Sand mining started in Byron Bay in 1935, 7 days a week day and night.  A treatment plant was built by Zircon Rutile Ltd., in 1934 in Jonson Street where the Plaza shops are now situated beside Woolworths.  This plant continued working on and off until the 1980's. A spark from the cylinder dryers caught the Tee tree cordwood logs stacked directly in front of the dryers and the factory burnt down, it was re-built a couple of years later, says Ian Johnson.

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AFTER SAND MINING AND A CYCLONE. MANFRED STREET BELONGIL 1974.Photo Robin Ormerod Know What I Miss About Byron Bay...No.70693

Photo: Courtesy Byron Bay Services Club...No.70106

Photo: Courtesy Byron Bay Services Club...No.70104

THERE WAS A ROAD IN FRONT OF THE COTTAGES ORIGINALLY. THE OCEAN EVENTUALLY TOOK THEM I'M TOLD. Photo: Courtesy Byron Bay Services Club...No.70105

BELONGIL BEACH RESIDENTS DUMPED CAR BODIES IN FRONT OF DUNES...No.70017

SAND WAS PUMPED UP TO THE MACHINE AND ROCKS AND SAND WERE SEPARATED...No.70042

MACHINERY GOING ALONG BELONGIL BEACH...No.70013

SAND MINING WORKERS, BACK ROW L-R: RAY HENDERSON, RONNIE GREAM, JACK SMITH, SID FISHER, KEVIN PEARCE, ROY HOLLANDS. FRONT: JACK SEMPLE, NOEL HENDERSON, NORM VARCIN (NOBBY), IAN JOHNSON (JONNO)...No.70031

SAND MINING AT MAIN BEACH ....No.70016

WASTE SAND (SILICA) WAS PUMPED BACK OUT TO FILL IN THE DREDGE HOLE..No.70041

SAND MINING ON TALLOW BEACH...No.70024

BELONGIL BEACH...No.70019

TALLOW BEACH...No.70020