non-fictionPrior to 1901 the men working in the forests of the Upper Yarra Valley were mainly paling splitters and shingle cutters. When the Warburton-Lilydale Railway was completed in 1901, sawmilling became a major industry and one of the main employers in the Upper Yarra Valley. The railway enabled the sawmillers to get their timber to the Melbourne markets easily and economically. The mills were built, usually in the allotted logging area. Tramlines were used to bring timber from the mills to the railway. In the Upper Yarra Valley the tramlines were mostly horse drawn, or if it was too steep a combination of winches for lowering and then horse to complete the journey. Steam locomotives were used on the Powelltown to Yarra Junction tramline and Ezard-Richards' tramline at Starvation Creek. Donald Ambrose Reid has been a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, Shire Councillor, firefighter and friend but through it all a Sawmiller. This is Don Reid's story. A story of a sawmilling family. Don's memories also give an insight into the early history of Upper Yarra Valley and the changes that occurred in the sawmilling and logging industry. VAL SMITH 1996/97.upper yarra valley (vic.), don reid, donald ambrose reid