 4 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

'White’ brand double ended tenon saw extensively used in the 1970s for component manufacture.The Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company was active during the 1930s - 1950s during the development of the local area with many houses being built by owner-builders who used the company for their needs. A group of 2 black and white photographsbriar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws