our history

140 years of growth

Historic group photo of early Hyne employees.
timeline

This is our story

Over the decades, Hyne Timber has helped shape the Australian timber industry with many bold innovations, all the while navigating floods, bushfires, wars, pandemics, depressions and recessions. Despite these challenges Hyne has not only survived, but has grown to become an industry leader.

1882

R.M. Hyne established The National Saw Mill on the banks of the Mary River.

R.M Hyne close up photo
R.M Hyne signature

1880s — 90s

In 1886, Hyne purchased the Mayflower schooner, representing a turning point for the business as it could freight its own logs at a time when there were crippling freight costs. However, in 1893 the ‘The Great Flood’ hit Maryborough, the largest flood recorded in the Mary River at 12.27 metres. Hyne was one of the regions heaviest sufferers as the mill, buildings, stock were all swept out to sea without one penny of insurance.

Mayflower sailing yacht 1880 - 1890's used to freight logs
1880 - 1890's Maryborough flood
Mayflower descriptive text

1900s

Having rebuilt on higher ground, R.M. passed control to his son Henry, who set about revolutionised local production with the addition of the modern band saw, commissioning a North American sawmill line, comprising of a steam engine, 8 foot band mill, edger and band resaw.

Henry J Hyne (H.J Hyne) close up photo

1930s — 40s

The 1930s saw a lack of timber demand, followed by over cutting of timber during WWII. During this time, Hyne implemented one of Australia’s first ever drying kilns.

1930's - 1940s cutting the plantation pine.
1930s - 1940s, loading logs onto the back of a small transport vehicle.
1930s - 1940s, loading logs onto the back of a small transport vehicle.
R.M Hyne signature

1950s — 60s

Hyne increased their stake in the pine plantation industry. In the 1960s Hyne drove the adoption of treated timber.

1960's Lambert Hyne standing in front of a row of treated timber packs.
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature

1978

“I realised that instead of just selling a commodity we should be selling a manufactured engineered product.” – Lambert Hyne, on shifting supply away from ‘round timbers.’

1978 inside Hyne's first Glulam production facility.
R.M Hyne signature
First Engineered Timber (Glulam or GLT) site set up in 1978.
R.M Hyne signature

1980s — 90s

After 100 years, Hyne moved away from native hardwood. Led by Warren Hyne, R.M’s great grandson and respected captain of industry, the business transformed from small scale sawmills to high volume modern softwood processing. In 1986 Hyne built the Tuan Mill and began production of GLT, forging a future in engineered timber products.

Wide aerial photo of Tuan Mill
Group photo in Hyne Timber mill in the 1980-1990 period
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature

2000s

In 2001 Hyne expanded operations with the addition of the Tumbarumba Mill. In 2003 Hyne doubled down on sustainability with 100% renewable softwood. The early 2000s also saw Hyne introduce the blue dye into their treatment, setting a tone that others would soon follow.

Tumbarumba Aerial photo
R.M Hyne signature
Hyne employee inspecting glass bottle.
R.M Hyne signature

2012

With no other CLT competitors in Australia, the time was right for XLam to join the Hyne family and bring true mass engineered timber to an Australian market.

XLam employees using machinery to move CLT panels across the floor.
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature

2019 — 2020

2019 started with significant investment as Hyne commissioned the expansion of their GLT plant in Maryborough. But no one could’ve predicted how 2019 and 2020 would pan out with Hyne experiencing 15 months of unprecedented salvage of 1.6 million burnt plantation pine logs, followed by the effects of the pandemic. Despite ongoing adversity, in 2020 Hyne introduced the Tumba robots, a world-first, fully automated sorting and packing production unit for graded timber.

Facing up towards tall pine trees in the plantation
Tumbarumba Automatic Timber Pickers. World first robot arms used for picking timber.
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature

2021 — 2022

In 2021, Hyne invested $14.5million into the Tuan Mill with a new Continuous Drying Kiln (CDK). The addition of the CDK meant an increase in production that helped to better meet the needs of a booming market. Marking its 140th year, Hyne announce a partnership with UK-based sawmilling pioneer, James Jones & Sons Limited, bringing together a combined 320 years of family-owner sawmilling heritage and heralding more growth opportunities.

Forklift lifting packs that have just come out of the Continuous Drying Kiln (CDK)
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature
R.M Hyne signature

Careers at Hyne

It’s our people that make us great

Hyne Staff talking at Tuan Mill

Tour a Timber Mill

Step inside our mill

Staff working during tour of mill

Our Company

Vision, mission, values and more

Hyne Staff talking on site

Our Company

Vision, mission, values and more

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