THE Shoalhaven has lost a historic link with the timber industry with the death of John “Toby” Davis last Friday.
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Mr Davis died peacefully at home just four days short of his 83rd birthday, which he would have shared with his 16-year-old grandson Ben on November 15.
The third child of Ednie (known as Manning) and Anna Davis, Toby followed his father and older brother Tom into the timber industry.
It was not surprising he entered the industry, considering the family had operated mills at Shallow Crossing, Yerriyong, Woollamia, Cockrow Creek near St Georges Basin, Kangaroo Valley, Lake Conjola and Tomerong.
In 1955 Toby began his own dynasty which would see him become one of the area’s leading businessmen and a highly regarded timberman.
He opened his own mill next to his brother Tom, who had earlier gone in partnership with Manning who was semi-retired and operating as EM and TE Davis, at Tomerong. The mill would operate until 1962.
It was also the year he married Lila McGuire, a match that lasted 61 years, although they had been courting the four years previous.
When John Herbert returned from working in the timber industry in New Guinea they formed a partnership and the famous Davis and Herbert name was born.
In 1960 the pair bought a softwood case mill in Beinda Street, Bomaderry which would operate for 30 years.
In 1963 Toby and John Herbert joined Tom in forming TE Davis Pty Ltd to run the mill at Tomerong, previously owned by by Manning and Tom.
Under the new arrangement Tom would manage the sawmill and timber production of timber and Toby the business side.
In 1962 Toby purchased the former Base Torpedo Unit (BTU) defence property on the corner of the Princes Highway and BTU Road. The complex became a major part of the Davis and Herbert group of mills.
Three mills eventually operated from the site, with an iconic large spotted gum log (68 feet in length and 15 feet girth felled by Arthur McGuire at Wagonga in 1974) becoming a well known local landmark.
Further mills were purchased including one just south on the Princes Highway in 1965, the Mitchell Brothers operation on the Clyde River at Batemans Bay in 1967 and another at East Lynne in 1968.
In 1970 they expanded again with the Mitchell Bros mill at Lawler Creek, north of Narooma while the Stoney Creek sawmill between Lawlers Creek and Bodalla was added in 1972.
Other operations were purchased as over the next two decades as Toby focussed on consolidation and upgrading operations centred on three locations, BTU at South Nowra, Batemans Bay and Lawlers Creek.
Toby loved being in the mill and could often be found in his trusty singlet, covered in sawdust, working away.
In 2005 Toby sold the operation to Boral Limited. By 2012 the company had closed the Batemans Bay operation when it was gutted by fire.
At its height Davis and Herbert employed more than 100 people - no job was too big or too small.
Despite supposedly being retired the timber industry ran in his blood and in 2007 Toby purchased the historic Wandandian mill, which still operates today and traded under TE Davis Milling out of respect for his brother Tom.
He updated and improved the mill which continues to source logs from Toby’s own private native forest. He painstakingly rebuilt the steam mill first erected at BTU at the same site of the original steam mill at Wandandian.
Woodchopping was another Toby’s passions. Each year Davis and Herbert would host a woodchop at BTU as a prequel to the Sydney Royal. Many of the country’s best woodchoppers would arrive at the complex for a hit out before the all important Royal Easter. The event would also raise money for Camp Quality.
The company also provided wood for the Sydney show and other local shows for many years.
Toby had a long involvement with woodchopping in NSW as a competitor, sponsor, promoter and in committee roles.
Toby is survived by his wife Lila, children John, Scott and Margaret and Allison and Graham and five grandchildren Bradley, Breanne, Allie, Ben and Chloe.
His funeral will be held next Tuesday, November 22 at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre at 2pm.