Jarrahdale Heritage Park

Jarrahdale Heritage Park article (extract from Trust News February 2006) available for download.

The town of Jarrahdale is located in a valley of the Darling Ranges, 45km south-east of Perth. The town was established in the late 1800s as the first major timber milling operation in the state and it played a key role in the development of Western Australia through the exportation of jarrah around the world.

In 2001, the National Trust of Australia (WA) received the land donation from Sotico/Wesfarmers of the Jarrahdale precinct, which included the site of a closed timber sawmill. The Jarrahdale Heritage Park has been conceived as a place to experience the stories of Western Australia's unique jarrah forest, its communities and its significance as the state's first timber town.

National Trust Sawmill Producing the Goods 

Since receiving the property donation, the Trust has leased the timber mill land to Heritage Sawmillers to establish and operate a sawmill from the site. The sawmill employs local people to process salvage logs and recycled timber, promoting sustainable practices and providing an important resource to the local community. The re-establishment of a working sawmill at Jarrahdale also provides a true reflection of the site's history and complements the conservation values of the Jarrahdale Heritage Park.

Heritage Sawmills produces exceptional quality sawn timber that is used in flooring, fine furniture and, more recently, as moulded timber products for windows and doors. Products from the sawmill have been used locally as feature timber and flooring for the newly refurbished and opened Café on the Dam and for the Millbrook Winery and Café at Jarrahdale.

Café on the Dam

Cafe on the Dam is a cafe/art gallery located in the beautiful Serpentine National Park, overlooking the Serpentine Dam. It has been in operation since March 2005 and has steadily built up a reputation for providing good value home cooked food, tourist activities and a place to come and enjoy the unique jarrah forest. The beautiful jarrah flooring and the jarrah windows are fantastic examples of timber from the National Trust sawmill, operated by Heritage Sawmillers, with sheoak and jarrah both being used at the cafe. The cafe is open 7 days a week and provides excellent views of the Serpentine Dam from the verandah. 

The art gallery provides an opportunity for local artists to display their works and gives visitors an understanding of the talent we have within our Shire and State. The café has also teamed up with local community groups to provide historical displays, the grammar school’s artwork and guided bush tucker walks. For more information on upcoming exhibitions and events, please contact Café on the Dam on (08) 9525 9920 or info@cafeonthedam.com, or visit their website.