"The dominant valuable timber species is Messmate Stringybark which in concept is well away from its normal habitat being better known as a mid-elevation mountain species and not one associated with elevations of less than 100 metres. However the far south west Victoria was unique in Eucalyptus species being located out of their normal habitat with the presence of Eucalyptus kitsoniana (Gippsland Mallee) at Cape Bridgewater and E. pauciflora (Snow Gum) at Greenwald being prime examples. Another species that played a role in utilisation was Brown Stringybark and while not as readily available its actual qualities were better than Messmate. Yellow Gum, White Top Peppermint (E. willisii) and Red Gum also contributed in a minor way to the production of forest produce. In the 60s, production of firewood was important for heating while there was an ongoing demand for fencing material, poles for various farm and communication needs, bee keeping, etc."

"The original Forests Commission of Victoria Heywood Forest District extended from Edenhope to the coast and from the South Australian border to Hamilton and Warrnambool. The Headquarters were located at Heywood, it being the most convenient to the most productive native forest areas. Prior to the 1950's, Forests Commission of Victoria operated with two separate branches in the field, namely Plantations and Hardwoods. Each branch was independent and had their own office, staff and work force, sometimes located in the same town but often at different locations. Thus the Rennick Plantation located on the South Australian border, while being in the Heywood District, was entirely divorced from its neighbour and annexed land from the original District as plantations were established. During the late 1950's there was a complete re-organisation of the field structure which involved the amalgamation of plantation and hardwood areas incorporated under the one District Forester and the one District Headquarters. The outcome was that the original Heywood District was divided into three with headquarters at Rennick (Lower Glenelg), Casterton (Casterton) and Heywood (Heywood). The main emphasis of the Lower Glenelg Forest District was on plantation establishment on the State border and later on the east side of Glenelg River at Kentbruck in the Heywood District, and this was subsequently annexed to the Glenelg Forest District. A substantial area of Brown Stringybark forest between the two plantations supplied hardwood logs to South Eastern Land and Mercantile, a small sawmill in Mount Gambier. Casterton Forest District was mainly involved in the management of a significant area of Brown Stringybark and Red Gum forests, fire protection and later some plantation establishment."

"By 1960 there were sixteen hardwood sawmills drawing timber supplies from the Heywood Forest District Public Lands. These were Clay & Pitts and George Thomas at Gorae, Carter Bros and Les Mayes at Heathmere, Benbows at Heywood, Reg Thomas at Mt. Clay, Clarrie Porter at Homerton, Laurie Porter at Dunmore, Laurie Porter at Hotspur, Alan Fink at Milltown, Moores at Drumborg, Vince Davies at Digby, Kinmonth at Casterton, Sauders at Tyrendarra, S. E. And Land at Mt Gambier and Aston at Dartmoor. As well as the licensed sawmills there were a few that were owner owned and operated spasmodically from their own private property supplies." ²

"It is believed that the actual fixed allocated licenses of varying volumes to those listed sawmills would have exceeded 10000 cubic metres but in addition to that some of the bigger mills were boosted with departmental supplies and in some instances from private property."