1928 Sacred Heart Mission Sawmill Ulamona and Vunapope NB

1928 to Present. SACRED HEART MISSION Sawmill NEW BRITAIN34

In 1928, the application for a timber lease by the Catholic Mission of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for 2010 hectares at Ulamona was successful. They closed their mill at Kuriendal and established a new mill at Ulamona35 .

Ulamona Sawmill Jetty Sacred Heart Mission.

Source Michael Pearson.

Ulamona sawmill. Source Ulamona Sawmill OIES Office of Information and Extension Services. Taken 1960s.

34 End of the Line - A History of Railways in Papua New Guinea Bob McKillop & Michael Pearson UPNG Press 1997. 35 Source: Mandated Territory of New Guinea Annual Report 1928 - 1929 p 94 pg. 280. Source: Pioniere der Sudsee - Werden und Wachsen der Herz = Jesu Mission von Rabaul zum Goldenen Jubilaum 1882 - 1932. p117, 118, 132 & 177.Yumi Pipel Bilong God – Histori bilong lotu katolik long Arsdaiasis bilong Rabaul 1982.

Sawn timber at Ulamona Mission sawmill in the shadow of Mount Ulawan (“The Father”) an active volcano.

Source Michael Pearson 1960.

Ulamona sawmill with large solid Kamarere log. Source John Davidson 1978.

Timber stacks and railway yard Ulamona Sawmill, c.1960 .PNG National Archives

Source Michael Pearson.

At Ulamona, a 700 mm gauge logging railway was constructed from the sawmill inland for approximately 10 kilometres. A line of

lighter construction was laid over 100 metres from the mill down to the jetty to carry the sawn timber for loading onto ships. A steam locomotive was imported in 1928. A second steam locomotive reported to be Arn.Jumng Locomotivfabrick B/No 8644/1938 arrived in 1938/39. It was converted to diesel and was still in service at Ulamona in 1986.

Photos Ulamona sawmill WNB. Diesel 0-6-0 locomotive built on frame of Arn Jung steam locomotive and logging trucks.

Source Alan Bovelt/Michael Pearson Em Jung locomotive Ulamona sawmill 1980’s which had been operating since WW2. 1960 PNG National Archives.

VUNAPOPE HEADQUARTERS NEW BRITAIN36

The Sacred Heart Mission at Vunapope established a sawmill and dressing facilities where timber from Toriu River, Kurindal and Ulamona operations was prepared for the domestic market. It was in operation by 1921.

Vunapope Timber yard looking to joinery and warehouse. Source: From New Guinea Annual Reports. Sacred Heart Mission Headquarters Vunapope. Source OIES 1960s.

Michael Pearson 1980.

1930’s Tinputz Catholic Mission Sawmill Bougainville. Railway lines ran between pier, sawmill, joinery, warehouse, and slipway. Source Michael Pearson 1980.

Part Stationary Steam Engine.

Photo credit Michael Pearson 197437 .

A half-mile 2ft gauge tramway was constructed for the transport of logs and timber. It was later used as a tramway from the wharf to store.

36 End of the Line - A History of Railways in Papua New Guinea Bob McKillop & Michael Pearson UPNG Press 1997. 37 Michael Pearson personal communication 3 June 2020