History of Woodlands of Marburg

Woodlands came into being in 1870 after Charles Smith, who had owned and operated the Walloon sawmill since 1865, selected the Marburg land. The sawmill was then moved to the Marburg property. Soon after Charles Smith retired, handing the business to his son, Thomas Lorimer Smith.

The new mill was an illustration of the Smith's energy and enthusiasm for modern technology - it was well equipped with machinery and said to be unequalled in the colony. The family also operated timber yards in Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba.

In 1881, Thomas married Mary Stuart, the eldest daughter of the first headmaster of Marburg School. The same year, he began to plan his future and improve his estate. By 1890, the Woodlands Homestead was completed and became the family home to Thomas, Mary and their 11 children.

Timber was starting to run out and the Marburg district had evolved into an district of settled farms. Thomas planted sugar on his Woodlands estate and contracted other local farmers to grow cane for him. The following year, he built a modern steam-operated sugar mill. The plantation employed 60-70 men including Kanakas, who laboured in the field and lived in a small village on the western side of the property.

The improvements continued. He commissioned Tracksons to erect a telegraph line to connect his office at Woodlands to Freiderich and Co in Marburg. He built a rum distillery capable of producing 800 gallons a day but was forced to close it a few years later when effluent polluted Black Snake Creek.

Possibly the most surprising achievement was the installation of electricity in 1885 in the mill, office, stables and residence at Woodlands. Interestingly, Woodlands estate was lit even before Parliament House in Brisbane.

The Early Years

The Devine Word Mission

In 1944, Woodlands was sold to the Order of the Divine Word, a missionary order founded in Holland.

The mansion was initially used as a rest home for missionaries evacuated from New Guinea during World War II. In 1946, it became St Vincent's Missionary Seminary. The priests and brothers renovated the buildings, added timber dormitories and built a grotto and cemetery. They also dug the swimming pool - half Olympic size - by hand.

The extensive costs of maintenance forced a regretful sale of the Woodlands estate. However, the love of the area and the estate, influenced the Devine Word Missionaries to sell only 250 of the 500 acre estate, in the hope that one day they would be able to return to their beautiful land to build a new retreat.

Ipswich Grammar School

In 1986, the Ipswich Grammar School purchased Woodlands. The property played an important part of school life and was used for personal development courses and extension activities. To allow the property to earn revenue for maintenance of the buildings and grounds, Woodlands also operated as a corporate retreat.

Woodlands of Marburg - Today

In September of 2002, the Woodlands estate went under the hammer again. This time being purchased by a private company that decided to return Woodlands to its original state and opened the gates to the public.

Woodlands is now a popular location for weddings, corporate and weekend retreats, day visits and weekend dining.