Life in the Noojee sawmills has long been marked by hard and dangerous work in the
timber industry, with the town’s growth linked to the harvesting of Mountain Ash since
the early 1900s.
Mills like Goodwood, Kauri Timber Co., and A.G. Brown were essential to community
life, surviving major fires in 1926 and 1939, fostering a resilient culture.
Sawmill workers faced isolation and demanding labor, creating a close-knit community.

During the industry’s peak in the early to mid-20th century, these mills served as self-
contained settlements deep in the forest, with rigorous working conditions involving

timber hauling, axe men, bullock teams, and locomotives.