Robin Mears reflects on the early days and legacy of Timbertown in Wauchope

MEMORIES of Timbertown remain vivid for Robin Mears, who recalls the early days of the much-loved heritage project through the eyes of her family and the community that brought it to life. 

In 1972, Robin’s husband Peter, who had a background in accounting, was appointed the first manager of Timbertown after a committee formed several years earlier agreed the growing project needed dedicated leadership.

The vision was clear, to create a working timber settlement faithful to the period from 1880 to 1910, when the Wauchope area thrived on the harvesting of Red Cedar.

Timbertown was established on land owned by the Bain family, with a stream running through the property known locally as the “big log water hole”.

This spot once supplied fresh water to the people of Wauchope and served as a natural gathering place where bullock teams and travellers rested and grazed stock before continuing their journey to Port Macquarie.

The town’s beginnings were humble.

The first two buildings were churches relocated to the site, including a Presbyterian church moved from Huntingdon.

Robin fondly remembers helping design the historical costumes worn by Timbertown staff, with all fabrics sourced from Purcells fabric shop in Wauchope, which also supplied patterns and design advice.

Alongside the hard work were moments of humour.

Robin recalls staff being rostered to shut church doors to keep goats from wandering inside, and a particularly clever draught horse that learned how to open gates.

Like many who were closely connected to Timbertown, Robin’s memories are coloured with pride, laughter and a quiet sadness following the project’s closure.

For those involved, Timbertown was more than a tourist attraction, it was a shared labour of love that captured an important chapter of the region’s history.

By Bill HARROW