It has been suggested that the meatworks owed its origin to the fact that a boiling down works had been established about four miles from the town near the wharf on Waverley Creek.

The purpose of the boiling down process was to recover the fat or tallow from cattle which were usually considered below standard for putting through the butcher shop.

[1] By 1865 the Queensland Government was in the process of extending the telegraph line between St Lawrence and Bowen, and to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Spong received a Queensland Government post in 1861, as clerk of works in the Colonial Architect's Office where he replaced Joseph Sherwin.

As with its Canadian namesake, which has the fastest tide in the world, the basin at St Lawrence has a rapid and deep tidal surge and so was dangerous as a port.

The Inspector stated that the Dalby and Westbrook Boiling Establishments reported having been obliged to discontinue operations on account of the excessive railway charges absorbing too large a share of the profits as the margin had become so small.

[1] While there is no clear evidence as to who initially established the boiling down works by August 1893, the Chairman of the Broadsound Divisional Board, on behalf of the residents of the district wired a protest to Sir Thomas McIlwraith regarding the closing of the Customs and other government offices.

It was suggested at the time that, as companies for boiling down and exporting meat and for coal mining were being initiated, the works would mean increased revenue for the district.

The works were described as being situated on Waverley Creek, about "three and a half miles" from St Lawrence, connected to the wharf by a tramline and with every convenience to hand for the efficient handling of stock and carcasses.

[1] The meatworks had some of the most modern equipment available at the time, for canned tongues and corned meat were loaded onto ships at the wharf and exported to southern markets.

Local knowledge suggests that the water supply for the meatworks was pumped over a distance of more than two miles from a big lagoon on the lower portion of Waverley Plain.

It is thought this occurred after the meatworks closed down, as it is considered unlikely that during the operation of the works, the owners would not have taken steps to stop the sea breaking through into the lagoon, unless this was caused by an unusually high tide.

With the Connors Range forming a formidable barrier to drovers with mobs of cattle, and the lack of a railway, the meatworks at St Lawrence was at a serious disadvantage.

[1] Approximately ten metres north of the brick wall and concrete floor area is the remains of another facebrick structure.

[1] On another area of land, to the north-east of the main site, the remains of a donkey boiler and a mine shaft are extant.

While no physical evidence of the tramline remains, what is apparent is an earthed, built-up area, indicating the position of the line.

This is located to the west of the shaft and boiler and curves around, running south-west, disappearing before it reaches Settlement Road.

[1] The former wharf site, incorporating timber posts, and much of the tramway, which joins the meatworks, are situated on tidal flats, forming part of the Newport Conservation Park.

Also extant in the Newport Conservation Park is evidence of timber fording of Bund Creek and remains of what appears to be a corduroy road.

The site survives as an important illustration of early industrial development of Queensland and of the settlement of the Broadsound area in particular.

The former meatworks and wharf site is significant in demonstrating early methods of addressing problems caused by the remoteness of areas used for stock raising and great distances between supplier and market in Queensland.

It is further significant as the site survives as a legacy to the canning industry which lingered in the St Lawrence area when freezing was the dominant form of processing.

With further archaeological and historical research and analysis, the place has the potential to reveal important information about Queensland's history and early industrial technology.