One early instance of the sport was in 1905 when, with corn-husking, it was a supporting activity at a meeting of the Shoalhaven Coursing Club.

In between the greyhound races on that day, there were four woodchop heats and a final won by 10/1 outsider Sam Pepper.

Although the report did not indicate the type of event, Pepper started off 80 seconds and won in 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

In March 1913, Nowra man Jack Hancock was drowned while swimming at Big Rock, and a benefit competition was held for his widow and four young children. It was held at the cinder running track at the back of the Empire Hotel, built by Joseph Dent some 25 years earlier when the premises was known as the Imperial.

There were various sports but according to The Shoalhaven Telegraph, "the woodchop created a great deal of enthusiasm, and as the starters were numerous, some close and exciting cutting was witnessed".

Yalwal metallurgist Herbert Blackman donated the E5 prizemoney, and the final was won by A. Goodsell by 40 seconds.

That meeting may have provided the impetus for the Empire Sports Club to hold woodchops at that venue the following September.

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There were 25 axemen who contested the five heats, and in ordering logs, organisers underestimated the interest it would generate.

Blackman acted as a handicapper and his work was praised when Sam Pepper won a close final from L. Goodsell and Os Piercy who dead-heated for second.

The show society also included woodchopping on the program of its regatta and sports held at Greys Beach on New Year's Day, and the major event was won by Walter McGuire.

He also took first prizemoney of £11101- in the open woodchop at the Empire Sports Club meeting in March 1914, when the program also included a sawing event, using 12-inch white gum.

Events were held regularly in this era, and the well-attended half-yearly meeting of the Nowra Woodchoppers' Association that year elected 10 men to the various positions.

The meeting decided to wire off the area on eight feet each side of the blocks to keep the public back.

World War I indirectly caused the sport to spread, with a "patriotic chop" held in the grounds of Falls Creek Public School in February 1915.

This was followed the next month by one at Wandandian, in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund promoted by local publican, C. Northcote.

After four heats in the 10-inch underhand cut, the final was won by W. Wadsworth (8 secs.) from Ted Goodsell off scratch.

Competing at this meeting were Jack, Ted and Percy Windley, and this family has been involved in woodchopping at Wandandian to the present day.

August 5, 1916 saw Nowra woodchopping move to a new ground in Junction Street and the Saturday afternoon meeting attracted a large crowd.

The 12-inch standing block suited local champion, big Jim Forsyth (from Budgong) and he convincingly won his heat in 35 seconds and then the final in 28.2.

Forsyth was a prominent axeman in this era, competing regularly at the Royal Easter Show between 1915 and 1920.

His biggest win in Sydney was probably the 15-inch standing block event in 1918. After the war there was an axemen's carnival held at Nowra Showground on April 5, 1919 in aid of patriotic funds.

The prizemoney of £40 was far more than that offered at Sydney that year, but still a profit of £7 was made on the day.

The major events saw Forsyth take out the final of the 13-inch standing block; and Arthur Herne of Termeil, the 14-inch underhand.

Information provided by Shoalhaven Historical Society.