Benjamin MasonPrint Page 
The monument, which features a portrait bust, commemorates Benjamin Mason, who was a pioneer of the timber industry.
By 1866 Mason had constructed his own timber station and 100 men and their families were living in the area. In 1870 Mason formed a partnership with Francis Bird and it was this partnership which effectively opened up the Kalamunda area. By 1872 Mason and Bird had built their own horse drawn wooden railway line and timber was being transported from the mill to the Canning River for shipment down to the port of Fremantle. It is still possible to see the site of the original timber station on Mason's Mill Road which runs off Canning Road at Carmel.
Although Mason and Bird were the first timbercutters in the area, the combination of transportation problems and competition had driven them out of business by 1882 and their property was put up for auction.
Location
| Address: | James & Station Streets, Francis Bird Park , Cannington, 6107 |
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| State: | WA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.023889 Long: 115.942222 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Artist: | Andrew Szato |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Monday 2nd June, 1975 |
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This monument commemorates the pioneer of the Jarrah Timber Industry in Western Australia
Benjamin Mason of Cannington, 1828 - 1893
And was dedicated by his grand-daughters Eileen and Dorothy Newman on Foundation Day
2nd June 1975
From 1860 to 1880 Benjamin Mason was the driving force in establishing the young Colony's Jarrah timber export trade. He developed his simple mill in the hills at Carmel from the era of the crosscut saw and bullock team into a thriving and valuable enterprise based on the modern steam-powered cicrular saw. In the 1870`s his loaded horse-drawn trucks rumbled down the Bickley Valley timber tramway for loading on to barges at the Canning Landing, these were poled down the Canning River, past Riverton and Muddy Reach, then along the Convict Fence to Salters Point, here they were taken in tow by a small steamer down stream to Fremantle where overseas vessels were waiting to take the timbers to Eastern States ports, also to India, which country bought large quantities of our products. By his pioneer efforts and those of his associates and timber men, he established Cannington as an important and thriving township
Sculptor Andrew Szato
