To reach this historic timber settlement, follow Bussell Highway to either Karridale Road or Hamelin Bay East Road. To drive through the site of the original town today, it is almost impossible to believe that in the late 1880's this was a bustling town.
In its heyday, there were 300 workers employed by the timber mills in Karridale. Streets of cottages were built nearby for their families. The settlement was almost self-sufficient with its own church, hospital, library, school, sports ground and even a racecourse.
The credit for all this development rests squarely on the shoulders of Maurice Coleman Davies who, with his sons, not only established the settlement at Karridale but also launched Western Australia's hardwood timbers onto the world markets. Mr Davies showed great foresight in choosing Karridale as the site of his timber operation.
It is close to both the magnificent Jarrah and Karri forests, and to Flinders and Hamelin Bays which were ideal ports for exporting the cut timber. Karridale prospered until the early 1900's, when falling world markets caused a slump in the timber business.
The last mill closed 1913. The ravages of time and disastrous bush fires have taken their toll. Today, all that remains of a noble enterprise is a solitary brick chimney.
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