Sawlogs & Sleepers

FCV Business and Social Enterprises

D Williams
Summary

The FCV was established by the Forests Act 1918 to protect and manage Victoria’s public forests for the long term benefit of Victorians. The primary charter provided the framework for the FCV’s many and varied activities and works over almost seven decades. The Act also provided for the Commission to undertake secondary activities which were indirectly related to the primary purpose. These non-core activities included operating business and social enterprises and ‘war effort’ programs. They significantly contributed to the Commission’s work over it's life.

Business enterprises included timber seasoning, two sawmills, a eucalyptus oil distillery, a steel tramway, harvesting and directly selling forest products, and a one-off opportunistic export sale of hardwood poles. The primary objectives were specific to each business but the general purpose was either to:

  • Provide leadership in a new area of forest products to encourage private companies to follow, or;
  • Supplement overall production because of limited private sector capacity.

Commercial performance was a secondary objective with these businesses. Some of the businesses performed well financially including harvesting and directly selling forest products, eucalyptus oil production and one-off sale of export hardwood poles. The Erica sawmill was profitable until the latter stages of its life. The timber seasoning business returned a minor profit overall but was not a commercial success. The Erica tramway and Nayook sawmill were unsuccessful commercially.

The ‘war effort’ programs and social enterprises were not commercial businesses, and were instigated at the direction of the Victorian government. The ‘war effort’ programs of emergency firewood production for Melbourne and Geelong, and charcoal production, were both very successful. The social enterprises included 11 separate unemployment schemes and training programs. The Commission became adept at operating the unemployment schemes and became dependent of the labour to carry out much of its forest works programs. The training programs were partly successful with significant numbers of trainees subsequently gaining employment as a result of skills acquired under the programs.

Introduction

The FCV was established in 1918 under the Forests Act 1918. The principles for the new Department provided the framework for FCV core policies and practices. In addition there was provision for the FCV to enter into what could be considered non-core enterprises. This provided the basis for the FCV’s involvement in business enterprises, ‘war effort’ programs and social enterprises over the life of the Commission.

This paper reviews the nature, reasons for involvement, objectives and assessment of the success of the FCV’s non-core enterprises.

Background

The principles laid out in the Forests Act 1918 included the following:

  • The conservation, development and utilisation of the indigenous forests, based on sound forestry principles.
  • The establishment of adequate plantations of exotic softwood species.
  • The prosecution of essential research work concerning the natural products of the forests.
  • The need for an effective fire prevention and fire suppression organisation.

A new Act was adopted in 1958 expanded the provisions of the earlier Act.

The Act also provided for the Commission to enter into other non-core activities. These represented significant part of the Commission’s work over it's life.

The non-core enterprises and activities can be divided into two classes, viz:

 
  • Business Enterprises– these were initiated by the Commission with the support of the Victorian Government. Whilst they were established as commercial businesses, financial objectives were secondary. Primary objectives varied between businesses, but the objectives were to encourage and assist advancement of existing or new areas, or stepping in when private sector capacity was considered too limited. In the former situations the Commission’s approach was to ‘show the way’ as encouragement for private sector involvement by advancing knowledge and demonstrating the commercial viability of the businesses.
  • Social Enterprises and ‘War Effort’ Programs– these activities resulted from government directions to deliver government policies and initiatives. Funding was provided by Commonwealth and Victorian governments and there were no commercial imperatives other than delivering the works in a financially efficient manner, and providing effective work or delivery of services and goods.
Table 1. Business and Social Enterprises and ‘War Effort’ Programs
 
 
 
Enterprise/Program
 
Objectives
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Newport Timber Seasoning Works

 
Establish and operate a business for seasoning of Victorian hardwood timbers, carry out research into techniques for seasoning Victorian hardwood species and demonstrate the viability of producing Victorian hardwood seasoned timber. Obtain a commercial return. (This business commenced operation prior to the establishment of the FCV.)
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Sawmills – Nayook & Erica
 
Operate sawmills to provide timber for Victorian Railways, Public Works Department and Defence and assist with salvage of fire-killed timber in the Thomson Valley following the 1939 bush fires. Obtain a commercial return.
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Distillation of Eucalyptus Oil
 
Operate a distillery at Wellsford to enable investigation and improvement of all aspects of eucalyptus oil production. Obtain a commercial return. There is a description of the operations at this facility in the Wellsford State Forest brochure linked in "See also."
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Erica Tramway
 
Transport sawn timber from sawmills located along the Eastern and Western Tyers Rivers to a siding south of Erica in Central Gippsland. Obtain a commercial return.
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Departmental Utilisation
 
Produce forest products using FCV employees, the recovery of which would have otherwise been unviable, and to provide employees for fire fighting. Obtain a commercial return.
 
 
Business Enterprise
 
Export of Hardwood Poles
 
Undertake the profitable one-off export sale of hardwood poles to the Egyptian Government. Obtain a commercial return
 
 
'War Effort' Program
 
Emergency Firewood
 
Provide firewood for emergency supply to Melbourne & Geelong during World War II.
 
 
'War Effort' Program
 
Charcoal Production
 
Organise increased production of charcoal for fuel oil as a substitute for petrol during wartime shortages.
 
 
Employment & Training Schemes
 
Employment for Unemployed & Provide Training
 
Provide temporary employment for unemployed during depressed economic circumstances, and provide training opportunities for young people.
 
Business Enterprises

The FCV operated five substantial businesses over almost seven decades. They included timber seasoning, sawmilling, eucalyptus oil production, operating a steel tramway for transporting licensees’ sawn timber, and harvesting and direct selling of forest products. The timber seasoning business was operated for the longest period, 47 years, and the business of harvesting and directly selling forest products operated for the shorter period of 20 years. All businesses were successful, to a greater or lesser extent, in achieving their primary non-commercial objectives. The businesses were of mixed success financially, with harvesting and directly selling forest products being quite profitable whereas operating the steel tramway resulted in significant accumulated losses.

As these enterprises were initiated by the FCV, it is interesting to consider the reasons for their involvement. There were two basic reasons:

  • Taking a lead for private enterprise to follow in the case of the timber seasoning works and eucalyptus oil production.
  • Supplement inadequate private industry capacity in the case of the sawmills, the tramway and harvesting and directly selling forest products.

 

 
vfh0662ed.jpg

The State Sawmill at Erica
1946
Photo: JA McKinty
Source: M McKinty

Table 2. Summary of Business Enterprises & Level of Success
 
Business
 
Objectives
 
Timing
 
Success
 
 
Newport Timber Seasoning Works
 
Undertake research into techniques for seasoning Victorian hardwood species and demonstrate the viability of producing Victorian hardwood seasoned timber, Ensure financially viable.
 
1910-57, 47 yrs
 
The enterprise was successful in helping to improve the end use of Victorian hardwood species. Effective seasoning schedules were developed, and private millers were encouraged to move into seasoned timber, particularly Mountain Ash. The enterprise was profitable, but only just with an average annual profit of £300 on average annual sales revenue of almost £24,000. Overall the enterprise was not successful commercially
 
 
Erica Sawmill
 
The FCV established the Erica sawmill to assist the salvage of fire-killed timber in the Thomson Valley and obtain a commercial return.
 
1941-66, 25 yrs
 
The mill assisted with the salvage operation of fire-killed Ash and provided seasoned timber to Defence and other government departments after processing at Newport. The mill was sold when the Ash resource was exhausted in the mid-1960’s. The sawmill was commercially successful, returning a profit in all but four years. The accumulated profit over 25 years was £92,772 which represented a margin of 7% on sales revenue.
 
 
Nayook Sawmill (two sites)
 
Produce timber for Victoria Railways & Public Works Department and obtain a commercial return.
 
1920-29, 9 yrs
 
Moderately successful at supplying special timber to Victoria Railways & Public Works Department. Unsuccessful financially – total profit over 10 years was just £501 with 3 years of significant profit and 3 years of significant losses. Profit margin was just 0.4% on sales revenue.
 
 
Wellsford Eucalyptus Oil Distillery
 
Operate, investigate and improve all aspects of eucalyptus oil production and obtain a commercial return.
 
1926-51, 25 yrs
 
The enterprise was successful at providing information and knowledge about the best means of producing eucalyptus oil, as shown by increased total production during the period of FCV’s involvement, notwithstanding criticism from private operators about cutting into their markets. The enterprise was particularly profitable in the period 1935-1944, returning an average annual profit of £934 and providing a margin of 40% on sales.
 
 
Erica Tramways
 
Transport sawn timber from sawmills located along the Eastern and Western Tyers Rivers to a siding joining the main Moe-Walhalla rail line and obtain a commercial return.
 
1927-49, 22 yrs
 
The tramway was successful in providing efficient transport of sawn timber from sawmills to Collins siding for despatch to markets, notwithstanding concerns from sawmillers that costs were too high. The enterprise generated accumulated revenue of almost £120,000 but the operation was not profitable with significant losses in most years, particularly during the second half of its life.
 
 
Department Utilisation
 
Produce forest products using FCV employees, the recovery of which would have been otherwise unviable and to provide employees for fire fighting. Obtain a commercial return.
 
1964-83, 19yrs

First reported separately in the 1963/64 FCV Annual Report

 
Operations were successful in producing forest products from certain forests that would otherwise be unviable and providing labour for fire fighting. The operations were profitable in every year and profit margins varied from time to time. The average annual royalty component was $561,574 which represented 5% of total royalties over the period. As recovery of forest products from these operations would have been inefficient and/or financially unviable using normal licensed private operators, a portion of the forest products and therefore royalty component would not have been realised without Departmental operations.
 
 
Export Poles
 
Supply export market with poles and realise a profit.
 
1940
 
A one-off opportunistic sale of poles to the Egyptian Government at a sale price of £21,000, which represented a highly profitable royalty return.
 
‘War Effort’ Programs.

The Commission was directed to assist with the Government’s ‘war effort’ with two programs, those being producing emergency firewood and charcoal for fuel oil.

Emergency Firewood Program

This program required the FCV to rapidly organise infrastructure and operations to produce and distribute large quantities of firewood in Melbourne and Geelong in war time because there was a sudden shortage of coal and increased demand for power for heavy industry for the war effort. The program was a large scale complex task involving a number of external government and private parties with in-forest operations, establishment of wood depots in metropolitan areas, rail and road transport of long length wood from forests, sawing into short lengths at depots and distribution to users. The nature and scale of the task was well beyond anything previously experienced by the Commission. It involved engaging various sources of labour including direct employees, piece meal workers, contractors, aliens and European migrants and liaising with other Victorian and Commonwealth government departments, local municipal councils and government established emergency war time agencies as well as private businesses and contractors.

The program was very successful at producing and distributing firewood and overcoming many challenges in the process. Almost two million tons of firewood was produced at an expenditure of almost £3.5 million. The program was never meant to incorporate commercial objectives and accumulated losses amounted to £1.1 million. Some of the losses were recompensed from the Commonwealth government.

"The land on the eastern side of Kyle Road, which is no longer part of the North Altona site (in 2021 this facility was still being used by DELWP), was originally used for the purpose of a FCV firewood storage depot and workshop. It was called the Brookwood rail-siding, and was one of several firewood storage depots close to and in Melbourne, the others being in Toorak, Fitzroy and Kew. These firewood depots were a part of the FCV's post-WW2 involvement in supplying firewood to meet community needs. In December 1950 a large fire at this depot destroyed more than 3300 tonnes of firewood."

 

Charcoal Production

The six year involvement in charcoal production was to provide a substitute fuel for motor vehicles caused by war time with the restrictions of supplies of imported petrol. It stemmed from direction from the Substitute Fuels of State Emergency Council for Civic Defence. Private enterprise was unable and/or didn’t initially respond to the need to increase charcoal production. The Commission formed the State Charcoal Branch to organise increased production, build up reserves to meet emergencies and regulate the cost to consumers.

The task was successfully achieved such that by 1943 there was sufficient volume to satisfy essential transport requirements. Production and distribution were steady by that time and private enterprise was able to cope with normal demands. The program incurred total costs of £275,000 and accumulated losses of almost £50,000.

 

FCV Annual Report Extracts

“... the Commission in March last formed the State Charcoal Branch to organize increased production of charcoal, to build up reserves to meet emergencies and to regulate the cost to consumers.”

“Producers were circularized and asked to step up production to the limit, with any assistance which the Branch could extend.”

“Practical instructions and advice regarding the most economical methods of production were incorporated in a leaflet published and distributed to prospective new burners.”

“As a result of the publicity, information and assistance distributed by the Branch, and by personal contact of Commission officers with both existing and prospective producers, rapid improvement in the supply position soon became apparent. At the close of the financial year, not only were current demands being met but also it was possible to make a commencement with the creation of reserve stocks.”

“Installation of departmental kilns and grading plants was continued, and at the date of this Report 221 kilns and 12 pits were in operation, the maximum fortnightly production being just short of 600 tons.” Source: All above from FCV Annual Report, 1942/43

“Charcoal production and distribution are on a reasonably stable basis, and private enterprise is now able to cope with all ordinary demands. This state of affairs should continue provided that adequate manpower is left available to the industry, particularly in those country districts from which charcoal supplies are drawn.” Source: FCV Annual Report, 1943/44

Production (tons)

1939/40 - 964   
1940/41 - 1650
1941/42 - 17421
1942/43 - 38922
1943/44 - 20681
1944/45 - 14358
1945/46 - 2805
1946/47 - 687  

Source: FCV Annual Reports

See Also

The Manufacture of Wood Charcoal. FCV 1941 & 1942

 

vfh0671ed.jpg

The FCV constructing Kurth Kiln
A facility to expand charcoal production during WW II
About 1941
Source: FCRPA

 
vfh0066ed.jpg

The FCV paddle steamer "Hero" towing firewood on the Murray River as part of the "War Effort" Emergency Firewood Program
About 1943
Source: FCRPA

vfh0669ed.jpg

The FCV was already producing charcoal at the VSF in 1940 - kiln below the Chemistry & Physic Labs
1940
Source: G Cleary

 
vfh0384ed.jpg

The FCV-owned Climax (Builders Number 1694) at Tyers Junction near Erica
About 1948
Source: FCRPA


vfh0674ed.jpg

FCV Eucalypt oil distillery at Wellsford
1928
Photo: EJ Semmens
Source: FCRPA

Social Enterprises

There were 11 separate schemes for unemployment relief and training stretching over more than 5 decades from 1927. The unemployment relief schemes were aimed at providing relief for unemployed men during depressed economic periods. The training programs targeted younger people with the aim of improving work and life skills to increase the opportunities to secure worthwhile employment.

The FCV was particularly well placed to operate the schemes. The advantages enjoyed by the Commission included ability to quickly devise effective work programs, effectively direct and supervise such work, the tasks were overwhelmingly labour intensive, the work locations were spread across Victoria, forest camps were quickly established to provide accommodation for the earlier schemes and workers generally found the working and living conditions agreeable. The schemes were funded predominantly by the Commonwealth government with funding for some schemes from the Victorian government and from private benefactors in the case of one of the youth training programs.

The Commission became quite adept at establishing and successfully delivering the schemes. All the unemployment relief schemes were successful in meeting the objectives of providing relief for unemployed men. Many thousands of unemployed men were provided relief under the schemes over the years. More than $17 million were spent on the schemes most of which was paid as wages. The training programs were successful to varying extents in providing improved work and life skills and a good proportion of participants subsequently secured worthwhile employment as a result of the training.

The tasks involved silvicultural works, establishment and maintenance of plantations, fire protection, road and track maintenance, nursery works and work on recreational facilities in the latter period. There was limited activity in construction and maintenance of buildings and facilities. The work was of lasting value and was generally of a reasonable or high quality. The Commission came to rely on this source of labour for its forest works program over a period of years.

 

Table 3. Unemployment and Training Schemes Operated by the FCV
 
Scheme
 
Objectives
 
Period of Operation
 
 
Unemployment Relief
 
Provide temporary employment for unemployed men during the Great Depression.
 
1927-43, 16 yrs
 
 
Youth and Forest Conservation Plan
 
Provide employment and skills training for youths during the Great Depression.
 
1932-38, 6 yrs
 
 
Drought Relief Works
 
Provide temporary work for farmers affected by drought in drought relief areas.
 
1967-69, 2 yrs
 
 
Drought Relief Works
 
Provide temporary work for Gippsland farmers affected by drought.
 
1973, 9 mths
 
 
Rural Relief Works
 
Provide temporary work for unemployed men in rural communities affected by the economic downturn.
 
1971–1973, 2 yrs
 
 
Regional Employment Development Scheme
 
Provide temporary work for unemployed men in rural communities affected by the economic downturn.
 
1974–1978, 3 yrs
 
 
Commonwealth Employment Scheme
 
Provide temporary work for unemployed men in rural communities affected by the economic downturn.
 
1975–1976, 18 mths
 
 
Employment of Aborigines Scheme
 
Provide employment and training for unemployed Aborigines.
 
1974–1978, 4 yrs
 
 
Dairy Farmers’ Employment Scheme
 
Provide employment for dairy farmers adversely affected by depressed industry conditions.
 
June 1976–Oct 1976, 5 mths
 
 
Special Youth Employment Training Scheme
 
Provide training to improve work and life skills to increase opportunities for participants to secure worthwhile full time employment.
 
1976–1981, 5 yrs
 
 
Education Work Experience Program
 
Joint program with Victorian Education Department to provide work experience for Form 4 students.
 
1978–1982, 4 yrs
 
Conclusion

The Commission was established with a core charter to protect and manage Victoria’s public forests for the long term benefit of Victorians. This involved a many varied activities that were directly linked to the core charter. The Commission was also able to undertake other enterprises which could be described as non-core. These included business enterprises, ‘war effort’ programs and social programs. The Commission inherited a major operating timber seasoning business at the time it was established. It continued this business for a further almost four decades and actively entered into a number of other businesses and social enterprises including ‘war effort’ programs. This non-core activity was significant and long lasting.

The businesses were initiated by the Commission with Victorian government support and included sawmills, eucalyptus oil, production, a tramway for transporting licensees’ timber and harvesting and directly selling forest products, as well as the inherited timber seasoning works. Some of the businesses were commenced to provide a lead for private enterprises to follow and others were to supplement inadequate private sector capacity at the time. All were successful in achieving their non-financial objectives but financial performance was varied. Some businesses, including harvesting and direct selling forest produce, eucalyptus oil production and Erica sawmill performed reasonably well financially, at least for substantial periods. Erica tramway and Nayook sawmill performed poorly financially.

The ‘war effort’ programs of emergency firewood production and charcoal production were very successful in assisting in the overall ‘war effort’. The emergency firewood program was large scale and was established quickly. The program was complex involving liaising and coordinating with many external organisations and carrying out new tasks. It was of a complexity and scale not previously experienced by the Commission.

There were 11 separate unemployment and training schemes successfully delivered by the Commission over a long period. The FCV was particularly well placed to provide the schemes with an ability to quickly devise effective work programs, effectively direct and supervise such work, the tasks were labour intensive resulting in most of the expenditure being paid as wages, the work locations were spread across Victoria, forest camps were quickly established to provide accommodation for the earlier schemes and workers generally found the working and living conditions agreeable.

The training programs were aimed at providing young people with improved work and life skills to increase opportunities of securing worthwhile employment. The programs were moderately successful resulting in significant numbers of participants subsequently securing employment.

Non-core businesses and social programs were actively pursued by the Commission over the full period of the Commission’s life. They were significant part and enhanced the overall work of the Commission and were successful to varying degrees.

 

David Williams

David graduated from the VSF in 1969 and Melbourne University in 1973.

He spent the first decade and a half working in various areas including fire research, field operations, lecturing at the VSF, environmental planning with the Ministry of Planning & Environment and mining policy with the Department of Industry, Technology and Resources. He moved to the Department of Conservation and Environment’s Commerce Branch in 1986 where the primary focus was the implementation of the Government’s Timber Industry Strategy.

David moved to the Victorian Plantations Corporation (VPC) when it was established as a government owned enterprise in 1993. Subsequently, he moved to Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) when it acquired the Corporation. His work focus included marketing initially, then responsibility for commercial operations in VPC and HVP. For a decade and a half David was Director, then Chairman, of Softwood Plantations Exporters which exported softwood chips to Japan and China.

David resigned as a full time employee in 2011 and worked as an independent consultant for the following 5 years advising forestry enterprises in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania on marketing, log pricing, log & chip export markets and operations, post-cyclone salvage operations, harvesting & haulage, harvesting scheduling and roading.

David Williams

David graduated from the VSF in 1969 and Melbourne University in 1973.

He spent the first decade and a half working in various areas including fire research, field operations, lecturing at the VSF, environmental planning with the Ministry of Planning & Environment and mining policy with the Department of Industry, Technology and Resources. He moved to the Department of Conservation and Environment’s Commerce Branch in 1986 where the primary focus was the implementation of the Government’s Timber Industry Strategy.

David moved to the Victorian Plantations Corporation (VPC) when it was established as a government owned enterprise in 1993. Subsequently, he moved to Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) when it acquired the Corporation. His work focus included marketing initially, then responsibility for commercial operations in VPC and HVP. For a decade and a half David was Director, then Chairman, of Softwood Plantations Exporters which exported softwood chips to Japan and China.

David resigned as a full time employee in 2011 and worked as an independent consultant for the following 5 years advising forestry enterprises in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania on marketing, log pricing, log & chip export markets and operations, post-cyclone salvage operations, harvesting & haulage, harvesting scheduling and roading.