Under his guidance the Union Shipping Line display bookcase in the Knysna Library Activities Room was built, providing an excellent example of the carpentry skills in existence at the time. He was a competent. and was responsible for the roofing and carpentry for the 1893 Knysna Library, the design building of the 1892 Methodist Church, the building of the circa. 1890 Belmont Villa, in which family lived in 1901 (now the public prosecutor's offices), the 1900 Henry Percy Morgan home (now known as the Knysna Manor House), as well as prestige homes in the George area.
Andrew Hepburn was born in Selkirk, Scotland, and came to Knysna in 1880 on the SS Flamingo with his wife Emelia and two children, accompanied by his brother Richard who, unfortunately, died only four years after his arrival. It was the contents of the forests of Knysna that drew the brothers. Andrew was a carpenter and builder and his brother, an engineer. Andrew Hepburn was elected to the first town committee, when the Knysna Municipality came into being in 1882.
When Alfred Blackburn bought the Knysna Steam Sawmill, Andrew Hepburn was the foreman and he later purchased the sawmill in 1887. George Parkes then bought the sawmill in 1892 and renamed it the Knysna Forest Company. Andrew Hepburn was still employed by Geo Parkes when in 1894 a disastrous fire destroyed all his wood working tools. He remained as manager for Geo Parkes until he "severed his connection" and leased the mill for his own account for a year. In 1904 he was appointed a director and chairman of the Colonial Timber Company.
However, Andrew Hepburn will be best remembered for his carpentry and building skills.
The roofing contract, doors and door liners and windows for the 1893 Knysna Library were supplied by the Knysna Forest Company of which Hepburn was the manager, as was the 'Hepburn' bookcase in the Knysna Library made from Witels/ White Elder (and donated by the Union Shipping Line), the library reading room table of Essenhout/ Cape Ash and the Stinkwood bar counter in the old Knysna Hotel, and other furniture in possession of his descendants.
In 1893, Andrew also designed and built the Knysna Methodist Church and made the yellowwood pews and preacher's rostrum.
His younger children were christened at this church.
Amongst his other building successes were the John Benn II stone pilot house at the Heads, Dr Snow's house in York Street, George and Mr Bailey's house in Saasveld.
Celebrating the life of Andrew Hepburn, after the Hepburn family donated an illuminated display of his life to the Millwood House Museum.
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