Oral history kit : Robert & Donald Coopes 2017

Brothers, Robert and Donald Coopes, talk about their father's timber saw mill that was located in Eudoria Street from the early to mid-1950s till 1971/1972. The Coopes Brothers and Coleman Saw mill was located in Eudoria Street, Gosnells. The brothers discuss that the area was quite vacant and there were only a few businesses and residential properties present at the time. Robert and Donald talk about the expansion of the business and that mainly the mill would produce timber for house construction. The brothers go into the details of imperial measurement, timber lengths and the names of timber cuts that the mill would produce. They also talk about different methods of house construction with timber as they have the technical knowledge. Robert Coopes discusses his father's efficiency and minimal wastage of timber compared to other larger mills. He and Donald both agree that this was one of the reasons why Coopes Bros and Coleman was so successful. They discuss that all leftover timber was made into fruit cases that were then supplied to the orchards in the area. The type of wood used in the mill and where this wood was sourced from is also discussed. Details of customers, the staff, the work standards in the mill and the process from log to lengths is something the brothers speak passionately about. They also are proud of the good business relationship that the Coopes had with Neville Coleman, who was their silent business partner, and how the business grew from a small venture on Coleman's property to the larger premises on Eudoria Street. Both Robert and Donald enjoyed working in the mill as young boys on school holidays and feel that the hard work made them better people. The have fond memories of the place and talk dearly about their father who worked hard both in the timber and quarry industries.