Historical information

H. Waterhouse ran his sawmill at Fairy Dell Road, Monbulk for decades, at least from 1949 (when he is known to have purchased a steam engine now residing in the National Steam Centre) until after this photograph was taken in 1980. Forestry was a major industry in the region for over a century, supplying Melbourne with timber from its earliest days into the late 20th century.

Significance

The H. Waterhouse Sawmill was a significant site for the industry and economy of late 20th century Monbulk.

Physical description

This item is an analogue colour photograph, backed by a piece of white card. It is bordered by a black and green line, with a caption below the photograph. There is no writing on the reverse besides a museum accession number. The photograph actually consists of two overlapping photographs, meeting at the shared point. The photograph depicts a sawmill, with several piles of cut timber around a yard with several sheds and vehicles visible. The foreground is occupied by an unpaved road and a grassy field in front of the sawmill; in the rear trees and a mountain rise above the sawmill. There are minimal marks over the sky.

Inscriptions & markings

Caption: "H. Waterhouse Sawmill. Fairy Dell Rd. 1980"