Thomas Hancock's writing desk and chair

Thomas Hancock’s Desk and Chair 

In October 2022 we accepted a gift of a hand-crafted writing desk and
chair from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ).

In 1959 Mr. T.E.M. Hancock donated to the RHSQ a hand-crafted writing desk and chair that belonged to his grandfather, Thomas Hancock, who started Hancock Timber Mills in North Ipswich.

Thomas Hancock senior migrated from Cornwall in 1856, together with his family. He moved into what is now the greater Ipswich area in 1864, working with his sons as Sawyers at Pine Mountain. By 1867 they had established their first sawmill at ‘Kircheim’, now known as Haigslea. Logs were floated down the river to the mill.

Expanding their timber business with a timber yard in Brisbane Street, Ipswich, Thomas took over the lease of the North Ipswich Timber Mill in 1878, and subsequently purchased the mill. This mill could turn out 50,000 feet of sawn timber a week.

By 1880 Thomas had purchased land at Lamington Parade along the Bremer River in North Ipswich. He built a large mill on this land and established his main office in the three storey building. The name of the firm was changed to Thomas Hancock and Sons.

In 1885 the rail line was extended to the mill at Lamington Parade, but that same year a fire destroyed nearly all the buildings. However, the business now had easy access to the rail line to access cut logs and to deliver sawn timber to customers, so the mill was quickly rebuilt. It included a joinery, moulding plant and lathe department to service the growing building needs of Ipswich and surrounds.

Thomas senior retired in 1884, leaving his two sons and their descendants to continue the business until it was sold to Boral in 1995 and closed in 2011.

The desk and chair we have been gifted were made by employees of the timber mill and given to Thomas Hancock senior on his retirement in 1884.

RHSQ were going through their storage area and realised that Hancock and Sons was an Ipswich business. They decided it would be appropriate to relocate the desk and chair to Ipswich Historical Society – sending them home as it were. We thank Dion from the RHSQ for delivering both items. You can see the desk and chair in the 1920s room of Cooneana Homestead.

Reference: Ipswich library database: https://www.ipswichlibraries.com.au/ipswich-history/local-stories/  

Photos from RHSQ.