© Copyright 2011  Julianne Dodds
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Timber, Veneer and Plywood 1901 - 1969
Retirement
Although he was 72 years of age, Mac Williams was not ready to retire. He directed all his efforts to running the Woolloongabba mill. Mac finally retired in 1969 at the age of 87 years when he sold the Queensland Veneer Company. He had made his mark in the Australian plywood industry, improving the techniques of slicing, peeling, gluing and finishing to such an extent that plywood had become a generally accepted, reputable product. But Mac still couldn’t give up. On a small block of land south of Brisbane at Redland Bay, he built a large shed and erected a full size operating timber lathe. He milled only one flitch through the slicer. From a poorly educated lad working beside his father in a timber mill in Victoria, through two world wars and a great financial depression, Mac had made his fortune and attained recognition as Queensland’s plywood industry pioneer. John ‘Mac’ McGinnis Williams died on the 27th February 1971.
Mac Williams at Victoria Point, Queensland in 1967.
Half the things that people do not succeed in are through fear of making the attempt.’ …James Northcote.
Moulding a new career First rotary lathe in Brisbane Woolloongabba Mills Glue and logs from the country Expansion after The Great War Mac's men at the mills Largest plywood mill in Australia Timber resources The Great Depression Queensland Veneer Company World War II Retirement References