South Australian Woods and Forests Department (1883 - 1992)

Summary

The Woods and Forests Department replaced the Forests Board (1875 - 1882) in 1883 and was probably the first forestry department formed in the British Commonwealth. The primary functions of this department appear to be the commercialisation of soft wood and other forestry products, setting up what is believed to be the first commercial pine plantation in 1902. The Woods and Forests Department also supported research and development in fire fighting and worked with the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau (1927 - 1946) at the Mount Burr research station. Given its commercial focus in 1993 the Woods and Forests Department was amalgamated with the South Australian Timber Corporation forming a government owned company Forwood Products Pty Ltd. In 2001 Forwood Products became a corporation named the South Australian Forestry Corporation trading name Forestry SA.

Related entries

Timeline

 1875 - 1882 South Australian Forest Board
       1883 - 1992 South Australian Woods and Forests Department
             1992 - 1997 South Australian Department for Primary Industries
                   1997 - 2011 Department for Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
                         2002 - 2010 South Australian Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation
                         2011 - Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
                               2010 - 2012 South Australian Department for Water
                               2010 - 2012 South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources [II]
                                     2012 - 2018 South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
                                     2012 - 2018 South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
                                           2018 - South Australian Department for Environment and Water

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Summerfield, E.; and Keenan, R., 'Leading the establishment of Australia's first forestry organisation: some lessons for today's leaders in forest management', Australian Forestry, 80 (2) (2017), 78-87. Details

Resources

• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-529266. Details

Resource Sections

• 'GA264 Woods and Forests Department', in Agency Details, State Records of South Australia, State Records of South Australia. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_s.html. Details