May 15, 2013
The Bunya Mountains Natural History Association is determined to ensure that memories of the township of Wengenville aren’t allowed to fade away into the pages of history.
Wengenville is located on Wengen Creek in the eastern foothills of the Bunya Mountains and was one of the South Burnett’s genuine “timber towns”.
At its height there was a school, shops, houses and a thriving sawmill.
These days, it’s still marked on many maps but there’s little to be seen in the locality, only one house on the side of the Maidenwell Bunya Mountains Road.
Wengenville’s reason for existing was the sawmill which operated from the 1920s until 1961, processing timber from the nearby mountains.
Bunya Mountains NHA member John Learmont said the town was started after Danish sawmiller Lars Andersen was contracted by landholder Tom Clapperton to cut timber on his property.
Andersen built a tramway to bring timber down from the mountains. He built the town and its infrastructure to house the people who would work in the sawmill.
The sawmill passed through several owners before closing in 1961.
When it closed, the school closed shortly afterwards.
The Bunya Mountains Natural History Association has met twice with South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann who has agreed the town should be recognised in some fashion.
There have been suggestions that signage could be erected on the site.
In the meantime, the Association is keen to get copies of any photographs of the old town and sawmill. At the moment, they only have three photographs but John believes there should be more out there somewhere.
Anyone with photographs – or other information – about Wengenville should contact Gaye Smith, from the Association, on (07) 4163-1365 or John Learmont on 0409-625-865.
[Photos: Bunya Mountains Natural History Association]
