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 captions

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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photograph

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

The back section of Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company office and supplies shop. It has ben a feature of Briar Hill since 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 4 black and white photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

John Hawkins started work in the supplies shop when he was 15 and has since been employed there for 30 years.

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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, john hawkins

'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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws

The double ended tenon saw at Briar Hill Timber was used to make doors, windows and stretchers for artists’ canvas.

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 17 black and white or colour photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws

Band saw at Briar Hill Timber 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 4 black and white photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws

'Nylex' docking saw from the 1950s at Briar Hill Timber 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 10 black and white photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws

Pickles morticer at Briar Hill Timber 1996. It was used extensively in the 1950s and 1960s for the manufacture of containers and pallets for air force and army contracts.

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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, saws

“Dominion” single ended tenoner at Briar Hill Timber. Used for smaller runs of specialised work.

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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, woodworking tools

“Lunch table in the joinery shop at Briar Hill Timber 1996, with Peter Baldwin relaxing at the table.

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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, woodworking tools

Wayne Kelly began his apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery in 1957 and has been employed by Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company since then.

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 21 black and white photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, woodworking tools, wayne kelly

Peter Baldwin has been employed by Briar Hill Timber and Trading Company for 15 years (to 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 11 black and white photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, woodworking tools, peter baldwin

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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

Briar Hill Hall on Mountainview Road was originally an army hut from Watsonia Barracks. It has served Briar Hill community groups for nearly 50 years (in 1996) on land donated by Hazel Squire for that purpose.

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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, squire family, briar hill hall, hazel squire, nullarbor

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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar 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 photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family

In these photographs, an unidentified staff member is standing in the yard of Greensborough Hire Service on Sherbourne Road, one of the businesses that occupied buildings on the site 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 16 colour photographs

briar hill timber and trading company, briar hill timber, alison lendoudis, bob manuell, sherbourne road briar hill, squire family, greensborough hire service