The Gantry
On the weekend of the 4th and 5th of June, 2016, an enormous weather event hit the south coast of NSW and changed a small town called Bawley Point, near Termeil on the south coast of Australia in many different ways, for the better and worse. Across New South Wales, four people died, hundreds of buildings were destroyed, over 400mm of rain fell in places such as Grafton, 125km/h wind gusts were recorded, thousands of calls were made to the SES, and one Gantry destroyed in the region of Termeil, on the south coast of Australia. The storm absolutely hammered the Gantry, destroying it completely and washing most of the parts into the ocean. The storm changed the Gantry for the worse, and greatly affected its history. What was once a jetty, that was used to load timber into ships, and what was once a popular tourist attraction for fishing and diving into the ocean got destroyed in the matter of a one, single weekend, changing Termeil forever, which really took its toll on Termeil's residents because the Gantry was a very significant thing to so many people across this little town on the South Coast.
A major part in Termeil's change is its logging. Historically, Termeil is known for its lumber and during the 20th century, Red Cedar Trees would be cut down and milled at the local saw mills. The residents of Termeil at the saw mills used to use a one handed saw and their bare hands to produce quality lumber which would be shipped across Australia. Laurie Baxter, a resident of Termeil, describes how his father used to cut down the Red Cedar Trees. He said that it used to take hours to cut down a Red Cedar with their saws and axes, but with today’s technology, it could be done within minutes. He said the change in technology from 100 years ago to today’s technology is absolutely amazing. Lorrie absolutely loves getting his hands on the chainsaw and can't believe how easy his old job is now. The change in the timber industry in Termeil 100 years ago to the present has been drastic. Many would argue that this change is for the better, as it is so different to cut down trees now. Laurie absolutely loves how the change in the saw mills has changed so much and loves using a chainsaw.
Bawley Point's Gantry was historically known for its loading of its timber, however, the Gantry was eventually discontinued from use after newer methods of loading timber onto boats emerged. However, the Gantry stayed and changed a lot when it was used as a tourist attraction. People would travel down from local places to enjoy their day in the sunshine with their friends, laughing and having loads of fun. Many, however, were unaware of the incredible history and amazing change that this small metal structure had undertaken. During this time, when the Gantry was used as a tourist attraction, the tourists would jump and fish off of it. Lots of people loved using the Gantry as a jumping platform and fishing spot, but some believed that people needed to know the important history and change the Gantry had seen, and wanted a way to pursue this idea. However, then the Gantry changed forever when it was destroyed by the storm.
Recently, a lot of effort has occured in hope to rebuild the Gantry and change Termeil once again, back to its original state. Many local residents around the area of Termeil want the council to rebuild the Gantry, so the history and popular tourist attraction remains in Termeil. A lot of talk has also suggested putting in signs around the Gantry site, informing the reader of the great history that the Gantry and Termeil region has, (i.e the saw mills and the loading of the red cedar onto ships at the Gantry) and also talking about how it really did change quite a lot over time. Many want this so the tourists that visit their town know of the hardship and extraordinary change it has had to witness whether it be for the better or he worse. The enormous amount of effort and publicity was successful. Terry Snow, widely known as the owner of Canberra Airport, was convinced to put money into rebuilding the historic monument. When the Gantry is rebuilt, it will mark yet another amazing moment in the incredibly large history and change of the little region of Termeil.
The Gantry was a very important structure for Termeil. It was a true primary source of the history and change that is Termeil. In a way, it represented the Termeil region in how the whole region changed so monumentally over the last few hundred years, despite its low number of residents. From what was once a timber mill, to what was once a popular tourist attraction to then being erased forever is completely is fascinating. The storm that destroyed the Gantry will live in Termeil’s history forever. When the Gantry is finally rebuilt, the new monument will be added to Termeil’s large array of history, and will once again represent the extraordinary amount of change that the small town has seen over the last few hundred years.
A major part in Termeil's change is its logging. Historically, Termeil is known for its lumber and during the 20th century, Red Cedar Trees would be cut down and milled at the local saw mills. The residents of Termeil at the saw mills used to use a one handed saw and their bare hands to produce quality lumber which would be shipped across Australia. Laurie Baxter, a resident of Termeil, describes how his father used to cut down the Red Cedar Trees. He said that it used to take hours to cut down a Red Cedar with their saws and axes, but with today’s technology, it could be done within minutes. He said the change in technology from 100 years ago to today’s technology is absolutely amazing. Lorrie absolutely loves getting his hands on the chainsaw and can't believe how easy his old job is now. The change in the timber industry in Termeil 100 years ago to the present has been drastic. Many would argue that this change is for the better, as it is so different to cut down trees now. Laurie absolutely loves how the change in the saw mills has changed so much and loves using a chainsaw.
Bawley Point's Gantry was historically known for its loading of its timber, however, the Gantry was eventually discontinued from use after newer methods of loading timber onto boats emerged. However, the Gantry stayed and changed a lot when it was used as a tourist attraction. People would travel down from local places to enjoy their day in the sunshine with their friends, laughing and having loads of fun. Many, however, were unaware of the incredible history and amazing change that this small metal structure had undertaken. During this time, when the Gantry was used as a tourist attraction, the tourists would jump and fish off of it. Lots of people loved using the Gantry as a jumping platform and fishing spot, but some believed that people needed to know the important history and change the Gantry had seen, and wanted a way to pursue this idea. However, then the Gantry changed forever when it was destroyed by the storm.
Recently, a lot of effort has occured in hope to rebuild the Gantry and change Termeil once again, back to its original state. Many local residents around the area of Termeil want the council to rebuild the Gantry, so the history and popular tourist attraction remains in Termeil. A lot of talk has also suggested putting in signs around the Gantry site, informing the reader of the great history that the Gantry and Termeil region has, (i.e the saw mills and the loading of the red cedar onto ships at the Gantry) and also talking about how it really did change quite a lot over time. Many want this so the tourists that visit their town know of the hardship and extraordinary change it has had to witness whether it be for the better or he worse. The enormous amount of effort and publicity was successful. Terry Snow, widely known as the owner of Canberra Airport, was convinced to put money into rebuilding the historic monument. When the Gantry is rebuilt, it will mark yet another amazing moment in the incredibly large history and change of the little region of Termeil.
The Gantry was a very important structure for Termeil. It was a true primary source of the history and change that is Termeil. In a way, it represented the Termeil region in how the whole region changed so monumentally over the last few hundred years, despite its low number of residents. From what was once a timber mill, to what was once a popular tourist attraction to then being erased forever is completely is fascinating. The storm that destroyed the Gantry will live in Termeil’s history forever. When the Gantry is finally rebuilt, the new monument will be added to Termeil’s large array of history, and will once again represent the extraordinary amount of change that the small town has seen over the last few hundred years.