Timber was milled in Pemberton for more than a century. And though the last timber mill closed in 2016, traces of the industry’s influence on the town can still be seen throughout its streets.
Wander through Pemberton and one of the first things you will notice is the old forestry houses that many of today’s residents call home. The Pemberton Timber Mill Workers’ Cottage Precinct, which is on the State Register of Heritage Places, can be found on Brockman, Broadway, Dean, Kelly and Pine streets, as well as Karri Rise. Sites of interest include the former Pemberton Mill, which was built in 1913 and can still be seen on Brockman Street. While in town, don’t forget to stop by the Pemberton Visitor Centre to have a look through its museum. Here you will discover examples of equipment belonging to early settlers, clothing, utensils and memorabilia from yesteryear. The building itself was orginally an old school. You will also want to visit the Pemberton Hydro-Energy Station.The hydroelectric power plant on Lefroy Brook is a working replica of the original facility that provided electricity for Pemberton from the 1930s to the 1950s. And, as no visit to Pemberton is complete without taking in the the surrounding forests, make sure make time to see the historic climbing trees which were used as fire lookouts in the 1930s and 1940s.
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