James Green & George Seeney
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Green & Seeney’s Sawmill
Woodford Operating from 1894 to 1903
In the early 1890s, James Green — a trained sawyer and immigrant from England — teamed up with his brother-in-law George Seeney to lease a small steam-powered sawmill behind King’s Store in Yatesville (now Woodford). Their efforts marked the start of a significant sawmilling legacy in the region. While Seeney retired from the partnership a few years later, Green continued operating the mill with the help of a young assistant until moving his enterprise to Villeneuve.
James Green (1861-1943)
Beginnings at Yatesville
In 1894, James Green and his brother-in-law George Seeney rented a small sawmill behind Tom King’s store in Yatesville, paying 4 shillings per week.
Green, who had arrived in Brisbane in 1886 and trained as a carpenter and sawyer, was keen to establish himself in the timber trade.
The modest four-horse-power mill became the foundation of his future sawmilling success.
from “Reflection”
by Charles John Eaton 1988
‘The King family was well known in the Woodford area in its early days. The boys got an old steam engine and started to cut some timber on top of the hill where the Woodford gaol now stands. It was the police paddock at that time.’
‘The Kings did not know much about circular saws. A young Englishman (James Green) came to Australia to try his luck and sat on his swag for a spell. After listening to the saw for a while and being trained at home in sawmilling, he asked did they mind if he had a look at the saw. He sharpened and set the teeth and cut some timber for them. All I know is he finished up with the outfit.’
Charles John Eaton
Seeney Retires, Green Pushes Forward
Within a year, George Seeney stepped back from the business. Green carried on almost single-handedly, assisted only by a young boy who had just left school. In 1896, he constructed a new sawmill at Dalton’s Corner, George Street — opposite the old railway station — possibly on land leased from Ambrose Tilney.
c1905: Sawmill at Hopetoun (Kilcoy)
Supplying Brisbane’s
Wooden Streets
By 1899, Green’s operation was contributing timber for Brisbane’s inner-city street paving projects. Large volumes of square wooden blocks were needed, and Green was one of the suppliers cutting timber for the job.
Ron Trim
Local Historian Recalls
At this time moves were afoot to pave Brisbane main streets with wooden blocks standing on end. A Brisbane firm, Chamberlain and Wyllie won the contract and started digging out Queen and George Streets with ploughs drawn by twelve horses.
Green had orders for this job and started to cut it.
Witt’s Supervision & Move to Villeneuve
Green’s brother-in-law, Fredrich Witt, became foreman of the Yatesville mill in 1899 and remained in that role until 1903 when the mill ceased operations. It’s believed the plant was then relocated to Kilcoy or to Green’s larger sawmill at Villeneuve, established in 1899.
From TROVE: Moreton Mail 1 May 1896
Green Moves to Villeneuve
After his early venture in Woodford, James Green expanded significantly—establishing one of the district’s most productive mills at Villeneuve from 1898. Read more ?
Seeney’s Next Chapter
Following his early partnership in Woodford, George Seeney continued his timber journey with new mill ventures in Villeneuve and beyond. Read more ?
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109 Archer Street, Woodford, Queensland, Australia,
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