1905 Alexishafen Sawmilling

1905 ALEXISHAFEN SAWMILLING17

German New Guinea’s most ambitious industrial enterprise was established in 1905 by the SVD Mission at Alexishafen on Sek Harbour. A large steam powered sawmill was in operation by the end of 1905. At first the logs were cut within the immediate area of the mill, but it was soon necessary for a 700 mm gauge railway to be constructed some 4 km into the forest to haul logs to the mill. There were several substantial bridges including a roofed bridge spanning the Bigges River.

Donkey tram pulling logs over cover bridge. at Bigges River. Source SME Wagner ELC PNG Butaweng SM.

17 End of the Line - A History of Railways in Papua New Guinea Bob McKillop & Michael Pearson UPNG Press 1997

A section of the botanical gardens in Rabaul established during the German administration around 1905. (M. von Hein Collection). Later volcanic eruptions destroyed the gardens.