Captain G. Gunnersen (Part 2 of story)
| First name | Captain G. |
|---|---|
| Last name | Gunnersen (Part 2 of story) |
| Country of Origin | Norway |
| Date of Birth | 1849 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1879 |
| Submitted by | Peter Gunnersen |
Story
Part 2
Veneers and plywood were relatively new products to the Australian market in the early 20th century and Thorold was something of a pioneer. He led Gunnersen Nosworthy into trading plywood and veneers, both from overseas mills and from the new Queensland industry. One of his early customers was Frank Tierney of Presswell Panels Pty. Ltd. which, well after Thorold\’s passing, became part of the Gunnersen group of companies.
Utilising the timber resources of Far North Queensland, the product demand created by World War II and the plywood manufacturing skills of Harry Cairns, Thorold formed Capricornia Plywoods in Cairns which made high quality hardwood plywood from 1948 until log supply restrictions caused it to cease in 1980. He also led the Tasmanian sawmilling business into plywood manufacture.
Not all Thorold\’s business ventures were a success. A veneer mill in Greymouth, N.Z., a door manufacturing plant in Mansfield, Victoria and a plywood mill in New Guinea did not perform to expectations, however, Thorold\’s final business venture was spectacularly successful. Along with his now normal business partners he ventured into pine, starting as a small factory making packing cases and expanding into plantations, logging, sawmilling, seasoning, dressing and finally particleboard manufacture. This business started as Softwood Products Pty. Ltd. and became Softwood Holdings Limited, ultimately to be purchased by the huge CSR Ltd.
However, Thorold died in 1960 and so he did not live to see this momentous event.
The timber products business run by Thorold was continued by his son Harvey Gunnersen and upon his premature death in 1968, by his sons Thorry and Peter, his brother in law, Peter Koren and his son Nils. Now it is time for their children to take the reins. Great great grandchildren of Gunner, Nils, Elisabeth and Andrew Gunnersen and Scott Lovett are in the business, now called Gunnersen Pty. Ltd. again.