Mr Tyrrell cutting timber for rails with cross cut saw

Early herds were predominantly Angus.They were driven along the Ridgelands Road to the saleyards at the Rockhampton showground. Cattle for the meatworks were then driven over the Fitzroy Bridge at night.

New Dairy sheds

An early dairy herd

Technology in the District was slow to materialise and it was not until after WWII that mechanisation became more prevalent. Electricity came to many farms in the early sixties and still today there are blocks are without power.

As the region was declared as the Agricultural Reserve for Rockhampton, much of the recorded activity revolves around the Primary Industries. While the soil was good, there was difficulty with reliable water supply in many areas and this continues today. While attempts were made to grow a variety of crops from Sugar, Cotton, Maize, many Farmers recoursed to Dairying and Grazing. However, distance from Mills and Markets also prohibited intense farming. Early occupations recorded in the district were Farmer, Grazier. With the establishment of the rail link, occupations extended to those in the support and maintenance industries - Lengthsman, Farrier, School Teacher, Ganger.

Kahl Bros. took Corkwood from the district and supplied firewood for the kiln at Canoona Road.
Before the Barrage was built further down stream on the Fitzroy, the Weisse and Weder families were Fisherman taking catches of various fish including Barrumundi and shell fish as the river was salt water well passed the Angle. This catch is Eels. Most of the catch was taken up locally.

Teams working on the construction of the main Rockhampton to Ridgelands road. The men would be camped along the roadside during construction.

Taking milk by road into Rockhampton during the War for American Troops.

Collecting firewood near the river by dray for sale in Rockhampton

While Cattle was the main industry of the Mc Kenzie Family, they also bred horses for the Indian Army as well as producing some fine Race horses.

Another Milk Truck

Return
Fitzroy Council road workers collecting gravel for road repair, 1929
Today, while the rail link has been closed for many years due to unprecedented unprofitability, many that live in the district work in Rockhampton and enjoy the lifestyle benefits of country living.
Many efforts have been made in this district to cement a sound economic base. In 1923 - 1924 many weekend farmers also grew cotton. The Shaw men split palings , 7,700 of Bulah oak to fence 10 acres against wallabies at Harding's property on the Dalma Rd.(now Hardings Rd) Early houses were constructed of iron bark slabs or soft yellow wood of the Leichhardt trees on the banks of the Fitzroy. Wooden shingles or bark sufficed as roofing until galvanised iron took over. 1870 saw Beckelman's at Laurel Bank establish a meat works preserving meat and shipping to London. Lakes Creek meat works superceded Beckelman's as a much better situation on the river and a bridge had been constructed to enable cattle to cross.