(From Our Correspondent)
INTERESTING REVIEW OF DISTRICT ACTIVITIES
[in 1949 - informative on sawmills]
Substantial improvements and renovations are being effected to the Lilydale Post Office, and the Postal Department is also arranging to construct a land line from the Post Office to the Wireless Telephone Station on the slopes of Mount Arthur.
This mountain provides a gravitation Water supply for Lilydale, and as the intake is well above any cultivated land, the purity of the supply is assured. To safe guard the water supply in the future the Lilydale Council made representations to the Government to prevent timber being taken near the source of the Rocky Creek, and a considerable area of Crown Land has now been reserved for this purpose.
Sawmilling Industry
It is considered that the foot hills on the Underwood and Lilydale sides of Mount Arthur contain some of the finest beds of milling limber in the State. Sawmills have been operating in this area almost continuously since 1859 when Messrs Grubb and Tyson opened the first power driven saw mill in Northern Tasmania. The mill was driven by water power and was situate on the banks of the River Piper at Underwood. Portion of the stone foundation is still in good order.
Many years ago Mr Fred Kelp of Lilydale and Mr C. Johnston had a sawmill on the side of the road leading to Mt Arthur, and they received 5/- per 100 super feet of timber delivered in Launceston. Messrs J. B. White Pty. Ltd. are still saw milling on the slopes of Mt. Arthur, and in 1950 Messrs Franklin Bros, intend to bring a large quantity of timber down the Mt. Arthur road to their sawmill. The prosperity of Nabowla is mainly due to the sawmilling industry which has been carried on there for many years. The largest mill is owned by Mr John T. Carins, who has been a large exporter of timber.
A Well-Known Nursery
The Lalla Nurseries were established by the late Mr Frank Walker. The business at Lalla now is carried on by one of his sons, Mr W. A. G. Walker. In the Springtime the Pear Avenue at Lalla is very attractive and it is considered to be unequalled in the Commonwealth.
Historic Church
The chief attraction at Windermere is the historic church of St. Matthias, which was erected on an ideal site over 100 years ago. The fertile valley of Karoola is used for mixed farming and is a stronghold of the McCarthy family. A fund has been opened for the purpose of erecting a new Convent at Karoola, but it is unlikely that the building will be commenced for some years. One of the best kept properties in the Municipality is 'Wahroonga' the home of Matthew Taylor of Turner's March.
Lavender Industry
Mr C. K. Denny and his two sons are extending the Lavender Industry, and a considerable amount of work is being carried out on a property at Nabowla where extensive areas have been planted with lavender.Bush Nursing CentreNotes about Lilydale would be incomplete without some reference to the Lilydale Bush Nursing Centre of which residents of the district are very proud. They take a keen interest in the work and generously support the centre. Much of the success of the Bush Nursing Scheme is due to the outstanding work of Sister M. Walsh, who has been in charge since August 1940. She is a tireless worker, and this coupled with her ability and person ality has made her one of the most popular residents of the district.
LILYDALE (1949, December 20). North-Eastern Advertiser (Scottsdale, Tas. : 1909 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved August 3, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152200656