Libraries Local History Awards 2023

City of Kalamunda Libraries Local History Awards 2023

Entries from the 2023 City of Kalamunda Libraries Local History Awards

Kalamunda Libraries Local History Collection - Vertical File

City of Kalamunda Libraries

2023 CITY OF KALAMUNDA LOCAL HISTORY AWARDS

In 2023 the Kalamunda Library held the inaugural Local History Award, an award to encourage community involvement in recording and promoting the rich history of the City of Kalamunda for future generations.

Participants were invited to submit written and photographic entries on subjects such as people or groups, places, or events in any of the suburbs within the City of Kalamunda.

The awards were judged by representatives from the Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society, President Jenny Lewis and archivist Marcia Maher, and winners were selected based on their historical significance, and the quality of photographs or writing.

WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize

Michelle Bunn

Mrs Edwards, Married Woman of Kalamunda, and the Maristow Guesthouse

Highly Commended

Marian Rolfe

Committed Residents Create Gooseberry Hill Community Centre

Honourable Mention

Bernard Arrantash

Walliston Wanderers

MRS EDWARDS, MARRIED WOMAN OF KALAMUNDA, AND THE MARISTOW GUEST HOUSE

By Michelle Bunn

Maud Edwards was well known in Kalamunda as “Mrs Edwards”. She arrived in Kalamunda in the early 1920s and lived there for three decades with her husband, William Edwards, daughter Margery and son Ron. For 15 years she ran the Maristow Guest House, still standing at 77 Heath Road – and it is was her who bought the land and financed the building. A talented musician and excellent cook, she hosted and contributed to many social events. Yet her early life contained personal drama and tragedy. Here we explore a little more of the life of this “married woman of Kalamunda”.

Family history records1 show Maud Mary Edwards was born 21 March 1878 in Plymouth, Devon, to the Master Mariner Captain John Prout and Ada Prout. She was the second of six children, although the first born died in early infancy so grew up as the eldest child. Captain Prout sailed in many ships over his career but one in particular, the steamship ‘Maristow’, must have been a Prout family favourite as both Maud Edwards and her sister, Lottie, named their homes after it. All the family were great sea travelers. Maud’s niece can recall her father telling her that whenever his mother wanted a break from home duties, she would gather up the five children and take them along on whatever ship her husband was captaining at the time. 2

Perhaps her mother’s desire to escape from daily chores encouraged Maud’s own independence. Aged 17, in 1895, she married Frederick Stickland. They had two children: Frederick Leo and Stanley. Sadly, after just four years of marriage, her husband died of tuberculosis. Maud was now 21, a widow with two babies, and life must have seemed bleak.

Maud married again, around 1901, to Henry Chiles and bore Ada (1902) and Margery Mabel (1904). A year later, Ada died from “convulsions and rickets” aged only three years. Maud was not yet 30 years old and had experienced the painful deaths of both a husband and a child. Another son, Archibald Robert, was born in 1908. However, for some reason the marriage to Henry Chiles ended.

Her eldest child, Frederick Leo, was 19 years old when he enlisted for WWI. Maud had married for a third time – to William Edwards, who was (perhaps) a widower and had three teenage children of his own. In 1916 their son, Ronald Colin, was born. Maud was about 38 years old and Ron was her sixth child. Then in 1917 Maud experienced another family tragedy when Frederick Leo was killed in action at Ypres, France, aged 22 years.

Now in her third marriage, with two deceased children, four living children (one a baby) and perhaps three step-children, Maud was still barely 40 years old. Her husband suffered from severe asthma and at some point she decided to put Britain behind her and emigrate to Australia. A new life began when she and William arrived in Perth, Western Australia, from Sydney around 1920 with Margery, aged about 16 years, and Ron, aged about four years.

Local histories record that the Edwards moved to Kalamunda in the 1920s for the sake of William’s health. The Edwards first stayed in Kalamunda at the Mountain Rest guesthouse (now 47 Recreation Rd). Margery recalled asking there for a drink of water, not finishing it and throwing the remainder on the ground – she was duly admonished because water was such a precious commodity in the hills. 3

Perhaps it was the experience of staying in a guesthouse herself that gave Maud the idea of operating her own. It is also probable that managing a guesthouse – a task managed usually by women – was a strategy for obtaining income that was not reliant on William’s health. Whatever the thoughts were, it is certain that in May

1 Compiled by Sandra Chiles, Maud Edwards’ granddaughter, and Patricia Paterson, niece.

2 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn 10 Oct 2013)

3 Interview with Marg Kostera, c. 1980

1921 “Maud Mary Edwards, married woman of Kalamunda”,4 purchased Lot 54 in the Kalamunda Brie-Brie estate. This block of land (originally two acres, one rood and one perch) on the corner of Heath Road and Seaview Terrace, Kalamunda, was to remain in the family until 1975. Having purchased the land, Maud Edwards quickly obtained two mortgages probably used to finance building a home (£250 in July 1921, and another £200 in January 1922).

Maristow’s Construction, 1922

Margery recalled that her father’s health improved so much he was able to clear the land and assist a local builder, Fred “Jim” Elson, to construct the home she named “Maristow” after her father’s favourite ship.5 It is a large weatherboard house on a timber frame, with wide jarrah floorboards on timber stumps, two brick chimneys and a high-pitched corrugated iron roof. There were six original rooms. The floor plan of the original building followed a traditional Australian design of two rooms either side of a central hallway, with a kitchen and ‘wash-house’ at the back of the house. Internally, the 14-foot ceilings and walls are lined with horse hair plaster on wooden lathes. Jarrah chair rails and skirting boards found in the original rooms and hallway were handmade (judging by their irregularity).

Upon entry, there were two bedrooms to the right (west) of the hallway. An early photograph (above) shows that both had French-doors opening to the western verandah. On the left (east) side after entry was the formal sitting room, with a decorative plaster ceiling and French-doors opening to the side verandah, and the dining room. A double fireplace and brick chimney connected these rooms.

At the end of the hallway, a heavy wooden door exited to the rear verandah (south) and a small third bedroom/ sleep out on the west. On the east was the separate entrance to the kitchen, with another door exiting to the eastern side verandah and a large larder/pantry. The brick fire-recess on the kitchen’s external south wall housed a wood-burning Metters’ stove (or similar).

When compared to other contemporary homes that can be viewed today in the Kalamunda History Village (for example, Chamber’s House), there are several clues in Maristow’s architecture indicating that Maud always intended her home to be a guesthouse. Firstly, it is a larger than average sized house comprising six generously proportioned rooms. Indeed, the 1933 Census shows that most (61 per cent) dwellings in the Darling Range Road District only had four or less rooms, another 21% had five rooms, and just 18 per cent had six or more rooms.

Secondly, there are unusually wide verandahs on three sides of the house – a feature noted by people at the time – where guests and the family would have slept in warmer months. Thirdly, the kitchen built at the back of the house had its own separate entry and was also unusually large.

Maristow – a family home and popular Guest House 1922-1932

Maristow was being advertised as a guesthouse by April 1922: “Kalamunda: A complete rest and change can be had at Maristow; spacious verandahs, excellent view. Mrs Edwards.”6 By June that year, the wording had added: “Ring ‘Phone 16.” Further improvements were made and later in 1922 advertisements included wording such as “Ideal position, spacious verandahs, good table”, and “first class Accommodation, sleeping out, tennis court, ocean views.” 7 A well was put down forty feet to seek water but was not overly effective – not surprising as the land is literally on top of granite. Maristow’s primary source of water, as for most Kalamunda residences, was “from rain-water tanks; when that ran out it had to be bought.”8

4 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 280 f.18 (transferred to Vol 281 f.111)

5 Mansfield, Carol, 2012. Transcript of Conversation with Marg Kostera, c.1993 at Parry House, Lesmurdie (copy at Kalamunda Library, Local History Collection).

6 The West Australian Tuesday 11 April 1922, p. 12 (also later dates throughout April 1922).

7 The West Australian Wednesday 27 Sept 1922 p. 12 (also later dates throughout Sept and Dec).

8 Mansfield, Carol, 2012. Op cit.

Margery recalled that at first friends were invited, and their recommendations (plus the advertising and referrals from other local guesthouses) helped Maristow’s success. The cost, she remembered, “in the 1920s was 2 guineas a week”. The first entry in the Maristow guest book is dated 27 August 1923. Two notable guests in the book were May Holman (and her sister), and a very young Harold Clough.9

Electoral rolls show that William gained employment as a cordial manufacturer. No formal occupation is recorded for Maud but it is evident she ran the guesthouse and undertook all the cooking in the spacious kitchen she had designed. Maristow’s “good table” was highlighted in the advertisements. “Guests liked cream and poultry; roast beef was a specialty at Maristow. Food was kept cool in the Coolgardie safe, and butter was kept on a wet brick with a flannel over it under the house.10 Maude’s culinary skills became very well known and she generously contributed to social celebrations, as shown by the following newspaper extracts:

“KALAMUNDA NEWS: Mr. and Mrs. C. Kostera gave a party in the RSL. Hall to celebrate … and all joined in the dancing, games and singing and when supper was served did full justice to the nice savories for which Mrs. Edwards is famous and all the other good things.” 11

“Mrs. Edwards … entertained Mr. and Mrs. Green and about 18 neighbours and friends to morning tea and another cake made and decorated by Mrs. Edwards was cut. All present thoroughly enjoyed the good things cooked by Mrs Edwards who is well known for her culinary art.” 12

Maud was also a talented musician – a valuable skill in an era when social activities almost inevitably included dancing and singing. She played the piano and was noted as the accompanist to many singers. Within a few years of settling in Kalamunda Maud was also leading an orchestra. Visitors to the 1925 Kalamunda Show enjoyed “Excellent music … during the afternoon by the Kalamunda Orchestra, comprising Mrs. M. Edwards (leader), piano; ... The same orchestra played the music for the dance which eventuated in the evening, and largely contributed to the enjoyment of all.” 13

Margery recalled that “Surprise parties were frequent at her home. At dances Parents and children as well as young folks danced to piano and concertino. Babies were parked under seats. Everyone brought supper in a tea towel. Danced on side verandah.” 14

9 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn, 10 Oct 2013)

10 Interview with Margery Kostera, c. 1980

11 The Swan Express, 30 June 1949, p. 4

12 The Swan Express, 7 August 1952, p. 4

13 The Swan Express, 30 January 1925, p. 2

14 KOSTERA, Mrs Margery. Biography (copy at Kalamunda Library, Local History Collection).

The Edwards Family on the front steps of Maristow (c. early 1930s) (L-R: Ronald, Margery, William, Maud)

The last entry in the Maristow guestbook is dated 31 October 1937. Less than a year later, in August 1938, Maud was widowed again when William died. She was then 60 years of age. Both Margery (34 years) and Ron (22 years) were still living in the family home. Rather than move, Maud subdivided the land and sold a portion in the south-west corner (now 5 Sea View Terrace)15. This subdivision reduced the size of the remaining land to a more manageable area and also raised enough money for Maud to immediately (on the same date) discharge both the original two mortgages.

After the Guesthouse (1940 – 1975)

Electoral rolls and family records reveal that Maud remained living at Maristow with Margery and Ron. Margery was working as a shop assistant16 in several local business and as an office assistant. Margery recalled people bringing her their babies to be weighed on the store’s flat-topped glass scales. Once a week she was part of the Kalamunda Women’s Gymnastics Club. Throughout the late 1930s “Miss M. Edwards” was often reported in local papers as participating in local golfing tournaments17 and attending functions at the Embassy Ballroom – and was even photographed in 1941 with a formally dressed group of people celebrating “At the Movie Ball”.18 During the WWII years Margery worked in uniform as part of the emergency services in the wards of King Edward Hospital.

In February 1944, Margery married Cazmiez Kostera, or “Kos”, the well-known proprietor of the Kalamunda bus service. He was a widower at this time, with five adult children. Maud, Margery and Kos, and Ron all continued to live at Maristow.

In 1953, when Maud was 75 years, she implemented two further subdivisions to create 1 and 3 Sea View Terrace. Maud retained sole ownership of the remaining 3,048 square metres.19 However, in the same year, she and Ron moved to a house he had built in South Perth. 20 Margery and Kos remained resident in Maristow.

Maud Edwards died on 11 May 1961 and the ownership of Maristow was transferred to her two children, Ronald Edwards and Margery Kostera. Almost immediately Ron transferred his half-share to Margery’s husband.

Margery Kostera became the sole proprietor in August 1965, following the death of her husband in May 1964. 21 She continued to live at Maristow for another decade, selling the property in 1975. Margery died 10 April 1993 (aged 89 years) and is buried in the Guildford cemetery along with her husband.

POSTSCRIPT

Maristow underwent several changes of ownership after Margery’s sale of the property in 1975. 22 It is classified in the local government’s Inventory of Heritage Places23 as Conservation Strategy Category C: possessing a moderate level of significance. Maristow is also included in the report Guest Houses in the Kalamunda Area: A Compilation of Information and Photographs. 24 The property owners between 1999 and 2005 significantly extended Maristow, maintaining the original character to a high standard. Much of the original house and its wide verandahs remain.

Michelle Bunn, January 2023

15 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 281 f.111 (transferred to Vol 1064 f.27)

16 Western Australian Electoral Rolls 1926, Swan District, Swan Subdivision.

17 See, for example, The Daily News, 5 September 1938 p. 6

18 The Sunday Times, 31 Aug 1941 p. 15

19 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1164 f.269 (from Vol 1064 f.27).

20 Patricia Paterson (email to M Bunn 10 Oct 2013)

21 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1164 f.269.

22 Landgate Certificate of Title Vol 1419 f.102 (from Vol 1164 f.269): shows sales in 1975, 1978, 1980, 1999, 2005 and in 2009 to the current owner and author.

23 Shire of Kalamunda (May 1997) Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places – Stage Three Report, Vol 2. Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society.

24 Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society. Copy available in the Kalamunda Library (647.994 KAL)

PANTRY / SCULLERY (later Bed 5 / laundry / WC)

Later bathroom

KITCHEN

BACK VERANDAH (later enclosed to become dining room)

BED 2

BED 3

DINING (later Bed 4)

FORMAL SITTING ROOM

ENTRY

MARISTOW

BED 1

VERANDAH

Historical Floor Plan c. 1920s-1960s

(note not to scale)

COMMITTED RESIDENTS CREATE GOOSEBERRY HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE - 1984

By Marian Rolfe

During the middle 1970’s there had been a concerted effort by the community of Gooseberry Hill to have a preschool provided at the new Gooseberry Hill Primary School. This goal achieved, this same group of like minded people also sought to have a community building at Ledger Road Reserve to act as a playgroup venue.

In 1978 the Shire of Kalamunda erected a surplus demountable fibro building on the site as a temporary measure to test demand. An active Playgroup used the building every weekday. Multiple busy bees saw a verandah erected around the building and a barbecue area constructed inside a fenced off area. The Shire built a brick toilet block adjacent for the users of the Reserve. It is still there. Soon after, the large semi trailer caravan that served as the Infant Health Centre became permanent in the car park. Sister June Butcher saw almost every child in the community through its doors.

The community had by then established two active Cub packs and a Brownie group that used the building in the evenings. Social functions and fundraisers were held also in the building often in and around playgroup equipment. Following the success of Cubs and Brownies, the parent groups sought to have a Scout Troop and a Guide Company. By 1982 the groups had outgrown the facility and a community committee was formed to seek funding for the Gooseberry Hill Community Centre.

Chairman Norman Venus.

Committee Members Dr. Bruce Hamilton, Terry Rolfe, Ian Thrower, Marilyn Thrower, Mike Nelson, Bill Van Bronswyk, and Marian Rolfe.

The first Application was made to the Council in September 1982 and personal at home lobbying of the Councilors commenced with Stuart Kostera, John Suckling, John Campbell Claus, John Harper- Nelson, Hugh Sanderson, Peter Marjoram, Viv Robinson, Peter Willmott, John Reid, Chas Wright, Jim Winterhalden, and Vince Sala Tenna.

A folder was presented to all Councilors with the attached proposed drawing, floor plan, and question and answer format. These were also distributed to the local residents and parents of User groups.

With help by qualified community members a plan of the proposed building with finalized drawings was submitted with the application. A logo was designed by Lyn Hamilton and used on all documentation.

This was a period in time when ‘User Pays’ was first being promoted by the Shire, so the funding application was modeled with the Shire paying one third, the Department of Sport & Recreation - State Government one third and the Community one third. The approximate cost was $150,000. The community contribution could be in ‘real’ dollars or ‘in kind’ by qualified contractors. Such as site works donated by McKay Earthmoving , drafting of drawings & plans by Terry Patrick, plumbing by Ian Thrower, etc. Site layout and footings was conducted by Busy Bee with Shire supervision by Shire Building Inspector Neil Gaunt.

The final proposal to the Department of Sport & Recreation was a more detailed application with sections on population projections, community age range, financial details from User Groups, support by grading of application by the Shire etc. This application was extensive and was printed and manually collated in the offices of David Hallam and Associates with a very new photocopy service.

A fundraising program was established. The first Fundraising was a community raffle with $1 tickets and first prize of a Commodore 64 and a Video Cassette Recorder. Newsletters were produced by Marian Rolfe on a gestetner machine monthly with updates. There was also a ‘Buy a Brick’ promotion for individuals and businesses.

Another event was a Fancy Dress Ball held at Hartfield Park for over 400 people with ‘JT and the Jazzmen’ playing and a ‘Barbarella’s’ lingerie parade. Supper was served to all by caterers. A huge success and an excellent money raiser.

A community Fete was planned for 12 November and a committee established to oversee the multi facets of that event. A large storm the night before nearly wrecked that day with Terry Rolfe and Mal Roberts holding down wet canvas whilst camping overnight for security reasons. A great day dawned and it was a well attended event with many stalls- even on the partly constructed verandah of the new Centre.

In early 1984 a most successful Hundreds club was conducted and weekly prizes were most popular. The final prize being $1000 with the winners (Richard and Carol Gates) ultimately receiving 1000 in one dollar coins (released by the Australian Mint on 14th May) at the opening ceremony of the Gooseberry Hill Community Centre on 2nd June 1984. The opening was conducted by Peter Marjoram as Shire President, Jim Kelly as Shire Clerk, the Hon. Ian Thompson MLA Darling Range and the chairman of the Building Committee Norman Venus. The community had raised approximately $40,000 in ‘real’ dollars and over $10,000 ‘in kind’ dollars.

The building was a double brick construction with metal decking roof supported by steel trusses and purlins. The base was a reinforced concrete slab on a sand pad. The internal walls were single face brick as this was easy to maintain and provided better sound proofing for the separate areas. The high overhead windows provided both light and air and it had a separate external door for easy access to the large gravel car park.

The internal storeroom was secure for storage of groups small equipment and the large store had roller door access for trailers and large equipment. There was a small kitchen with an external fire pit area constructed in the following years by Bruce Hamilton and Terry Rolfe. The floor was made of a new product of a wood infused ceramic tiles supplied by Charlie Mitchell of GranWood Flooring. This required a seal to be applied every two years. The 12 foot high ceiling in the hall allowed for boisterous behaviors and was initially an aluminum strip ceiling. This being a request from the Shire Engineer Geoff Dutton for aesthetics. It did not last and was ultimately replaced.

In 1985 it was decided that a Management Committee structure would best suit the interests of the groups and the Shire. After much negotiation, the Gooseberry Hill Community Centre Management Committee was formed under section 218 of the Local Government Act with Terry Rolfe as its inaugural Chairman. This was a first for the Shire of Kalamunda and sought to enshrine the rights and responsibilities for user groups with equal representation on the Management Committee. The Shire had a representative- the Shire President and the community was also able to have a nominated representative. The GHCCMC met three monthly in the Committee room off the foyer. The room was used also by other committees of the groups in the building as well local craft groups and exhibitions.

The GHCCMC was awarded the cleaning contract and parents of Scouts and Guides were rostered to clean the Centre each week. This provided a monthly income to the GHCCMC (approx. $80 ) for future improvements. Marilyn Thrower was appointed Booking & Key Holder for outside bookings and administered the cleaning roster. Most people completed their duty about once a year. All equipment and supplies being provided.

The GHCC now hosted Cubs on Monday and Thursday evenings, Brownies on Tuesday, Guides on Wednesday, Scouts on Friday. There was Aerobics sessions two morning per week and an early class on Monday evening. Playgroup continued to use the old decaying demountable happily without the requirement to make the venue neutral for other groups.

The Infant Health Clinic was renamed Child Health Centre and Sister Butcher now had new rooms with a waiting room off the foyer, reliable air conditioning and there was an inside toilet. Other groups also hired the facility for social functions. It had a capacity of about 80 people for the hall and about 20 for the committee room.

The scout group continued to grow with many varied activities organized by Group Leader Gordon Lamb. These were camping in the bush of the Ledger Road Reserve and other areas such as Walyunga, abseiling at Statham Quarry, a semi permanent flying fox down onto Ledger Road Reserve, canoing on the Blackwood River and every other imaginable boyhood dream. The storage area quickly became too small.

Again as the children aged, a Venturer group (teenage boys and girls) was formed with much success. Their activities being largely conducted at events off-site.

Perhaps of most note is the strong link between all these interested community minded people who then progressed onto other community projects such as KADS Theatre, Ray Owen Sports Centre, School P & C Associations, Kalamunda Learning Centre and also the Kalamunda Shire Council as Councilors and staff. Marian Rolfe, John Blair, Leon English and Sue Blair being North Ward Councilors in the next twenty years. Quality Shire Staff were too numerous to mention by name.

The capacity of the Community to contribute should never be underestimated.

A copy of the initial folder, photos of construction and opening are also available.

WALLISTON WANDERERS

By Bernard Arrantash

While Bernard Arrantash was a teacher at Walliston Primary School, he took groups of students on holiday camping safaris to WA’s Murchison Goldfields.

Although the participants were mostly students and parents of the Walliston School community, Bernard established and led Walliston Wanderers independently on his own initiative as a school holidays activity taking place in his own time. So Walliston Wanderers was not part of, but supplementary to, the formal educational programme of Walliston School.

Getting Started

The first Walliston Wanderers safari was in the May 1973 school holidays. Ten students were away for a week, travelling in two vehicles. They used hired camping equipment and traveled 1,736 kilometres, camping in a different location each night. The group discovered much about the region, about bush camping, about bush survival skills, about the Aboriginal culture, about the flora and fauna, and about teamwork. There were meetings along the way with people of the region, who told our group about their life and work.

Australia’s population is largely city based, suburban and coastal. So it is often outside the experience of our students to see the wide expanses of our inland region which account for most of our country’s land area. Walliston Wanderers broadened the understanding of “city kids” about our country’s vast and relatively empty interior.

The challenging adventure into that remote pastoral and mining region was successful and there was considerable interest in planning a second Walliston Wanderers trip for another group of Wallis ton students in the following year.

36 Safaris

And so began a feature of the life of Walliston School that was to continue until 2005, with a total of 36 week long Walliston Wanderers safaris. They were all undertaken in school holidays. A total of 800 Walliston students went on a Walliston Wanderers safari. Parents made up our convoys with their four-wheeldrive vehicles, typically eight or nine vehicles in later years. 171 different adults went on Walliston Wanderers, some of those adults many times.

For management and control on the move, the group operated a net of vehicle mounted UHF CB radios. There was a pre-planned vehicle seating arrangement for all passengers, so that they traveled in a different group and in a different vehicle each day. Similarly, tent groupings for the students were in a different mix for each night.

At each campsite the children collected firewood for the campfire, which was the focal point around which we gathered to prepare meals and enjoy the evening under the stars. Toasting marshmallows at the fire was a special treat. There were night games, through which the students built confidence in their new, remote environment. Spotlighting, using the vehicles and powerful, hand-held spotlights to see the nocturnal bush creatures, was especially popular.

Special Places and Experiences

Arrangements were put in place so that our group could visit places of particular interest, such as the gold battery at Paynes Find, the excellent museum at Yalgoo, the gold mining operation at The Island on Lake Austin (between Mount Magnet and Cue), the ghost town of Big Bell, a rare orbicular granite deposit on a remote sheep station, the ancient Wilgie Mia red ochre mine, and station homesteads north of Yalgoo and west of Mount Magnet.

Very occasionally we saw an echidna or a snake. More frequently seen were kangaroos, emus, and the great big bungarra lizards. We found nests of wedge tailed eagles. At the gnamma holes and wells we enjoyed the clouds of budgerigars and zebra finches.

We visited and explored Walga Rock, with its ancient rock art, and Milly Soak north of Cue. We often camped at Woolgerong Rock, further to the west. Further west again, we explored mud brick inn ruins from the bullock wagon era on the Sanford River, a tributary of the Murchison. On some trips we also visited Youanmi (a ghost town) and Sandstone (with its remarkable “London Bridge”), and the abandoned gold mine and settlement of Fields Find. Sometimes everyone had a ride on a sheep station mustering motorbike or horse. Sometimes sheep would be brought in to the shearing shed, so that the students could watch them being shorn. We visited the Dalgaranga Meteorite Crater.

We found the lonely bush grave of pioneer woman Jane Oliver, and heard about the privations of her lonely life. We explored Joker’s Tunnel, and learned about the shonky deal to convince buyers that it contained payable deposits of gold.

Before moving out on each new day, students were rostered to work with the drivers doing vehicle service checks. Oil, water and tyre checks were done and windscreens and interiors were cleaned. For showers we had pre-arranged visits to pastoral station shearers’ quarters.

Bush Policeman

There were consecutive trips when our convoy was joined by Yalgoo’s policeman. He was with us to support what we were doing. The students quickly warmed to him. Through his fine example, the children built the confidence to accept this policemen as their friend. An important lesson learned.

Finance

Each safari was self funding, with all participants contributing towards the cost of equipment, catering and fuel. Occasionally there was a student who was keen to go on Walliston Wanderers, but whose family could not afford the cost. There were generous donors who confidentially contributed, so that nobody missed out through lack of funds. Over the years, camping equipment was purchased. Other equipment including cooking gear and a purpose built food trailer were added to our inventory. Surplus unspent funds accumulated in our account.

Guest Participants from Overseas

We spent these accumulated funds over the years on air fares to bring overseas guests to share our Walliston Wanderers adventures with us. By the end we had done this five times, each time bringing two overseas student guests: in 1979 from UK, in 1991 from Malaysia, in 1997 from Solomon Islands, in 2002 from Mauritius, and in 2004 from Kenya.

Bicentennial

In 1988, to celebrate Australia’s Bicentennial, we chartered a plane to bring six special guests to meet us at a sheep station airstrip near Cue for an overnight camp with us. Expenses for the air charter were covered by a grant from Kalamunda Rotary, and a gift of aviation fuel from two Geraldton oil company agencies. The chosen guests were patients of Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital. They all had serious health issues such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and Down’s syndrome. Some were in wheelchairs. A nurse traveled in the plane to us with them, and the Walliston students all shared in welcoming and looking after their extra overnight guests. That was a happy and enriching occasion for everyone who was there. It gave a rare and exciting experience to the guests, and it taught our Walliston students about tolerance of, and empathy with peers who faced serious and different challenges in their lives.

A Unique Enterprise

For a WA State Primary School, Walliston Wanderers was a unique project:

• Unlike the traditional “School Camp”, Walliston Wanderers was a school vacation activity.

• Few primary school activities involve overnight stops at new locations every night.

• This project had a life extending over 33 years.

• Few primary school projects involve as many as 800 students.

• Few primary school projects involve the inclusion of overseas guests.

Change

To remain current and relevant over so many years, Walliston Wanderers had to evolve as society did. A major change observed over the years was in the students themselves. They became better informed in some ways, more sophisticated, bigger built and more mature twelve-year-olds. At the same time, however, they became “softer”, less resilient, and more reliant upon creature comforts. Interests, priorities and attitudes changed with the times. Walliston Wanderers accommodated those changes.

In later years, all participating students were issued with whistles, which they wore on a string around their necks. (See the yellow shirted student in the photo above.) If they feared they were lost or in danger, they had their whistle to summon help. Those whistles rarely needed to be used, but having them afforded the children feelings of added confidence as they explored the bush and the remote townships we visited.

Statistics

On Walliston Wanderers safaris, the average total distance traveled by each convoy was 1,850 kilometres. Each vehicle on the first trip in 1973 required just $35 worth of fuel. On the 36th and final trip in 2005 each vehicle used an average of $269 on fuel to cover virtually the same distance. The sum total of the distance covered by Walliston Wanderers convoys equates to more than one and a half times around Planet Earth.

Telling the Story

As adults, numbers of ex Walliston students still talk of Walliston Wanderers as being a highlight of their primary school years.

For the participants, the Walliston Wanderers adventure made deep and lasting impressions. After their return home, we heard about households in which happy and challenging experiences took several days to be related to families.

After their children returned home, parents often observed that their sons and daughters had changed and developed through their Walliston Wanderers experience. They saw maturity, more evident consideration of others above themselves, improved willingness to undertake household chores, and increased readiness to integrate with others as part of a harmonious team.

More of the Walliston Wanderers Story

A more comprehensive record of the Walliston Wanderers story has been donated to the Local History Collection held by the Kalamunda Library. That document lists the names of all 800 student participants and the 171 adults, many of whom did many trips. There are also many photographs and a detailed map of the Murchison region explored by Walliston Wanderers.

9th December, 2022

KALAMUNDA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION 1964 - 1971

By Marian Rolfe

In the late 1950’s Basketball was organized by Kalamunda Junior Football club at Recreation Road on the old tennis courts at the rear of the clubrooms to allow players to keep fit during the summer months. Backboards were erected on one of the tennis courts.

In 1961 the Lesmurdie Youth Club obtained permission to use the neglected court and a competition was formed with 4 teams and visiting teams coming from Scarborough PCYC and Maylands youth club. Again, the competition failed after some time and it was 1963 when Ken Utting purchased the dismantled equipment from the KJFC and an Association was formed in 1963/64 with 4 mens teams and two womens teams.

That season’s grand final was abandoned in a brawl. Games were played under coin operated lights which frequently failed. There was considerable local community opposition to the games, noise and behaviour of the players.

In 1965 Mundaring joined with teams and more umpiring expertise. Games were played at Mundaring and Carlisle as well as Kostera Oval during this time.

In 1966/67 season the competition had grown and the two set of backboards were erected. The backboard poles were carried up Whistlepipe Gully from old SEC light towers and made by John Suckling and the Phys Ed students at Kalamunda Senior High School. The 4 courts were fenced by the Shire of Kalamunda and a grandstand was purchased and later moved to Lesmurdie (It is still there under the grandstand on Court 4) Games were played in the evenings by juniors and adults in the summer months. Kats Club joined the competition from Kalamunda High School with teams in most junior grades as well as seniors. Ken Utting was elected President of Kalamunda Basketball in 1968 with K Stove as Secretary.

In the 1968/69 season the acquisition of a permanent administration building in the form of the old Library was a great benefit as it provided toilets, change rooms and a kiosk. A new constitution was written. A Court Manager was appointed. John Suckling was President and Ken Utting as Secretary. Talks were held with the Shire about the need for more courts.

In 1969/70 season membership had grown to over 580. The courts could not accommodate the fixture and the neighbors were supported by the Shire in limiting competition to 10pm in the evening.

Talks about numbers and noise saw the Shire and the Association consider three new sites – Wilkins Road Kalamunda, Bill Shaw Reserve opposite the Walliston Deli and Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie. Lesmurdie was chosen by the Shire as the preferred option due to the closeness of residents at the other locations. Kalamunda Basketball Association saw problems with Lesmurdie as it was exposed to the winds, lacked access by public transport and the only ablutions were at the Lesmurdie Hall considerable distance across the unlit gravel car park.

The Shire of Kalamunda would prevail and the courts were destined for Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie. Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association was incorporated on the 1st of October 1971.

It celebrated 50 years of Incorporation in 2021 with an exhibition of past memorabilia.

(For more information about Kalamunda Basketball see also Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association Incorporated 1971).

KALAMUNDA & DISTRICTS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED. 1971

By Marian Rolfe

The period 1971 -1974 was a time of intense negotiation with the Shire of Kalamunda rejecting many suggestions by the committee of Kalamunda &Districts Basketball Association regarding new courts. The old courts at Kostera Oval were no longer tenable and the Shire chose Ray Owen Reserve in Lesmurdie as the new site as the local residents were further removed from any courts and any potential for problems. Ken Utting, John Suckling and Richard Arnold were recognized as Life Members in 1973 for their earlier efforts for basketball especially at Kostera Oval.

In 1975 four bitumen outdoor courts were constructed at Ray Owen Reserve, where the current building stands, along with simple change rooms. KDBA funded the new change rooms on a self-supporting loan of $30,000. (Now part of the football clubrooms). Some short time later Netball started at Ray Owen and eight more outdoor courts were constructed (As exists now).

A gate fee was collected as players and spectators passed through a large turnstile. The car park was gravel and the dust from exuberant drivers frequently covered the courts. The courts were sloped but the goals were level and you tossed a coin for direction of play. It’s hard going uphill in the second half. The kiosk was conducted from a caravan.

Like the Kostera Oval competition, this was only a summer competition September to March. Many players from throughout Perth metropolitan area played here as it was only one of two larger competitions. During this time Mary Ambrose 1978, John Ritchie 1979, Kay Lowe 1982, and Neville Moran 1983 were made life Members for past services to the Association. Maurice Lowe was President with Richard Parker as Administrator during the period 1982 to 1987. A very turbulent but rewarding time for the Association.

Netball used the courts in the winter months. Kalamunda &Districts Netball Association was incorporated on 6th September 1984.

In 1984 after several years of intense negotiation, the Ray Owen Sports Centre was constructed over the original four outdoor courts. The building was constructed by Gerry Tangney of Valley Building Company. These courts were over coved bitumen surface to allow water runoff and the concrete light pylon blocks were visible under the bitumen. The Building was opened by the Shire President Peter Marjoram on 30th March 1985 with Jim Kelly as the Shire Clerk.

The Associations managed the cleaning of the courts and the Shire contractor Jim Dwyer cleaned the other parts of the building. The Associations purchased a automated court sweeper for the bitumen court surface. Sugary drinks were banned as their pitted the surface. Income from other bookings in the Centre was shared between the Associations and the Shire by agreement.

The original self-supporting loan of 20 years on the building of $114,000 was shared equally between KDBA and KDNA. The building was also funded equally by the Shire of Kalamunda and The Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation Total expenditure was approximately $350,000. As the loan progressed with interest rates rising to 18%, the loan was able to be renegotiated to a relatively low rate of 14% This loan was completed in 2005.

The Ray Owen Sports Centre Management Committee was formed to manage the affairs of the Stadium and was one of the first Local Government Management Committees to ever exist. The Committee consisted of two members from the KDBA, KDNA and the Shire. The Shire President was the Chairman until the task was deemed to be held by the Ward Councilor in later years.

The ROSCMC still manages the building, meeting every four months. This committee decided that Netball could play on a Tuesday evening after intense lobbying of the Shire. Basketball could now only operate on a Monday Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Saturday, Tuesday and Friday were for Netball and Sunday was a shared day. Maurice Lowe became a Life Member in 1987 in recognition of his role as President from 1982 - 1987. Bob Maunder became President in 1988 with the able assistance of Dave Saunders as the Administrator. A position Dave held for ten years before becoming President himself in 1998.

During the 1980’s, players wishing to play in an elite competition of Junior State League were able to play for Swan Districts Basketball Association at Midvale. After local pressure by the Development Officer Terry Rolfe, KDBA re-affiliated in 1991 with Basketball WA after some years outside the mainstream system. Inter district teams were selected and entered the competition as Kalamunda Devils. The AGM that year saw the name change to Kalamunda Hornets. Marian Rolfe was elect President for the next six years from 1992.

As the competition grew, Terry and other like minded players had plans to the replace the bitumen courts with sprung wooden boards. Again, in a jointly funded project (Shire, DYSR and Assoc) the first two courts were replaced in 1993 ($139,550) by GranWood Flooring and the second two courts replaced in 1997 ($146,000) by Bannister. The Shire accepting the lowest tender that year despite strong support of GranWood by the Associations. Both applications had been refused initially at DYSR level however action on the part of John Day MLA Kalamunda saw them successful.

Both Associations funded their contributions from existing funds and did not borrow for these improvements.

By this time basketball was being played three nights a week until 11pm and inter-district sides all trained in any venue available except Ray Owen. This was a large cost to the Association of over $14,000 per annum.

Through 1994/5/6 many meetings were held with Shire and Netball regarding possible extension to the Stadium and not much progress was made. In 1993 a midweek ladies competition was commenced with many ladies enjoying daytime competition. 1994 saw the start of mini-ball with under 10’s initially and later Hills Hoops seeing up to 35 youngsters attend the clinics to learn the game. Holiday camps became a permanent fixture on the calendar three times per year with high profile leaders such as Roland Brooks (ex-Wildcat) and Kelly Huston. Attendance varied from about 30 – 100 making these camps both fun and profitable.

1994 was a successful year for Kalamunda Hornets with under 16 girls winning the grand final and later in the year the Federation Cup (now State Championships) and under 16 boys were also winners. Players from all over Perry Lakes turned out to see an exciting young Carmel boy - Earl Bobongie play for Kalamunda Hornets. Earl would represent WA in Under 18’s State Team in 1996 and feature in further finals as he grew older. Other State team representatives that year were Daniel Beard (20’s) and Kathy McCarthy in the High Schools Aboriginal team, Matt Splatt and Matt Lance in State Schoolboys.

At the AGM in 1996, Richard Parker was made a Life Member for his services as Administrator during 1980’s. Don Utting was also awarded Life Membership for services as President and Administrator during that time. In 1997 Rob Grey past President was awarded a Life Membership of KDBA.

In September 1996 an application promoted by Marian Rolfe and Peter Hanson was made to the Shire of Kalamunda and Ministry of Youth, Sport & Recreation for the construction of two additional courts to the northern end of the stadium. Several years of intense lobbying and hard work resulted in the construction in 1997/98 at a cost of over $800,000 of the Court 5/6 area. Again all had not gone according to plan but state and federal elections ensured a successful funding application eventually. KDBA funded the equipment installed in Courts 5/6 as well as a loan for the building.

A self supporting loan of 20 years was raised for $250,000 by KDBA and the balance funded by the Shire and DYSR. KDNA agreed to allow the construction and to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of all the courts but did not contribute to the construction loan until after about 15 years. This loan was finalised in 2018 Ray

Owen Sports Centre was now the only 6 court Stadium after Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium. These courts were officially opened on 2nd July 1998 by Shire President Owen McGrath, Shire CEO David Vaughan, and MLA – Kalamunda Hon John Day. All Councilors were recorded on the brass plate in the foyer of Courts 5/6 s it was the Centenary Year of the Shire 1898-1998.

Dave Saunders was elected President for the next three years.

In 1999 KDBA was approached to host a pre-season Wildcat game. With a lot of help from our volunteers the game took place on 12th Sept 1999 against the Adelaide 36’s with the stadium filled to capacity. There were spectators literally hanging from the rafters. Our Mens Div 1 Hornets played the Athletes in Action in the pregame. Sponsored program for the event was popular for autographs.

10.30pm start time-slots were now a thing of the past. Western Australian Basketball League teams could train in the stadium. In 1999 Basketball WA wanted more teams in their WABL competition, so Bunbury, wishing to enter WABL filled some of our places with their four teams. At that time the basketball mixed competition was started on a Friday night out of netball season. As this was a Netball Night the competition finally finished about 6 years later as netball grew and required the time.

The Ray Owen Sport Centre was a catalyst for a long and prosperous period for Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association (Kalamunda Suns).

The next twenty years plus have seen the Association grow and expand until more courts were requested in 2012 and are on the drawing board for future planning as part of the Ray Own Master plan.

THE MOFFETT STORY

By Maureen Moffett

The “House” that John Moffett built at 75 Moffett Road, Carmel. A small hut built of timber and white-washed bags.

On 22 November 1916 John Moffett purchased 25 acres of land (virgin bush) at Lot 283 Francis Road, Walliston, now 75 Moffett Road, Carmel.

John gradually cleared the land and planted a citrus and stone fruit orchard, whilst at the same time working for the Darling Range Road Board.

During this time he resided in a small hut built of timber and white-washed bags, eventually in 1925 building a four-roomed timber and iron clad home.

John Moffett and his Uncle Jack Gilchrist were instrumental in the naming of Pomeroy Road, Lesmurdie, named after the village of Pomeroy in Northern Ireland where both John and Jack were born.

The “House” that John Moffett built at 75 Moffett Road, Carmel

A small hut built of timber & white washed bags

History & Spelling of the name Moffett by The Historical Research Centre

The surname MOFFETT is of local origin, being one of those surnames based on the name of a place where a man once lived or where he once owned land. It simply means “local of Moffatt”, which is the name of a place situated in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, in Scotland. Records of the surname in Scotland date from the Thirteenth Century.

Bearers of the surname in Ireland may trace their ancestry to those Scottish settlers who came and took land in Ireland during the intensive period of colonisation known as the Plantations of the seventeenth century. They mainly settled in the north-eastern part of Ulster, where the surname is largely found in modern times. Of the 68 births registered under this name in 1890, 45 were found domiciled in the Counties of Antrim and Tyrone, where John Moffett came from. It has many variants, including Moffett, Moffatt, Moffat, Moffet, Moffitt and Moffit. Throughout this document there are many variations; they are printed as they appear on each individual certificate and differ in many instances.

JOHN MOFFATT appears on John Moffett’s birth certificate. However, John was told by his teacher that Moffett was the correct spelling and this is the spelling today.

John had two brothers, BENJAMIN and WILLIAM and in each case their surnames were spelt ‘Moffatt’ on their birth certificates. How Irish is this? John, Benjamin and William all migrated to Australia and,

• John migrated to Western Australia and spelt his surname as Moffett;

• Benjamin migrated to Queensland and spelt his surname as Moffat.

• William migrated to Victoria and spelt his surname as Moffatt.

The life and times of John Moffett and his family, first wife Margaret Farr, second wife Mary Farr (sister to Margaret) and life on the orchard at 75 Moffett Road, Carmel in Western Australia.

John Moffett was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland on 17 October 1882, the son of Benjamin Moffitt, Coachman, of Derryloran and Margaret Moffitt (nee Gilchrist) of Derryloran. John was the eldest of six children:

John born 17 October 1882

Benjamin born 1884

Elizabeth born 7 November 1886; Died 17 November 1886

Isabella born 1887

William born 1904

Edith born 1909

Benjamin Moffat, son of John Moffat, and Margaret Gilchrist, daughter of Robert Gilchrist, were married on 20 February 1882. At the time of their marriage Margaret was residing at Cramagful, Parish Derryloran and Benjamin was residing at Tirnaskea, Parish Pomeroy.

Margaret Moffat (nee Gilchrist) was residing at Stuart Hall Gate House, Stewartstown at the time of her death on 28 October 1930 and was buried at Desertcreat Parish Church on 30 October, 1930.

John Moffett was baptised into the Church of Ireland on 14 December 1882. His abode at the time was Derryloran, Glebe.

John Moffett

John remained in Northern Ireland working as a Coachman and Servant until his migration to Western Australia on the ‘BELGIE’ from Liverpool to Fremantle, arriving on 12 November 1911. He was 29 years of age.

Upon arrival in Western Australia, John lived with his Uncle John (Jack) Gilchrist who resided in Edward Road, Walliston. John worked on the local Darling Range Roads Board, building roads and cutting and laying timber sleepers on the Zig Zag Railway in Gooseberry Hill. John left home at 4.00 am each day to walk to Gooseberry Hill (a distance of approximately 7 km). It was paramount for him to arrive by 6am to commence work, otherwise another man would be waiting to take his job. There was no dole in those days.

On 22 November 1916 John purchased 25 acres of land at Lot 283 Francis Road, Walliston (now 75 Moffett Road, Carmel). The property was virgin bush and John gradually cleared the land, building a small hut of timber and white washed bags to live in and planting a Citrus and Stone Fruit orchard whilst working for the Darling Range Roads Board. Clearing of the land was arduous, entailing as it did the removal of trees and many rocks. There were no bulldozers or chain saws and John cleared the land using an axe, mattock and kangaroo jack. The soil around the base of the trees was removed by mattock and spade, the roots cut by axe. The main trunk was felled and cut for firewood while the base, roots etc, either burnt or removed with a kangaroo jack. Sleepers were cut and delivered by horse and dray to a mill, we believe at the bottom of Kalamunda hill. A large log was dragged behind the dray to act as a braking system.

Rocks were also removed by hand, firstly gouging a hole in the rock. One person would then hold the jumper (or steel chisel) while the other person used a 10 lb sledge hammer. Water was poured onto the rock to create sludge to remove the dust, by then scooping out the sludge. The jumper was put through a bag to prevent the sludge wetting the operator. After each strike the jumper/chisel was then moved half a turn, eventually creating a hole in the rock for blasting. This procedure would continue all day. John’s son William told of his experience working on the hammer with his Father. He said he daren’t miss the strike!

A huge rock was removed by Archie Anderson, using a Steam Traction Engine, gradually pulling/pushing the rock up the hill and off the property. The rock is still there today and I doubt if it will ever be moved. Its estimated weight is 20 ton.

John also grew strawberries to supplement his income, carrying the strawberries on his shoulders to the local railway siding at Walliston (known as Wallis Landing) for delivery to local markets. When the load became too heavy, he delivered the strawberries by wheelbarrow to the siding, a distance of approximately 3 miles.

At this stage Moffett Road did not exist and entrance to Lot 283 Francis Road was via Francis Road, thus the Moffett homestead was built facing Francis Road. In later years Moffett Road was created by the then Darling Range Road Board and the entrance came to the sheds and rear of the house. Several roads in the district are named after the early pioneers of in recognition of their contribution to the development of the orchard and timber industries.

On 26th May 1942, John Moffett purchased an additional 52 acres, Lot 1102 Tanner Road, Carmel, initially to make room for horses and cows. Around 1960, their son William (Bill) developed a Stone Fruit and Orange orchard on the property and also grew Potatoes, Passionfruit and Tomatoes in partnership with an Italian family. William also ran a retail business selling irrigation equipment to augment the income for his Mother Mary and his family, wife Maureen and daughters Sandra and Karen.

During the course of creating the orchard, one of John’s remarkable feats was the building of the dam and a series of drains that fed into the dam. He dug the dam sized 30ft x 30ft and fully lined it with cement.

During the construction of the dam, a platform was placed over the hole where one man (Bert Ley) stood while John Moffett filled buckets with clay which were hauled to the top and carted away in a wheelbarrow.

A pump shed was ultimately built nearby, housing a diesel motor for irrigation of the orchard and water supply to a cement tank at the house where the water was then fed to the house via gravity. The diesel motor was started each time for irrigation of the orchard and when house tank needed to be filled.

Steel pipes and sprinklers were used and moved from row- to- row on a daily basis to cover the entire orchard. Aluminium pipes and later trickle irrigation were a vast improvement on the heavy and difficult to handle steel pipes.

Drains the entire length of the property were also dug by hand by John and his workmen to a depth of 6 feet x 6 feet wide. Wooden sleepers cut from the property formed the base and sides and top of the drains. It was some 50 years later that the drain began to collapse and his son William replaced the sleepers with large cement pipes, another huge project.

Survival was hard for John and he lived off the land and was known to say that if the local baker had not handed him a loaf of bread occasionally, he would have starved. He washed himself and his clothes in the dam and a well- told story is that of the crows stealing his soap from the dam. He set a trap for the crows, attached gelignite to their body and sent them on their way!

During this time, John resided in a small hut built of timber and white washed bags, eventually building two large sheds, one for packing fruit and the other for storage of machinery.

Residence at 75 Moffett Road, Carmel built by John Moffett around 1925.

The four-roomed timber and iron clad home with interior walls of pressed metal and veranda all around was built around 1925. The home initially had no bathroom or laundry and these were added at a later stage. The family bathed in a tub in the kitchen in front of the wood stove and the laundry was carried out down by the dam (approximately 1 km from the house) where a copper had been installed.

As the house had only 2 bedrooms, William (Bill) slept on the veranda, wheeling his bed around the veranda according to the weather conditions.

Initially lighting was supplied with lamps and later a diesel motor installed behind the packing shed to supply 12 volt power to the house for the use of lights, ironing and a washing machine. Each time power was required the diesel motor had to be started and then, at the end of the day, had to be turned off at the sheds.

The home has since been added to the Municipal Inventory of Buildings by the then Shire of Kalamunda because of the pressed metal interior walls. The Moreton Bay Fig Tree and Carob Tree are also on the ‘Significant Trees’ register in the Shire of Kalamunda.

During the Second World War (on 18 June 1942, aged 55 years) John Moffett enlisted in the Australia Army Home Guard Unit, Fremantle Battalion. His discharge papers show he was Private John Moffett, number W68212. His posting at discharge was the 2nd Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.

John was a member of the Darling Range Roads Board and the Kalamunda Horticultural Society; his photograph is exhibited in the Orchard Shed in the Kalamunda History Village. He was also a member of the Grand Lodge of Masons, Darling Range Branch, joining on 1st May 1937.

Chris Moffatt (wife of John’s brother William) washing at the dam.

John was the proud owner of one of the first cars in the area, a Dodge, pictured below with Mary, Margaret & Evelyn. Prior to this, transport was via horse and sulky pictured John, Margaret & Chris Moffatt.

The family tells the story of when approaching the Moffett Road corner a little too fast in his new car, John was heard to say as he gripped the steering wheel, “Whoo Boy, Whoo”! John was a terrible driver and would travel down Hay Street, Perth, passing the trams on the wrong side!

John returned to Ireland, departing Western Australia February, 1925 and returning on the ‘Orsova’ , departing London on the 24 July 1925. He was 43 years of age. It was during this time that he met Margaret Farr, who became his first wife and mother to their daughters Margaret and Evelyn.

Margaret Farr arrived in Fremantle on the ‘Jervis Bay’ on 23 December, 1926. Margaret was 23 years of age. John Moffett and Margaret Farr were married on 13 April 1927 in Melbourne with John’s brother William and his wife Chris as witnesses. It is believed they traveled to Melbourne via rail for their marriage.

Maggie, as she was fondly known, settled into life with John at Moffett Road, giving birth to their two daughters, Margaret born 11 February 1928 and Evelyn born 23 August 1929.

Tragically Maggie passed away on 1st September, 1929, ten days after the birth of Evelyn. We believe John traveled in his horse and cart to collect Maggie and Evelyn, only to be told that Maggie had passed away. In shock, John returned home on foot, leaving his horse and cart at King Edward Memorial Hospital. Evelyn remained at King Edward for several months whilst Margaret was cared for by friends and neighbours of John.

At this time, John wrote to Maggie’s sister Mary Farr in Ireland, asking her to come to Australia with a view to returning to Ireland with Margaret and Evelyn. Mary Farr arrived in WA on the ‘Otranto’ on 19 August, 1930. Mary never returned to Ireland and subsequently married John Moffett on 16 August 1931 at the Methodist

Mary Moffett with Margaret & Evelyn

Margaret Moffett (nee Farr), John Moffett’s first wife with their daughter Margaret.

Mary and John Moffett with Evelyn, William and Margaret.

John and Mary Moffett (nee Farr) on the occasion of their marriage

December 16, 1931

Methodist Church Carmel

Church in Carmel. John was aged 49 years and Mary 26 years. Witnesses were Annie Burns (Mary’s sister who resided in Melbourne) and Sydney Ashmore. A reception for family and friends was held at the Moffett Road home. Their son, William John Moffett, was born on 28 December 1933.

John and Mary were members of the Walliston Methodist Church, John having contributed to the construction of the Church.

Margaret and Mary Farr were daughters of Henry Farr and Emma Jamison, the second wife of Henry Farr, also residents of Pomeroy, Northern Ireland.

Four children were born to Henry Farr during his first marriage to Annie Wilkinson :

William born 1879 married Mary Sterling

Alexander born 1880

Thomas born 1882 married Fanny Wright

Eliza Jane born 1885

At the death of Annie Wilkinson, Henry Farr married Emma Jamison and ten children were born to that marriage:

Annie born 1889

Sarah born 1891

Samuel John born 1893

Robert born 1895 married Hanna Boyle

Emily born 1896 married James Mitchell

Joseph born 1899

Henry born 1901

Margaret born 1903 married John Moffett

Mary born 1906 married John Moffett

David born 1908

John and Mary worked side-by-side on the orchard, assisted by Margaret, Evelyn and William (Bill) and employees Bert Ley and Frank Yarnold.

Florence Ashcroft assisted Mary in the house and Bert and Florrie married during their years at Moffett Road. Mary and John decorated one of the sheds for their reception; they moved the piano into the shed for the occasion with Mary providing the catering. John assisted Bert and Florence Ley to purchase their orchard at Carmel.

The Moffett Family had a reputation for producing high quality fruit, well sought after at the markets. In

Bert and Florrie Ley (nee Ashcroft) with William Moffett son of John and Mary.

October 1939 John was awarded a Certificate of Special Merit for Washington Navel Oranges exhibited at The Royal Agricultural Society, one of several awards received for his quality fruit. In September 1928 John was paid Eight Pounds, Ten Shillings and Sixpence for 18 boxes of Oranges and Mandarins sent to Berryman & Langley Limited at the markets in James Street, Perth.

Mary was well known for her culinary skills, winning many prizes at the Kalamunda Horticultural Show and the Canning Agricultural & Horticultural Show where in November 1942, she was awarded First Prize for her Cream Puffs. John and Mary entertained friends every Sunday, Mary serving her delicious cakes.

Their friends including the Baldwins and Percies would take a bus from Perth to the corner of Lesmurdie Road and Welshpool Road (known as Champions Corner) where John would collect them. They would enjoy the hospitality of Mary and John and John would return them to the bus stop to catch the bus back to their homes in the suburbs of Perth.

John Moffett was recognised as a hard, but honest man and was held in high esteem in the district.

Many stories have been told and one is that William (Bill) built a go-cart and one day, much to Mary’s fright, the children took her up the hill on Moffett Road, letting poor Mary have the ride of her lifetime. She was petrified!

Bill was taught to shoot by his Father John throwing a penny into the air and was ultimately credited with extreme skills whilst serving with the National Service Group in Northam, being escorted around the area in a jeep. He was also well known for his spin bowling skills when on the cricket field.

Margaret Moffett (nee Farr) passed away 1 September 1929.

John Moffett passed away 22 August, 1958.

Mary Moffett (nee Farr) passed away 20 October 1977.

Margaret Woods (nee Moffett) passed away 13 July 2009

William John Moffett passed away 19 March 2005.

John Moffett (right) with his brother William Moffatt in the orchard.

MEMORIES OF HIGH WYCOMBE

By Allison Coles

My name is Allison Coles (nee Brooks). In May 1968 my family, Dad George, Mum Joyce my two sisters Edwina and Freda, emigrated to Perth.

We were sponsored to Australia by the building company, Landalls. They helped migrants with the paperwork, medical and character checks required by the Australian Government. In return the migrants had to bring enough money for deposit one of their houses on arrival. They bought parcels of land on the out skirts of Perth, sub-divided it and built houses on the land. They were building houses in Kelmscott, Thornlie and High Wycombe. The houses were available for purchase by Australians and migrants.

On our second day in Perth, the salesman took us to Tia Avenue in High Wycombe where my parents bought the house they were to live in for the next twenty years. It is still there but there is another house in the back garden now. I don’t know if the salesman told my parents how close High Wycombe was to the airport.

In High Wycombe Landalls had bought an orchard, sub-divided it into building lots and were in the process of constructing houses on the land in 1968. When we moved in a few months later, half the street was complete, the other end was still under construction.

By coincidence, we lived near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Mum took me to see a specialist at High Wycombe Hospital when I was diagnosed with hay fever when I was nine years old.

Where our house stood had been where the previous house and garden for the orchard has been. Neighbours that moved in before us said it had a lovely garden. Some had apparently helped themselves to the plants. All Dad got was a rusty old chest, a rusty bedhead and springs that he found buried in the back garden.

In 1968, High Wycombe was outside the metropolitan area. There was a sign on Kalamunda Road stating this. It is no longer there. When my parents bought anything and wanted it delivered, it was usually a problem. Some businesses only delivered to the metro area, and they would say High Wycombe was outside the metro area so my parents would have to pay for delivery. Other businesses would only deliver to the country. When they asked for delivery to High Wycombe, the response was “it’s not REALLY in the country, it is only just outside the metro area”. Kalamunda was still a country town then.

Most people in Perth did not know where High Wycombe was in 1968. We lived in Yokine while the house was finished. The school principal knew me and my sisters were migrants. Just before we left, he asked me where we were going. I said High Wycombe. He had no idea where it was. All I knew was it was near Kalamunda, so that is what I told him. He replied, “Ah yes, the migrants know where all the new suburbs are”. High Wycombe was considered “out in the sticks” at that time. When I met my future husband, he thought I lived in the back of beyond. He had grown up in East Victoria Park.

High Wycombe still had several orchards and a potato field. There was an orchard in Edney Road. I think it went when Roe Highway was constructed. There were other orchards in Rangeview Road, Wycombe Road and at least two in Maida Vale Road. Mr Madderson owned the orchard on what was then the corner of Maida Vale and Edney Road. The roads have since been altered and Madderson Road is named after them. Mr Fonti had an orchard in Swan Road opposite the park. Most of them grew oranges. One in Maida Vale Road also grew apricots. My first job was there. I was paid $3 for picking a box of apricots. I think the potato field was near or where the shopping centre now stands. Hill View Golf Course was a sheep paddock. There was also an egg farm in Newburn Road owned by Mr and Mrs Steene. The bush at the end of Tia Avenue is now Edney Primary School. This was built long after my sisters and I had left school.

Officially, High Wycombe was still part of Maida Vale. The name High Wycombe was given to the original sub-division near High Wycombe Primary School. Some of the older residents insisted it was Maida Vale, but the newcomers who didn’t know that, called it High Wycombe. It was officially changed in 1978. Mum was in the service station one day when an older resident came it and berated the owner. He had sent her invoice addressed to High Wycombe. She insisted her address was Maida Vale and refused to pay until he corrected the address and re-mailed it to her.

Our house in Tia Avenue was completed and we moved in, just in time for the Meckering Earthquake. It was Queen’s Birthday holiday. Dad was at work but the rest of us were at home. It felt like someone had removed one of the foundation stones and the house was going to collapse. My sisters and I were playing in the lounge room and Mum was in the kitchen. She thought “what on earth are they doing in there” and we wondered what Mum was doing. It sounded like she was dragging the kitchen table across the floorboards. We all met in the passage. Then Mum realized what it was and we all went out to the front garden. When Dad came home, he did not know there had been an earthquake. Working in a factory there was plenty of noise and things banging around. He did say they lights started swaying and something fell of a rack in the middle of the morning.

At first, Dad worked at Chamberlain’s factory in Welshpool. This involved shift work. I can’t remember exactly which way he went but coming home he used to turn into a road that had a timber model of a horse painted white on the corner pointing to a riding school. As there was no lighting, the white horse was a useful landmark. The road is what is now Horrie Miller Drive and the end is now the airport runway. The first few times he drove home at night he got quite a fright to see bright headlights coming towards him and descending rapidly from the sky. The other side of the shrubs running along the road was the airport and the planes were coming into land.

Another useful landmark was the “dinosaur” in Edney Road. In the bush in Edney Road, there was a fallen tree laying near the edge of the road. In the dark we used to say it looked like a dinosaur coming out of the trees. When we saw the dinosaur, we knew we were nearly home.

My sisters and I started at High Wycombe Primary School in Newburn Road. The school had just had a new extension built. There were three new classrooms for Grade 1 children, staff room, principal’s office and toilets. I was in Grade 7 and my teacher was Mr John Webster. My sisters were in Grades 1 and 6. 1968 was the first time children in Grade 7 had been able to attend High Wycombe school all the way through from Grade 1 to 7.

When Mum took us to enroll us, the principal, Mr William Day, said High Wycombe School had a good mix of Australian, Italian and English children. Everyone got along fine. My first friends at school were Heather, an Australian girl who still lives in High Wycombe. Anna, Australian born with Italian parents. Ann from Scotland and Gaynor from England.

Later, Edwina and I went by school bus to Kalamunda High School. It was only a three-year high school then. Freda was in the first intake at Forrestfield High School.

Soon after moving in, a note came home from school about the P&C meeting. Mum and Dad decided they had better find out what this was all about. Notes had also come from Yokine Primary School for P&C meetings. The night they went, the secretary had given notice he was leaving the position. Mum asked what was involved. She came home as secretary. They both served on the P&C for several years. Soon after Mum was offered a part time office job at the school. This suited her as it was near home and she got school holidays. She later worked in the office at Kalamunda High School until her retirement at the end of 1986.

The new home in Tia Avenue meant my parents received their first rates notice from Kalamunda Council. In it was a notice about Watsonia. If they had it on their property it had to be removed. Of course, they had no idea what it was. One of Dad’s sisters had lived in Perth for about five years, so he asked her. She said they made butter and bacon. There was a company at the time called Watsonia. So, Mum went to went to the council offices (now a Dome coffee shop) to find out what it was. She was told it was a noxious weed and had to be removed. Luckily, there was none in our garden.

We got used to planes coming and going. One advantage of living near the airport was going to see the astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins when they came to Perth on their world trip in 1969. They were surprised at how many people came to greet them. Another morning Mum also saw a plane go over with one of the side doors open. Somehow, it came open on take-off and was circling back.

Edwina and I started going to table tennis club one evening a week in the Community Hall. This was run by Mr and Mrs Young who were keen players. Unfortunately, neither of us became world class players but the club was very popular with teenagers at the time.

My parents lived happily in their home in Tia Avenue until 1988 when they moved to Mandurah. Perth had grown during that time and High Wycombe and the surrounding areas were losing their orchards and bush to housing estates, shops and schools. They said they got nearer to Perth without moving. In that time, they saw their children married and welcomed three sons-in-law and six Australian grandchildren into the family.

Although my sisters and I have married and moved on we all live not far from Kalamunda. I now live in Armadale. Mum moved back to the area to be nearer to us after Dad passed away six months short of his 90th birthday in 2016. One of my sisters still lives in the City of Kalamunda area as do her children and grandchildren. She teaches at a local school and has taught the some of the children of her school friends.

In 2022, the new High Wycombe train and bus station was opened. I think most people in Perth will know where High Wycombe is now. It is almost an inner suburb. People in High Wycombe can get to the airport in a few minutes. Less than half an hour to Perth. It used to take nearly an hour on the bus to the city in morning peak. Never in our wildest dreams did anyone living in High Wycombe in 1968 think there would be a train station in Maida Vale Road.

This is written as I remember it as a child in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

MY MEMORIES OF KALAMUNDA IN THE LATE 1960s/1970s

By Freda Burgess (nee Brooks)

Mum and Dad sat in the front and we three kids were squeezed into the back (me in the middle of course, being the youngest) of the Hillman as it wheezed its way up the hill.

I’m sure that Kalamunda Road was longer, steeper and more narrow in 1968 than it is today.

I remember the first time I went ‘up the hill’, late 1968, aged 6. It felt like we were going through a tunnel, the walls being made of steep cliff-like red rocks. Looking back, these were obviously only on the left hand side but as a child it felt like a narrow pathway to a new land.

And in some ways, in was.

Having emigrated from England and settled in the new housing estate of High Wycombe, everything from taking lunch to school in a plastic box to spending seemingly endless Summer days at the local swimming pool, was an adventure into a new land and a new way of life.

Being in my first year of primary school, I was keen to adapt to my new home and leave any traces of being ‘a Pom’ way behind me so going barefoot, no matter how hot the ground, and emulating Australia’s Olympic sweetheart, Shane Gould, was a must.

Kalamunda Swimming Pool soon became my second home. I wore my metal season ticket token on a piece of elastic around my wrist with pride as I glided past the coin slot entry as though I were almost an Olympian already.

“The pool” (I’m not sure we realised there were any others outside of Kalamunda) offered such comforts as the sloping green grass, our preferred spot for devouring a hot pie and sauce from the shop, and warm concrete on which to lie when we emerged almost blue from being in the cold water for hours on end.

Eventually it was time to leave through the slightly scary turnstile and catch the 302 bus back home down the hill.

In Winter, we would catch the bus up the hill to wander around Woolworths (currently Bunnings) on Haynes Street, trying out cheap make up and looking at clothes that seemed so sophisticated compared to our home sewn wardrobes. Just down from Woolworths was a shop that sold drinks and snacks (café and coffee shop weren’t in our vocabulary just yet) which we would visit, feeling very sophisticated before catching the bus home – or walking - down the hill.

One of my favourite trips up the hill was always to the library. The children’s section had a special curving snakelike shelf at a child friendly height. Plus there was the excitement of going to the second floor just to look down. Once I had chosen my books, I loved spending time in the playground (where the Cultural Centre now stands), while my mother spent longer in the library.

Fast forward to the late 1970s…by now I was a teenager and had friends in such far flung, exotic locations as Shenton Park and West Leederville. Despite the nagging realisation that Kalamunda was still little more than a country town, I was proud that it had some merits of which I could boast.

There was a large hardware store that also sold records (known these days as ‘vinyl”) where Thai-On-The-Hill now stands. (The hardware shop later moved to Barberry Square before Mensland and Hawleys moved in.) The library was impressive with its own Young Adult section on the second floor. Upstairs in the Village was a shop which sold exquisite greeting cards which we collected. (I think it’s now a jeweler.)

In 1977, we thought we were living the high life when we attended a youth group on Saturday nights run by a local church upstairs in the Village centre. Feeling especially rebellious, we would sometimes wander off to Stirk Park to play chess with the new set of pieces which were available for the public to play. (I still don’t have a clue how to play chess so I assume this was just a front to hang around in the park thinking of ourselves as living dangerously.)

I finally ventured further afield to attend Claremont Teacher’s College (and even went to London to work) but somehow the hills have remained home. My own children (and now my grandchildren) attended Kalamunda primary and high schools. I re-visited the library to help them do research for school assignments.

I teach in a local school – which is fun when History lessons require comparing life as a six-year-old today to the past. I have plenty of personal experiences to share. The children are amazed that we had wooden floors, not carpet. I’m shocked to think that we had wood burning stoves instead of air-conditioning.

Their faces look bewildered as I explain that there were paddocks and orchards where there are now shopping centres and even a train station.

One of my favourite excursions is to take the children to the Kalamunda History Village, especially the old school where the exhibits include books from which I learnt to read and photos of my sisters’ high school classes.

These days, I fly up the hill in my Hyundai, barely noticing the red rock to the sides of the road. Shops have moved locations within the town (Mia Lingerie and Pharmacy 777) or closed down altogether. The library and hotel still stand proudly at the top of the hill, testament to the timeless appeal of education and social life.

And I still enjoy taking my grandchildren to the pool, wandering around the shops and library… feeling at home in the hills.

EDWARD KEANE’S CANNING MILLS

By David Mizen Precis

To set out the history of Canning Mills properly would require a new book. The previous orthodoxy with respect to Canning Mills can no longer stand. The history of Mason’s Mill, Victoria Reservoir, and Canning Mills also includes the satellite mills Newton’s No1, Newton’s No2 and the No 4 Mill. All are interrelated. Operations at Location 165 were conducted firstly, by E.V.H. Keane, then the Canning Jarrah Timber Company until the timber industry collapsed in 1901/02. After the industry restructure the site was operated by Millar’s. Millar’s managed the transition, supervised by the probable last manager at Location 165, John Alexander Barton, to operations at Pickering Brook adjacent to Carilla, after Barton’s death to the site of the No 4 Mill, and, ultimately to the mill site that bears his name.

When discussing the Canning Mill’s mill town site it needs to be remembered that the mill closed permanently in the early part of the 1900’s, probably 1910. After the mill closed there were residences and other facilities that remained in place. In 1924 the bulk of Location 165 was sold to Liebow. The block was further subdivided and a large portion of it was sold to Di Marco. The Tonnusso’s also had a residence on the block some time after Liebow subdivided it. The rock wall across the front of the site is the remnants of Tonnussos’s residence.

A New Start

The starting position for the history of Canning Mills Location 165 is set out in Pickering Brook History’s Mizen Saw Mill Study (Mizen 2021A) and the various chapters of that work. Particular emphasis needs to be give to the end stages of Mason’s Mill’s, starting with the improvements to the concession achieved by Joseph Shaw. In addition to that, Pickering Brook History’s Barber’s Swamp Mystery (Mizen, 2020) needs to be included in the construction of the history of Canning Mills. There is now a second part to that work which puts a tentative name to the individual after whom Barber’s Swamp was named, pit sawyer George Barber. Barber died at his camp in 1879 (Mizen 2022A). As a consequence of this, the time line of the site shifts backwards to at least the date of Barbers death. This is subject to the caveats in the paper referred to. Also someone, whether it was Shaw or some one with an eye to the prize put the Zigzag on the drawing board very much earlier than the accepted present orthodoxy. There is an oblique reference to the zigzag in the report prepared by Morrison for Shaw in October 1882 (Canning Timber Station, The West Australian, 29 September 1885, Pg.3). This material was presented as inducement at the 1885 Auction of Mason’s Mill following Joseph Shaws bankruptcy. There were a raft of other factors at play that had a hand in the final outcome.

The History of ‘Canning Mills’ is intrinsically linked to the policies of the Colonial Office at White Hall in London. Early Western Australian ‘State Government’ policy was limited by Whitehall. In addition to the Colonial Office policies that were in play, early ‘Canning Mills’ and consequently Kalamunda history was shaped by the ‘local’ politics of Perth and its surrounds. Particularly the politics of the ‘Eastern Railway’, this was coupled with the inability of the local government to raise funds for capital works. It was also shaped by the personalities that were in positions of power, including financial power, starting with Ben Mason, and political power starting with Wallace Bickely. The advent of responsible government in Western Australia in 1890 changed the playing field. Responsible government allowed the State Government to make decisions independent of Whitehall. It allowed the full development of the Eastern Railway, and, the subsequent railway boom. It allowed the development of Canning Mills at Location 165 by shaping the end phase of the construction of the MidlandWalkaway Railway project. This combined with the personal financial jockeying of those associated with the Midland Railway Company culminate in E.V.H. Keane and his proxies in the form of the Canning Jarrah Timber Company. The advent of the Eastern Railway allowed the derelict Mason’s Mill to be moved and re-purposed. Keane built the blue print put in place by Shaw as set out in the 1885 auction material. Hiding in the back ground is the shadowy figure of “Mr Howard” the reported purchaser following the auction (News of the Day, Daily News, 1885,Pg.3). A master of smoke and mirrors who was never heard from again. In any event, the blue print for Canning Mills can be seen as early as 1882.

The end phase of Mason’s Mill was the beginning of the new ‘Canning Mills’. Joseph Shaw was scrambling to save himself financially. Shaw was consistently trying to sell the mill from 1882, but there was no visibly interested buyer. ‘He’ sought help from his friends in government and obtained significantly improved terms for Mason’s timber concession with the hope this would induce a buyer. Mason’s concession was converted to a 42 year lease and extended to cover 100,000 acres of forest. In addition Shaw upgraded the mill equipment. Further, the new concession’s terms gave the leasee the right to select areas of the lease to be converted to free hold ownership. It also included the right to install further new ‘tram ways’. Shaw put the new package up for sale by tender on 11 November 1882 (To Capitalists or Public Companies, The Herald, 11 November 1882, Pg 3). There was no interest so Shaw exercised his right as Leasee and selected a number of lots for himself at Barbers Swamp.

The Locations at Barbers Swamp were surveyed some time in 1883. The Certificates of Title were issued to Shaw on 20 September 1884 (Mizen, 2021A). These were Locations 159 through 166 upon which Canning Mills was built, Location 167 lapsed. Barbers Swamp appears to have been named after a sawyer called George Barber who worked at Masons Mill before his death in 1879 (Mizen, 2022 A). It appears probable that the alleged pit sawing site on the western edge of Location 167 is associated with him. At the time the 42 year lease was granted, Shaw also obtained permission to construct a new mill at Barbers Swamp – now known as Location 165 – Canning Mills (Mizen, 2020).This also has significant implications for the history of the Zigzag, the Waldeck Smith Barbers Swamp material prepared by Morrison lays out that the Zigzag was in play in 1882. Construction of the Eastern Railway was started in 1879, the Guildford - Childlow section was complete in 1884. The Eastern Railway makes the Zigzag possible. In turn it is the Zigzag that makes Canning Mills possible. The Zigzag makes every thing that follows on its route possible.

The Zigzag was the brain child of E.V. H. Keane and members of the White family. The Zigzag links Canning Mills with Keanes Midland Railway construction camp, it links the labour with the sleepers required for construction of the Midland Walkaway Railway. The W.A. Record states:

“Correspondence from this quarter being conspicuous, by its absence from the pages of the Record, perhaps a little information concerning the Midland Railway would be of interest to some of your readers. The work is progressing at rather a slow pace at present. Nothing has been done yet except ballasting the old work as far as the Swan, but as the rails are expected to arrive daily, things will shortly brighten up, and work commence in earnest.

Engineers are engaged just now in laying out the route of a line from the vicinity of the main camp to a spot convenient to the old mill known as Mason’s Hill. Here, I understand, a new mill is to be erected for the purpose of cutting sleepers. The formation and plate laying of this line will give close on three months work to the men now camped on the Midland Railway Line” (Midland Railway Works, W.A. Record, 9 October 1890, Pg. 7) (emphasis added).

Buried in the W.A. Record story is the formation of the W.A. Railway and Public Works Employees Union. The remainder of the article paints a very unflattering picture of Keane’s Midland Railway Camp. It appears Keane’s finances were becoming a problem. Completion of the Midland - Walk Away railway contract was becoming critical.

A shipment of rail was unloaded at Fremantle on the 15th November 1890 (News of the Week, Western Mail, 15 November 1890, Pg.18). From this point on Keane had a need for sleepers for the Midland Railway construction teams. Transporting Keane’s material, particularly rail from Fremantle to his work base at Midland Junction caused significant logistical issues (The Eastern Railway, Daily News, 18 November 1890, Pg.3). Keane now needed his timber mill operational. The mills were established at Location 165 between October 1890 and July 1891 by Keane, supervised by one of the White family. The original mill, formerly known as Mason’s Mill, was relocated to Canning Location 165 (Perth Waterworks Canning, W.A. Record, 9 October 1890, Pg.7). Keane having purchased Mason’s Mill some time prior to March 1887 (Mizen, 2021). It appears he also made arrangements for Shaw’s license to cut timber to be transfered to him in 1885. There is a State Records Office file requesting a licence which appears to be after the 1885 auction date (SRO, AU WA S211- cons541 1885/2994). The behind the scenes maneuvers regarding the sale are beyond the scope of this paper. It appears that part of Keane’s

plan was to lease the mill to Stevens to keep the mill working until he was ready to relocate. However, the plan collapsed when Stevens lost his financial backer resulting in Supreme Court litigation. As a result, the mill sat in abeyance until Keane was in a position to move to trigger the relocation to the new site. The ‘new’ mill at Location 165 was reported as operational on the 9th April 1891 (Local and General, W.A. Record, 9 April 1891, Pg.7). There is a three month gap until the railway was reported as complete. The railway was functionally complete on the 25th July 1891 and immediately a train with a load of timber was sent down to Midland (News and Notes, West Australian, 29 July 1891, Pg.4). Three days after the first train ran down the Zigzag the Certificates of Title to the Canning Mills properties were transfered with Keane’s authority (the mechanism that was used to achieve this end is beyond this paper, suffice to say Keane owned all of the Canning Mills properties) to the Canning Jarrah Timber Company. The order for sleepers for the Midland Railway, and, for South Australia were confirmed on 27 July 1891 (News and Notes, West Australian, 29 July 1891, Pg 4). A report from October 1891 indicates that there were three mills operating at the site at the date of the report (The Canning Jarrah Saw Mills, The Daily News, 5 October 1891, Pg.3) The report regarding the first train on the Zigzag indicates that the mill was short staffed.

There is a fundamental question – why would E.V.H. Keane want to be involved with the Victoria Reservoir when he was already up to his neck in problems with the Midland Railway? A partial answer is that Keane would ‘inherit’ some or all of the labour force at the Victoria Reservoir, that job was finishing as Keane was gearing up to finish his Midland – Walkaway Railway contract. There is a longer more complex answer but it will not fit in this paper. Keane’s workforce in all probability simply up and moved all their worldly goods together with their ‘house’ to the site of the new mill, this became the ‘town’. The ‘town site’ was never gazetted, there was no formal layout for the residences. The residences were scattered along the eastern side of Location 165 and extending into the northern end of Location 164 (Historical Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and District News, 23 July 1953, Pg.3). Apart from the Lands Department map Canning 155 there does not appear to have been a formal survey of the site. The best record of the site is the photographs from the Simpson Album (Mizen, 2022B). In order to make a proper study of the ‘town site’ a faithful copy of that album is required. Any other period photographs would assist in constructing a narrative for the town. It should also be borne in mind that Western Australian Government Railways surveyors surveyed the site at various times. Those surveys record details that were proximate to the railway at the time of the survey. The caveat to this is that many of the important early structures had gone by that time. The site was dynamic, it changed substantially over time.

Surveyed Sites

The location of Barbers Swamp was surveyed as a result of a request from Joseph Shaw late 1882 or early 1883. This survey resulted in the creation of Locations that became ‘Canning Mills’. The Locations were then drawn into the Lands Department Map Canning 155. The site then evolved over many years. After Shaws lots were added the map was updated and new features were added. There were a further three formally surveyed sites at Canning Mills. The surveyed sites are:

1. The 2nd Forest Inn (marked on map Canning 155, note relationship to creek). The authors has separate papers on the history of the Inn. But note that Location 165 was surveyed and divided up to allow the government takeover of the railway. The author is of the view that the Inn was drawn in freehand, the other features also appear to be sketched in, the accuracy appears to be reasonably good.

2. The Post Office (on left of Location 165 on reserve 6853?)

3. The Anglican Church (on left of Location 165 on reserve 6837).

4. The dam reserve - this was surveyed after the mill had closed, approx 1920.

As noted above the buildings and other features appear to be drawn in free hand. There were buildings that straddled the boundary or were wholly in the bush adjacent to Location 165 (see map section below). The Anglican Church history at Canning Mills is relatively straight forward.

The Anglican Church

The details of the opening of the church was recorded in the Western Mail:

“On Saturday Bishop Riley, accompanied by the Rev. C. E. C. Lefroy, who is in charge of the Canning district, and Mr. Woedroff, proceeded to Canning to open the new church there. The building has been erected on land given by the Government, with the consent of the Canning Jarrah Company, who also gave the wood of which the building is constructed. It is a pretty church, and will be known as St..Hilda’s. The dedication services were conducted by the Bishop, who also officiated subsequently at the evening service, and preached an impressive sermon on consistency. After the services a child was baptised, the first, in the new church. During his stay at Canning the Bishop was the guest of Dr Elliott” (Church News, Western Mail, 14 July 1899, Pg.57).

This building appears to have been present in 1902 (Canning Jarrah Mills, Sunday Times, 23 March 1902, Pg.12). Freegard has information which states this building was relocated to become St Hilda’s North Perth in the early 1900’s. Freegard’s article appears to be built around Carol Mansfield’s original work. The citation given in both online versions (Pickering Brook History and Pickering Brook Heritage) does not correspond with the article in the West Australian of the same date now contained in the TROVE archive. The Heritage Council site in relation to St Hilda’s North Perth recounts the same information but provides no citation at all. It may be the case that this information is a circular reference that has no foundation. The source of this information needs to be verified. There is a State Records Office file regarding the survey and lease of the land to the church.

McCaskill’s Grave

Assuming the above information is correct, at the time of the McCaskill burial the Anglican Church would have been in place. Standing on Canning Road, looking west from the site of the church, the grave is behind and to the left of the church. Extracting the death certificate may assist with determining the circumstances of the death. It should show whether or not the child died at the mill hospital (and therefore verify the mill hospital existed) and the cause of death. It should also show who certified the death. This will assist in determining whether or not there was a local Doctor on hand. It may be the case the child died at the Guildford hospital and was brought home for burial.

It should be noted that the grave in its current state is the result of a restoration by Ernie Bechelli and the late Neil Weston in the late in the 1970’s (Refer to E Bechelli).

Post Office

There is a State Records Office file on this site. The site was surveyed and allocated to the Post Master General. It is not clear whether a building was constructed. In the early years of the Mill the Post office operated out of one of the Mill buildings. In 1897 the Post Office was described as a “cow shed” (Postal Accommodation at Canning Mills, West Australian, 1 June 1897, Pg.6). It was not present in the 1902 report of the Sunday Times (Canning Jarrah Mills, Sunday Times, 23 March 1902, Pg.12). In 1908 it is recorded that the Post Office was operating out of the Forest Inn (Post Office Destroyed by Fire, Daily News, 2 January 1908, Pg.4).

School

The school moved a number of times over the years. While the mill was operating it appears that the school was conducted in a building provided by the CJTCo (A Visit to the Canning Jarrah Saw Mills, West Australian, 5 December 1893, Pg.7). The exact location is not stated. The last iteration appears to have been on the west side of Canning Road about 50 to 100 meters towards Di Marcos from the corner of Mills Road. However this was substantially after the mill closed. There is at least one State Records Office file on this site. Gordon Freegard also has a substantial amount of information relating to the Canning Mills School (Freegard 2020).

Other Amenities

There were a number of other important features associated with the Location 165:

1. Doctor’s residence (on the left boundary of Location 165) (Memoirs of Canning Mills, Kalamunda and District News, 23 July 1953, Pg.3). The resident doctor, Dr Elliott left for Donnybrook in 1899 (News and Notes , Southern Times, 17 October 1899, Pg.3).

2. The infamous slaughter house (near left hand (western) boundary to Location 165). A report from the 5th May 1893 puts the slaughter house on the eastern side of the creek less than 50 meters from the creek (Visit of the Health Committee to the Water Works, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 5 May 1893, Pg15). There is a crude building at the back of the present house on what appears to be a block sub-divided from location 166. This building could be the building referred to in the report. The building consists of what appears to be a ‘concrete’ floor and a low wall made from low fire hand made bricks. The uprights are railway line. The roof is galvanised iron. It is possible this building is the first slaughter house referred to above, or one of the equally infamous pig sties referred to in the various pollution reports. The building is a potentially all that is left of the CJTCo buildings, it needs further investigation. There is a later report that states that the slaughter house was now the legally required distance from the brook (Perth Local Board of Health, The West Australian, 4 December 1893, Pg.7). This suggests the slaughter house was moved away from the brook. There is a further report dated 20 June 1894 that states the slaughter house was about fifty yards from the brook (The pollution of Victoria Reservoir, The West Australian, 20 June 1894, Pg.6). None of the reports give a detailed description of the location. However it is shown on map Canning 155 (see section below), it is on the western side of Canning road. The interesting feature is that the creek shown on the map comes almost to the hotel in ox bow fashion. The present creek is more or less straight.

3. “Hospital” (between the Dr’s residence and the now Di Marco property). Very little is known about this facility. It appears to be known by repute only.

4. Bakers house and oven, little known, it appears it was operating in 1902 (Canning Jarrah Mills, Sunday Times, 23 March 1902, Pg.12), evidently it had a cellar that was problematic for health inspectors in 1911 (Our Water Supply, West Australian, 2 May 1911, Pg.5). There is a feature near the mill site that is probably the remains of the bake house oven.

5. Cricket Club, it was reported in September 1891 that a cricket club had been formed at the mill (Cricket at the Canning, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 18 September 1891, Pg.3). There was a concrete pitch in from the main gate.

6. There was also a Workers Union office (Canning Jarrah Mills, Sunday Times, 23 March 1902, Pg.12), this is probably the Australian Workers Union, but there are reports that indicate other unions were active on the site.

7. Water supply – the water supply is located on Shaw’s Location 167 (Mizen 2020). It consists of 3 very small dams and a wood lined ‘well’ . Until recently the ‘well’ was substantially intact, however it has since suffered significant fire damage. It is not listed in the history inventory but should be. The dams and well supplied water for the ‘town’, the school and the railway. There is at least one State Records Office file on the reserve the dams are situated on. The reserve was created to stop Syd Smailes using the dam for his own purposes. The water supply is a significant site in its own right. However the writer is of the view it should be listed as part of the Town Precinct. The site is not easily accessible from the eastern (Canning Road) side. Access is via Canning Mills Road. The site is close to what is alleged to be a pit saw site. These two sites need to be considered together, pit sawing would have required a water source for the sawyers.

The CJTCo owned what was left of Location 165 until 1924. Location 165 was broken up as a result of the government acquiring the rights to the railway. In 1924 what was left was sold to Liebow. At this point the Inn had closed and the Inn site belonged to the Water Department . Liebow sold of portions of the remainder to Di Marco in the mid thirties. The Anglican Church building was transitory, it lasts from 1899 to the early 1900’s. Land was allocated for a post office it is not clear at the time of writing if a building was ever constructed.

The best guides to the ‘town’ are the Simpson photographs. The photographs compliment the map section below. From these it is possible to create a reasonably accurate layout of the structures that existed. The roads show on the map are Canning Mills Road and Springdale Road. Canning Road did come into being until much later.

Lands Department Canning 155 sourced from Landgate, Canning Mills.

Below are a number of photographs from the Simpson collection. Each shows a view from Location 165. The map and photographs form probably the best method to interpret the site.

Below: Photographs from the Simpson Collection, Photographer unknown, taken about 1891. Colourisation by Gordon Freegard.

Image 1 Above. Looking North from about where the “100a” is on the map, creek in foreground.

Image 2 Above. Turning triangle looking from about the “C” in the word “Canning”on the map.

Image 3 Below. Looking south from about the “E” in engine, engine sheds on left.

Image 4. As above but slightly further south and turned 90 degrees looking across the valley.

Image 5 Above. Looking towards Di Marco’s - store office and shed - mills lower left taken from about the last “0” in 4000. One of these buildings is likely a school building.

Image 6 Above. Looking towards Karragullen engine sheds centre left, mill at top right. Forest Inn behind camera.

Conclusion

The town site is composed of one major lot, Location 165 which contained the mills, the bulk of the residences, the second and third Forest Inn. Location 164 also contained residences. There are a number of related sites, Location 166 which contains the managers residence and probable remnant sports infrastructure. The lapsed Location 167 which contains the water source. The Anglican Church and Post Office sites are separate lots which form part of the ‘town site’. It appears to the author that the McCaskill grave may be related to the church, the grave is orientated approximately east west which suggests the burial was properly conducted. Against this is its distance from the Church. Also forming part of the town infrastructure is the water supply pipe work. All of the issues canvassed above need to be brought together and consolidated.

Image 7 Below. Taken from about the back of the mill looking north east across valley down Location 165.

Recommendations

1. Town Site listing

1.1 The present listing be updated to include the new information.

1.2 The present listing be amended to include:

1.2.1 The water supply dams that are not presently listed;

1.2.2 The Doctors residence;

1.2.3 The Slaughter House;

1.2.3 The Schools;

1.2.3.1 The CJTCo school;

1.3.2.2 The later State School(s);

1.2.4 The Churches.

1.2.4.1 The Anglican Church;

1.2.4.2 The Wesleyan Church (CJTCo building);

1.2.5 The Managers house;

1.2.6 The sporting infrastructure;

1.2.7 Union Office

1.2.8 The pollution mitigation related to the slaughter house and the Forest Inn.

1.3 Consideration be give to amalgamate the listings of :

1.3.1 McCaskill’s grave (death certificate should be extracted and information verified and updated);

1.3.2 The cobbled road (there is documentation for this road it needs to be extracted);

1.3.3 The Forest Inn (the author has two further papers on this topic)

All of the above are related sites, they are all facets of the town. It is the writers view that the sites should be included in a historic precinct. The complicating factor is the pollution mitigation for the slaughter house and Forest Inn extends beyond Location 165. There is a small dam just north of Location 166 that is part of this project. On present information it predates the major Perth Water Works diversion project. In this respect the later Munday Brook Diversion works for the Victoria Reservoir are linked to the ‘town site’. The whole area is of historic significance, all of the ‘pieces’ are inter-related. Much of the above incorporates wooden structures, they need to be listed with the relevant department of the fire authority. It is a significant place as an informal town that grew up around an industrial work site. Each of the sites are important, as they make up the whole, the mill was an important work and industrial site, the Inn - a leisure site and meeting place, the post office for its communication functions, the slaughter house for the supply to the butcher, the butcher to the residents, likewise the baker. The water supply for the town residents, the mill and the locos.

Reference List

A Visit to the Canning Jarrah Saw Mills, West Australian, 5 December 1893, Pg 7.

Canning Notes, Inquirer and Commercial News, 5th August 1891, pg 5.

Canning Timber Station, The West Australian, 29 September 1885, Pg 3

Canning Jarrah Mills, Sunday Times, 23 March 1902, Pg 12.

Church News, Western Mail, 14 July 1899, Pg 57.

Cricket at the Canning, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 18 September 1891, Pg 3.

Freegard, G., 2020, Canning Mills Schools, URL http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/school2.html accessed 1/1/2023.

Lands Department Map Canning 155 sourced from Landgate.

Local and General, W.A. Record, 9 April 1891, Pg 7

Midland Railway Works, W.A. Record, 9 October 1890, Pg 7.

Memoirs of Canning Mills, Kalamunda and District News, 23 July 1953, Pg 3

Mizen, D., (2020), Barbers Swamp Mystery URL http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%2021.html

Accessed 3/1/2023.

Mizen, D. (2021A) Mizen Saw Mill Study, URL http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%206.html

Accessed 6/1/2023.

Mizen, D., (2021B), Joseph Shaw 1882-1888 URL http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%2010.html

Accessed 3/1/2023.

Mizen, D., (2022 A), Barbers Swamp Mystery Part II Who Was Barber, NP (submitted).

Mizen, D., (2022 B), A Historic Game of Spot the Difference, NP. (Submitted).

Mizen, D., (2021) E.V.H. Keane 1887-1891, http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%2015.html

Accessed 3/1/2023.

News and Notes , Southern Times, 17 October 1899, Pg 3.

News and Notes, West Australian, 29 July 1891, Pg 4.

News of the Day, Daily News, 1885, Pg 3

News of the Week, Western Mail, 15 November 1890, Pg 18.

Our Water Supply, West Australian, 2 May 1911, Pg 5.

Perth Local Board of Health, The West Australian, 4 December 1893, Pg 7.

Perth Waterworks Canning, W.A. Record, 9 October 1890, Pg 7.

Post Office Destroyed by Fire, Daily News, 2 January 1908, Pg 4.

Postal Accommodation at Canning Mills, West Australian, 1 June 1897, Pg 6. SRO, (Nd.), State Records Office File AU WA S211- cons541 1885/2994.

The Canning Jarrah Saw Mills, The Daily News, 5 October 1891, Pg 3

The pollution of Victoria Reservoir, The West Australian, 20 June 1894, Pg 6

To Capitalists or Public Companies, The Herald, 11 November 1882, Pg 3.

To Those seeking Sound Investments in Western Australian, The West Australian, 10 January 1884, Pg 2.

Visit of the Health Committee to the Water Works, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 5 May 1893, Pg 15.

PATRICK ANDREW CONNOLLY 1867 - 1946

By David Mizen

This account is drawn from the print and other media records. There is significant disparity between sources regarding basic items concerning Connolly’s early life, date of birth and family details. Many of the conflicts in the unofficial source documents can be rectified by extracting the relevant official documents, time and other constraints mean that this paper has been written without access to those documents. This paper in its original unfinished form is nearly 12,000 words. Word count considerations mean it is not possible to cover all of Connolly’s work particularly aspects of his country charitable work.

Patrick Andrew Connolly is best known locally for his connection to the Kalamunda Hotel. However, his connection to the City of Kalamunda goes back to at least 1898 and is far more significant than that just the hotel. His contribution to Western Australia is immense. Both in terms of his activities in the horse racing industry, which are well know, but will not be examined in depth in this paper, but also in terms of his business interests. Particularly his provision of financial assistance to one hugely significant start up. More importantly though, through his charitable actions. These had a direct impact on Kalamunda. Further, there were huge benefits for the lives he touched as a result of his actions and donations.

“From the day I left Queensland in the Nineties, lured to the West by the adventure that beckons with the discovery of gold I had a love for horses. I wanted then to own a good horse, see him carry my own colours and perhaps some day realise the ambition of every owner and win a Melbourne Cup” (Life Storey of PA. Connolly, Townsville Daily Bulletin, 1 January 1947, Pg.3).

Early Life

Patrick Andrew Connolly, came from a family of six, he was born in 1867 at The Ophir in the west of New South Wales. His father was a farmer and road contractor. Connolly senior moved the family in 1878 to Monteflores, where he purchased a hotel. The family lived there until 1881 when they moved again to take over another hotel in Cunnamulla, Western Queensland. As he grew up Connolly became adept at handling stock. He soon collected a small string of race horses. With these he rode many winners at country picnic meetings. From an early age he was regarded as a good judge of thoroughbreds. In 1894 the gold rush started in Western Australia. Connolly decided to try his luck (Out Among The People, Albany Advertiser, 21 November 1940 Pg.5). There are different versions of what happened next. The various version are not mutually exclusive, all have a common thread. The common thread is the horse Pantomime.

Pantomime was entered into 3 events at ‘Spencers Brook’, where he won a treble (3 races in one day). Pantomime’s jockey on that day was F.B Spencer (Brookton Race Club, The West Australian 15 March 1895, Pg.2). Pantomime gave Connolly his start in the WA racing industry. It also marks the start of Connolly’s interest in the WA hotel industry. Connolly late in his life stated that:

“[I]... purchased the lease of a hotel at Midland Junction ... that was in 1895. In 12 months I disposed of that property and brought the Occidental Hotel in Perth”(Out Among The People, Albany Advertiser, 21 November 1940 Pg.5).

Connolly had an eye for business but his first love was horses. His next venture was a combination of both and lasted the rest of his life. Some time in 1897 or early 1898 Connolly purchased the land that became Helena Vale Racecourse. He was the prime mover in the formation at the Helena Vale Racing Club and was principal share holder until his death (Racing at the Vale, Western Mail, 24 June 1948, Pg. 23). It appears that until the break up of the jurisdiction of the Darling Range Road Board, Helena Vale was under the Road Boards supervision (Darling Range Road Board, West Australian, 8 May 1900, Pg.2). It is not the intention of this paper to cover Connolly’s racing history, it is well known that he won the Melbourne Cup in 1905 with Blue Spec. It is sufficient to point out that Connolly was posthumously inducted into the Western Australian Racing and Wagering Hall of Fame

in 2010 (Racing and Wagering, 2010) . As a result of his connections with Helena Vale Race Course Connolly’s connection with the City goes back to at least 1898.

Marriage

The details of Connolly’s private life are difficult to prize open. However, it is reported that he married Alice Julia (maiden name not reported) on the 7th February 1898 at St Georges Cathedral Perth. There were 3 children of the relationship, all died within hours of birth (Connolly Divorce Suit, Geraldton Guardian, 1 December 1923, Pg.1). The respective dates of birth are not recorded in the print media. There are entries in the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board Records that suggest it is likely they were prior to 1905. The deaths of the children may well have played a significant role in his latter philanthropic activities.

The Connolly’s lived in various of the bigger hotels around Perth before they moved to Dunreath (Connolly Divorce Suit, Geraldton Guardian, 1 December 1923, Pg.1).In January 1905 the Sunday Times reported that:

“Mr. C. N. Kidman has sold his beautiful estate ‘’Dunreath” to Mr. P. A. Connolly for £4,600. There was a thousand profit in the deal’. (Late Sporting Notes, Sunday Times, 22 January 1905, Pg. 2).

There are a number of later reports that state that Dunreath was a Kidman Bro’s property (see for e.g. Blue Spec’s Owner, North West Post, 10 November 1905, Pg. 3). There is no single definitive report of the location of Dunreath. Combining a number of reports, Dunreath was situated near the intersection of the now Kalamunda Road and the now Great Eastern Highway. This site is hugely significant to WA and national horse racing. It as the base Connolly operated from for many years. Connolly owned Dunreath prior to his winning the Melbourne Cup with Blue Spec in November 1905 (Blue spec’s Owner, North West Post, 10 November 1905 Pg.3). For that reason and for its prior connection to the Kidman family this aspect of the story requires further investigation. Dunreath was sold following the Connolly’s divorce in 1924.

Charity work

Connolly was involved in charitable activities from early in his time in WA. The newspaper reports indicate that there is a huge amount for which details are not fully recorded or not recorded at all. However, his charitable actions became public in the late 1910’s.

In the mid 1910’s the concept of an ‘ugly man’ competition to raise funds for various projects arose in the lower south west. By February 1917 the idea had reached Perth, carried by Inspector Harry Mann formerly of Kalgoorlie (Early Christianity In Our Own Day, Western Mail, 23 December 1920, Pg.55). In that month the Children’s Hospital was in dire need of funds. An appeal was set up. The results, it was politely reported, were “discouraging”. In that year the public at large were suffering. World War I was in full swing, resources were stretched to the limit. Harry Mann called a meeting of the East Perth Football Club, its members and supporters. The meeting was at the Australia Hotel and:

“[I]t was put to the ‘sports’ that things were up to mud, that the ailing inmates of the children’s Hospital could not be allowed to suffer and even die...” (Early Christianity In Our Own Day, Western Mail, 23 December 1920, Pg.55).

A new appeal was launched. After some delay it was decided to model the appeal on the Kalgoorlie ugly man competition. There should be candidates, lots of them, on which the public could vote via the ballot box. Votes to be bought for a penny each. The title to be bestowed on the lucky winner - “The Ugly Man of Perth” (Early Christianity In Our Own Day, Western Mail, 23 December 1920, Pg.55).

Connolly’s media profile at the time meant he was a natural nominee. Connolly’s tally was in excess of 91,000 votes and saw Connolly crowned the “Ugliest Man in Perth”. The second Ugliest man in Perth was Mr Victor Newton. The third Ugliest man was the Rev Father Crowley. There were 129 other men who ranged from extremely hideous to merely plain (The Ugly Man, Daily News, 20 February 1917, Pg.6). The ranking was calculated according to the amount of money each candidate raised and/or donated.

As a result of his philanthropic activities Connolly was on the managing committee of the Red Cross in 1919 together with Harry Boan (President) and R.O. Law (Vice-President) (Children’s Hospital, Daily News, 25 November 1919, Pg.5). As a consequence Connolly was indirectly involved in the establishment and operation of St Andrew’s Repatriation Hospital Lesmurdie, likewise the soldiers hospital at Keane’s Point and Woorooloo. Both St Andrews and Keane’s Point was managed by the Red Cross (Incapacitated Soldiers, The Western Mail, 11 April 1919, Pg. 37).

In 1919 Connolly gave his second biggest single donation that is recorded. The Children’s Hospital was again reported to be in need. In the immediate aftermath of WWI there was no government money. The required amount needing to be raised was 7,000 pounds. Connolly is at the head of the list of donors at 1,000 pounds (Practical Christianity, Daily News, 21 August 1920, Pg.5). The above resulted in the following being published in the Sunday Times:

“A child’s simple tribute to the work of the Ugly Men and the Children’s Hospital:

To Mr. Clydesdale, President Ugly Men’s Association, Perth. “Dear Sir,-Mother was reading an account of Mr. Connolly’s gift to the Children’s Hospital. It was very nice of him. Twice when I was sick mother took me there, and Dr. MacGregor was very good and clever. I got quite well. I would like to help to get something for the hospital, but I know father and mother are buying our little home, so we have not got much money; so, if you could get some ladies to make up a children’s ball in Perth Town Hall in aid of the Children’s Hospital I would play all music required for dancing. I can play very well and have had good instructors. I could give you a trial any time after school. I am twelve years of age, and a ball would be very nice, and I could sell a lot of tickets for you. I hope to hear from you soon.

Faithfully yours, Ivy Rogers. PS I could also sing a song while supper is being handed round “

(Emphasis added) (Perth Prattle, Sunday Times, 12 September 1920, Pg.6).

Looking back on the letter it is either entirely serendipitous, or, its a contrived political dig at some members of the Red Cross board who served with Connolly. In late 1919 there was a well published spat between Connolly and some members of the Red Cross Board. Connolly wanted women on the board, a ladies committee to help manage the hospital and to do exactly the things referred to in the child’s letter. Further, he wanted them to have full voting rights including the appointment of voting proxies. He was overruled. It was pointed out by one of the committee members that the women seeking positions on the board had donated a 1000 pounds each to the hospital, that is they were financially co-equal with Connolly. One of the putative committee members was a Mrs Foster (for various reasons this requires further investigation potentially this link to J.A. Barton) It appears from the report that Connolly was ready for a full blown Supreme Court battle regarding the issue. In amongst all of this Mr Clydesdale in his capacity as hospital treasure presented his report, the hospital was solvent but only just. The fact the hospital was solvent was due in very large part due the actions of the Ugly Man’s Association (Children’s Hospital, West Australian, 25 November 1919, Pg.8). The hospital committee had a significant crossover with the management of the Ugly Man’s Association, Connolly, Harry Mann and Alex Clydesdale were on both.

The story of the Ugly Man’s Association led by Connolly as their patron makes Telethon look like an anemic picnic. Much of the Ugly Man’s Association actions were directed towards building homes for war widows and their children. In the 1920 annual report it was noted:

“During the year a home had been built for a soldier and his wife at Queens Park. Another home was being built at South Perth, two had been completed at Subiaco, one at Leederville, and one at Cottesloe Beach, while another one at Cottesloe Beach was in course of erection. There was also a home in the course of erection at Midland Junction” (Practical Christianity. Daily News, 21 August 1920, Pg 5).

The homes were often built from scratch, the Ugly Men were all volunteers and the work was done in their own time. In 1920 there was a slanging match between elements of the press and a small group of dis-affected soldiers, in that dispute the following statement was made:

“Against this they[the Ugly men] have done something as their record of 41 widows’ homes renovated free of cost and 22 houses entirely built proves”(emphasis added) (Sooling the Soldiers, Call and WA Sportsman, 6 February 1920, Pg 2).

This was in the first three years of their existence. The Association ran on for many more years after this.

Significant Known business Interests

Connolly owned or had interests in numerous hotels in Perth and around the state during his lifetime. Connolly was the effective owner of the Emu Brewery for a period in the early 1920’s (Big Business Deal, West Australian 23 November 1921, Pg.6.). The Emu Brewery amalgamated with the Swan Brewery in 1927, reports indicate that the amalgamation was by way of a share swap (Sale Of Emu Brewery, Western Aurgus, 12 July 1927, Pg.13.). This would have made Connolly a significant voice in the operation of the Swan Brewery. In 1921 Connolly was at the forefront, as one of the chief financiers, of the establishment of the southern hemispheres first airline and mail service (Aerial Mail Service PERTH TO DERBY, Tambellup Times, 12 November 1921, Pg. 3). Connolly also had substantial pastoral interests, possibly obtained as a result of his early association with the Kidman family. It may have been these interests that led to the financing of Western Australian Airlines. Some relevant extracts and quotes related to Western Australian Airlines are set out in the Appendix to this paper.

Kalamunda Hotel

Connolly owned the Kalamunda Hotel from sometime prior to 1927 until his death in 1946. To determine precisely when Connolly bought the hotel will require an examination of the title to the property. However, the Hummerston’s vacated the property in December 1920 (Social and Personal, WA Family Sphere, 31 December 1920, Pg.2). This is a likely point of sale. A.F. Wood of the Kalamunda Hotel is noted in 1921 (Motors and Motoring, 21 August 1921, Sunday Times, Pg.7). Wood as licensee was prosecuted for possessing adulterated spirits in June 1922 (Midland Junction, The West Australian 12 July 1922, Pg, 9). A further search of the liquor licensing court reports shows that in December 1924 Anthony Kostera was the licensee of the hotel (Guildford Licensing Court, West Australian, 8 December 1924, Pg 11). The facts relating to the construction of the new hotel in 1927 are well known (Kalamunda Hotel, West Australian, 23 April 1927. Pg. 8). However, the architect Herbert Parry does not appear to be referred to in the History Inventory listing. Parry was a significant architect at a local and state level. Kostera remained in place until 21 January 1928, when the license was transfered to Albert Suhard (The Licensing Act, 1911-1923, West Australian, 21 January 1928, Pg.3). There is no mention of Wood or Kostera being proprietors of the hotel, this suggests there was an undisclosed owner in the background. Given Connolly’s ownership of the hotel was public by this time it is highly likely that Suhard was Connolly’s manager. Following Suhard’s appointment Kostera moved to the Freemanson’s Hotel Helena Street Midland (Freemasons Hotel, The Swan Express, 11 May 1928, Pg. 1). Connolly lived for a time in the new hotel (Pertinent Paragraphs, Mirror 19 May 1928, Pg.9). Towards the end of his life Connolly kept a car garaged at the hotel. It appears that he employed a driver (Borrows Employer’s Car, Daily News, 22 June 1939, Pg.12). It appears that Connolly had a hand in the small monument opposite the hotel.

Burkhardt’s Chair

Whether Connolly was involved in the commission or payment of this facility is an open question, the evidence suggests he was. The relevant report refers to a plaque “to the memory of Mr Sam Berkardt, who was responsible of the planting of pine trees at Kalamunda, is to be erected by the Kalamunda District Progress Association”(General News, West Australian, 31 August 1937, Pg. 18)(emphasis added). It is believed this refers to the stone seat and plaque diagonally opposite Connolly’s hotel. The inference is that the seat was constructed after August 1937 to commemorate Burkhardt’s earlier actions. The report refers to a contemporaneous donation by Connolly of 14 pounds towards the Associations funds. Further, the particular association was reported as being formed “last June” as reported on the 31 August 1937 (General News, The West Australian, 31 August 1937, Pg.18) so construction in 1913 is extremely unlikely. Connolly’s method of operation was to donate

for a specific purpose. The donation and the construction of the chair are not likely to be coincidental. The Kalamunda History Inventory in relation to this issue needs to be reviewed.

Swan Districts Football Club

The Swan Districts Football Club was formed in 1933. Connolly was the initial club Patron (New Team For the League, Daily News, 18 October 1933, Pg2). Connolly served as club Patron until at least 1940 (Football, West Australian, 7 December 1940, Pg.10). In 1951 it was noted that Connolly was Patron for many years and “assisted the club from its inception” (The Youngest League Team, Western Mail, 14 June 1951, Pg.23). This probably means that Connolly funded a significant portion of the clubs initial financial outlay. Swan Districts Football Club was and still is a significant outlet for Kalamunda football players. There is a playing ‘field’ closer to home that directly affects Kalamunda today.

Kalamunda Children’s Play Ground

In 1939 The West Australian reports:

“ Mr. P. A. Connolly has given the Kalamunda District Progress Association a block of land situated between [undecipherable]-street and Central-road, next to the Church of England, for the purpose of a children’s play ground. The land is very centrally situated. “ (Country News, West Australian, 11 February 1939, Pg.10).

In the same notice the Association proposed to form a traveling baby’s health clinic. In April 1940 it was reported that the Progress Association had completed construction of the swings, merry go round and other items related to Connolly’s block (Country News, The West Australian, 4 April 1940.) This appears to be the land now occupied by the “wooden horse” next to Kalamunda Amateur Dramatics Society and the community hall between the mall and Barberry square. There were other Kalamunda related donations.

RSA & Kalamunda RSL

Connolly had a significant hand in the present state of 35 Canning Road. A block of land was donated by Connolly, together with the sum of 500 pounds as contribution to the RSL building fund. (Presentation of Charter to RSL Sub-Branch, Swan Express, 15 February 1951, Pg.4.) The event was a presentation, and, as part of that presentation, there was a recap of significant events that had occurred over the last few years. This included acknowledgment of the donation of the land. It appears that the donation occurred shortly before Connolly died. It would be useful to locate Connolly’s block. Was the current block two blocks that were amalgamated, or was Connolly’s block sold to raise funds for the building? The building fund donation was recorded in the Listening Post on 1 February 1946: “ Mr. Paddy Connolly’s generosity appears to know no bounds. Practically all patriotic and charitable appeals are handsomely subscribed to by him. Living at Kalamunda, Mr. Connolly has taken an interest in the Darling Range sub-branch. He subscribed £250 to their War Veterans’ Appeal, £100 to the Legacy appeal and hearing that the sub-branch intended to start a fund to build a Memorial Hall he sent President Bob Logie a cheque for £500.” (Personalities, Listening Post, 1 February, 1946, Pg.8). After this there was a return to Connolly’s principal cause.

Kalamunda Infant Health Centre

Shortly before he died Connolly made an unsolicited gift of 250 pounds to be credited to the Kalamunda Infant Health Centre (News and Notes, The West Australian, 31 October 1946, Pg 6.). Evidently the Progress Association was not making the progress with the clinic announced in 1940 that Connolly expected or wished for. The issue of children’s health is the most prominent feature of Connolly’s donations.

Conclusion and Legacy

In a news report published in Sydney very shortly before he died Connolly was asked about his charitable donations – his answer: “Why not? You cant take it with you!”(WA’s Turf Giant: Owner & Bettor, Smith’s Weekly, 9 November 1946, Pg 4). It was reported in numerous places that nobody, not even Connolly himself, had any idea of the total amount he donated, estimates range from 100,000 pounds to 250,000 pounds. The quote from Connolly at the opening of this paper was taken from a substantial tribute from a news paper published in Townsville a few days after his death. It is difficult to comprehend how big a personality Connolly was in the early part of the twentieth century.

In essence his legacy is contained in the child’s letter regarding his donation to the Children’s Hospital and to the countless children of war widows that grew up in a houses built by the Ugly Men led by Connolly.

This does not include the numerous country hospitals in which he bought some, or all of, the land, the building, and/or, equipment, then donated the purchase(s) to the relevant road board. Likewise numerous country RSL Halls were built as a result of Connolly’s donations. All of which due to word count limits are beyond this paper. Connolly’s contribution to the state is immense but sadly not acknowledged.

Connolly died on 28th December 1946 aged 78 years. The probate value of his estate was 149,332 pounds. The bulk of Connolly’s estate was donated to charity.

There were attempts to get honours for Connolly for his charitable works during the last few years of his life, but for reasons that are not known they came to nothing. Below is an example:

“C. K. Heppingstone, St. George’s terrace, Perth, writes: ‘I desire to congratulate The Sunday Times’ on its article in which it mentions the name of the wonderful giver. Mr. P. A. Connolly. I am quite sure that Mr. Connolly has done more for charitable institutions and patriotic funds than any man in Western Australia, and I am sure it would surprise the people of Western Australia if they knew the amount given by Mr. Connolly during the last twenty years to the Children’s Hospital. I would suggest through your paper that the Government of WA take the necessary steps with the Imperial Parliament to do honor to a worthy Australia citizen”

(Tribute to Mr. P.A. Connolly, Sunday Times, 28 December 1941, Pg.5).

Recommendations

1. That steps be taken to search and extract:

1.1 Connolly’s death certificate (this will verify his date of birth, place of birth and age);

1.2. Relevant Certificates of Title for:

1.2.1 Connolly’s “shack” (see 4 below);

1.2.2 Kalamunda Hotel (see also No 3 below)

1.2.3 RSL House 35 Canning Road Kalamunda (see 6 below) and if possible the donated block of land;

1.2.4 The Children’s play ground Central Road.

2. Children’s Play Ground

(a) If the Landgate search referred to above proves the writers contention regarding this block is correct, the City’s History Inventory should be updated to include this block and its history. If the writers contention is not correct regarding the location of the donation, the donation should be listed according to the details on the certificate of title.

(b) The ‘log horse’ is not relevant to the site it is situated on, it would be more appropriate at Location 165 Canning Mills or Bartons Mill. A more appropriate monument should be placed at that site referencing Connolly’s donation.

3. Kalamunda Hotel

The History Inventory should be reviewed and updated to include the results of the Landgate search and the matters referred to in this paper.

4. Connolly residence

It is a notorious fact that Connolly owned a “shack” near the Kalamunda Hotel “at the back of the hotel” possibly on Dixon or Spring Road or possibly on the Central Road side of the hotel. That property once identified should be listed in the inventory for its association to Connolly.

5. Burkhardt’s Chair

The issues raised by this paper with respect to this listing needs to be examined and the listing be revised accordingly.

6. RSL

The writer has not had the opportunity to test the veracity of the land donation referred to above, the relevant Certificate of Title relating to the land should examined to verify the donation report above. If the reports are correct the City History Inventory regarding the above RSL house and land will need to be rewritten.

Appendix

West Australian Airlines

Norman Brearley had secured the contract to carry mail, in the first instance from Geraldton to Derby. It appears that Brearley needed additional capital to buy more aircraft to run the service reliably, and, to expand to carry passengers and freight. As a result of the lack of capital the company was setup to bring in investors. The initial directors and presumed initial financiers were Connolly, C.W Arnott and Brearley. (Geraldton To Derby, Daily News,3 August 1921, Pg.6). It took the technical knowledge of Brearley coupled with the financial clout of Connolly and his connections to get the business up and running.

The story is summed up in the Tambelup Times:

“The chairman of the West Australian Airways Limited, has all most completed arrangements for the inauguration of the first regular aerial mail and passenger service in the southern hemisphere. Major Brearley is managing director and technical adviser to the concern, Messrs. Arnott, Lee Steere, Connolly and [C.E.] Crocker being the other directors. The official opening will be performed on December 3 by his Excellency the Governor, who will make a flight in the first machine.

Five pilots and a staff of expert mechanics have been engaged, and they will be stationed along the mail route to Derby. Buildings to house the fleet of machines are in course of construction. Perth is to have a hanger capable of housing six machines, Geraldton one for six machines, Carnarvon and Port Hedland one each for two

machines, while at Onslow and Broome single machine hangars are being constructed. The pilot is due to arrive from England next week.

Three machines will leave Perth for Geraldton on December 4, and on the first trip a day will be spent at each mail centre in order to complete arrangements for subsequent running. Coming south, the machines will drop off to their allotted sectors, and carry out the ordinary time table of leaving Perth every Friday for Derby via ports, returning every Tuesday afternoon to Perth. It is intended, to take cinematographic record of the most interesting episodes (Aerial Mail Service PERTH TO DERBY, Tambellup Times, 12 November 1921, Pg. 3,).

There was an inauguration function at Parliament House:

“North-West Air Service-’It is at least one instance in ,which the Federal Government has looked at matters from a purely Federal standpoint,’ remarked the Minister for the NorthWest (Mr. H. P. Colebatch) at Parliament House yesterday with regard to the subsiding of the aerial mail service to the North-West. The occasion was the Minister’s proposal at a Parliamentary luncheon of the toast of success to Westralian Airways Ltd., and good luck and happiness to the young aviators who will pilot the company’s machines. The company’s directors (Messrs. C. W. Arnott, E. Lee Steere, P. A. Connolly, and [C.E.] Crocker), Major Brearley, and the pilots (Lieutenants C. Kingsford-Smith, L. E. Taplin, R. N. Fawcett, H. A. Blake, and V. B. Abbott) were present as guests,while the North-West members were included among the parliamentarians.”(News and Notes, West Australian, 25 November 1921, Pg 6).

History has focused on Brearly and Kingsford-Smith but without Conolly and Arnott in the first instance history would be very different.

Foot note: CW Arnott was a building contractor and built a substantial part of the Perth CBD - Perth GPO, Burt Memorial Hall, a large portion of UWA, the Savoy Hotel, Walsh’s building and numerous significant hotels.

The Lee Steere mentioned is Ernest, most likely Ernest Augustus. E.A. Lee Steere had significant pastoral interests and interests in the WA Trustee, Executor and Agency Company Ltd, Connolly used WA Trustee Co for a number of his donations.

C.E. Crocker was an engineer and head of the WA Energy Department, he was killed in a traffic accident in 1929 (Late Mr. C.E. Crocker, Daily News, 11 July, Pg.1) Crocker’s widow was friends with Amanda Statham widow of Thomas Statham (Statham’s Quarry) (See Mizen (2023) Thomas Statham.

References

Aerial Mail Service PERTH TO DERBY, Tambellup Times, 12 November 1921, Pg. 3

Big Business Deal, West Australian 23 November 1921, Pg.6.

Blue Spec’s Owner, North West Post, 10 November 1905, Pg. 3

Brookton Race Club, The West Australian 15 March 1895, Pg.2

Borrows Employer’s Car, Daily News, 22 June 1939, Pg.12.

Children’s Hospital, Daily News, 25 November 1919, Pg.5.

Children’s Hospital, West Australian, 25 November 1919, Pg.8.

Connolly Divorce Suit, Geraldton Guardian, 1 December 1923, Pg.1

Country News, West Australian, 11 February 1939, Pg.10.

Country News, The West Australian, 4 April 1940.

Darling Range Road Board, West Australian, 8 May 1900, Pg.2

Early Christianity In Our Own Day, Western Mail, 23 December 1920, Pg.55

Football, West Australian, 7 December 1940, Pg.10.

Freemasons Hotel, The Swan Express, 11 May 1928, Pg. 1.

General News, West Australian, 31 August 1937, Pg. 18

Guildford Licensing Court, West Australian, 8 December 1924, Pg 11

Incapacitated Soldiers, The Western Mail, 11 April 1919, Pg. 37.

Kalamunda Hotel, West Australian, 23 April 1927. Pg. 8

Late Mr. C.E. Crocker, Daily News, 11 July, Pg.1.

Late Sporting Notes, Sunday Times, 22 January 1905, Pg. 2

Life Storey of P. A. Connolly, Townsville Daily Bulletin, 1 January 1947, Pg.3

Midland Junction, The West Australian 12 July 1922, Pg, 9

Motors and Motoring, 21 August 1921, Sunday Times, Pg.7.

News and Notes, West Australian, 25 November 1921, Pg 6.

News and Notes, The West Australian, 31 October 1946, Pg 6. New Team For the League, Daily News, 18 October 1933, Pg2.

Out Among The People, Albany Advertiser, 21 November 1940 Pg.5

Personalities, Listening Post, 1 February, 1946, Pg.8

Perth Prattle, Sunday Times, 12 September 1920, Pg.6

Pertinent Paragraphs, Mirror 19 May 1928, Pg.9

Practical Christianity, Daily News, 21 August 1920, Pg.5

Presentation of Charter to RSL Sub-Branch, Swan Express, 15 February 1951, Pg.4

Racing at the Vale, Western Mail, 24 June 1948, Pg. 23

Racing and Wagering., 2010 URL https://www.rwwa.com.au/blog/inductee-2010-paddy-connolly/ Accessed 30/12/2022

Sale Of Emu Brewery, Western Aurgus, 12 July 1927, Pg.13

Social and Personal, WA Family Sphere, 31 December 1920, Pg.2.

Sooling the Soldiers, Call and WA Sportsman, 6 February 1920, Pg 2

The Licensing Act, 1911-1923, West Australian, 21 January 1928, Pg.3

The Ugly Man, Daily News, 20 February 1917, Pg.6.

The Youngest League Team, Western Mail, 14 June 1951, Pg.23.

Tribute to Mr. P.A. Connolly, Sunday Times, 28 December 1941, Pg.5

WA’s Turf Giant: Owner & Bettor, Smith’s Weekly, 9 November 1946, Pg 4

THE BARBER’S SWAMP MYSTERY PART II, WHO WAS BARBER?

By David Mizen

The first part of the Barbers Swamp mystery is set out in the Barbers Swamp Mystery (Mizen, 2020). The background to the mystery is set out in the auction material published by Waldeck Smith. The auction was to clear Joseph Shaws bankrupt estate. The estate included Mason’s Mill situated at Location 75 also known as the Canning Timber Station and Canning Mills (for the etymology of the expression ‘Canning Mills’, see (Mizen, D., 2022, A Game of Historic Spot the Difference. NP). The relevant extract reads as follows:

“Dear Sir, - We have the honour to make the following report on the survey and laying out of the new tramway lines in your Timber Concession of 100,000 acres, known as the Canning Timber Station, and also to report as to the quantity of timber and its situation. “ The West and South boundaries of the Concession have been carefully marked on the ground, by pegs and posts, at distances apart of about 20 chains and all the trees blazed, so that the line can at any time be easily picked up.

“The tramway lines have been similarly marked, and on the new route to Barker’s Swamp has been carefully levelled and equidistant level pegs put in along the route.

‘It having been decided to remove the mill to the new site at Barber’s Swamp, it became necessary to have the new tramway line carefully surveyed and levelled (Canning Timber Station, West Australian, 29 September 1885, Pg.3) (emphasis added).

From the extract it is clear that Shaw had permission from the government to move his mill to the new site at Barbers Swamp. The first part of the mystery is - where was Barbers Swamp. Mizen (2020) resolves that issue. The next question is who was the ‘Barber’ who gave his name to the swamp. This paper will provide a qualified answer to that question.

In 1879 the Inquirer and Commercial News reported the death of George Barber. It appears that Mr Barber was prone to fits. On the 22 February 1879 his body was found in the bush. It appears Barber had a fit and fell into his camp fire. The lower part of the body as completely consumed by the fire. At the time of his death Mr Barber was employed by Mason Bird and Co. Barber left four daughters and a son. There was an inquest into the death. The finding was accidental death (Country Letters, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 26 February 1879, Pg.3). There is an earlier report that may shed some light on what occurred and demonstrates that Barber was working either for Bateman and/or Mason in or about 1869. The report relates to an 1871 criminal case of timber stolen from Ben Mason. The relevant portion of the witness testimony is as follows:

“...persons cutting timber in the bush usually brand timber at the end; the ends of the timber appeared to have been hammered to deface the brand. ...[I] re-examined the timber, and found a piece with a brand B upon it; about 4 or 5 pieces had been hammered in, and other pieces had been sawn; I have been a foreman to Mr Mason in the timber trade; I known his brands, having made them myself; I was his foreman for 8 years; I could generally speaking; tell the handiwork of the timber; some I saw there looked very much like timber the sawing of which I recognised as John Bishop’s; who was employed about two years ago by Mr Mason, I know Barber; his brand is GB; Mr Mason’s brand is BM, Barker’s[sic] brand is 1/8 of an inch larger than Mr Mason’s. ... Barber was working 16 or 17 months ago, and was cutting for Mr. J. Batemen, I do not know that I have see Barber’s brand, but I deduce the different size in the appearance of the brands from having seen them on the timber; ... “(Supreme Court, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 11 October 1871, Pg.3)

From this it can be taken that George Barber was a pit sawyer. Barber, like other sawyer’s branded the wood he had sawn. In order to brand the wood they would have had a metal brand. In this case made up of the sawyers initials. That brand would be heated in a fire until it was red hot. The red hot brand would then be applied to the

wood leaving a charred imprint of the sawyers initials. This way the sawyers and others could identify who cut a particular piece of timber. This would be very useful in identifying work where the sawyer was paid per piece cut. From these two articles it is shown that George Barber was a known contractor to Bateman and Mason from 1869. However, there is at least one anomaly.

There is a further case that puts a George Barber in the Canning District in 1874 this time he was prosecuted for stealing harness from Wallace Bickely. At the time of prosecution he was stated to be of Fremantle. He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment (Police Courts. The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Times, 24 April, 1874, Pg.3). Combining the three reports a George Barber was working in the Canning District and was relatively well known. There is information missing. The missing information would assist in determining definitively, that there was definitely only one George Barber, and that George Barber was working as a sawyer in the early 1870’s, and, his name was synonymous with the swamp when Angove surveyed the area for Shaw.

The missing information includes the first George Barbers age. The next issue is the report of Barbers death does not mentioned the site of Barber’s camp. His death certificate should identify the place of death. The second issue that flows from the report is related to the surviving son. There is a significantly later report of a G.S. Barber working at Canning Mill in the 1890’s. This could be the son referred to in the report of the first George Barbers death. Again the death certificate should identify the surviving son. If it the surviving son is G.S. Barber then the news paper reports are validated. It should also provide an age for the deceased and for the son. This would help resolve the issue set out below.

The facts set out above regarding G.S. Barber is corroborated to some extent, a George Barber gave evidence in relation to an incident that took place inside the Forest Inn in February 1896 (Police News, Daily News, 22 February 1896, Pg.5). However, it also creates an issue in that Barber’s evidence was accepted unchallenged. This implies the George Barber in the Forest Inn is an adult. This does no ‘square’ with the statement above relating to G.S. Barber, he would have been too young to be in the Inn let alone give evidence. However, the article

They’re Chip’s From The Historic Block (South Western Times, 2 December 1954, Pg.4) refers to four generations of the Barber family, Clarie and Fred Barber being the fourth generation. The article refers to their father, George, and his grandfather both of whom had connections to Mason’s and Canning Mills. It also appears that Clarie and Fred were the only family members who did not have connections to either Masons Mill or Canning Mills. The article appears to skip a generation. It may be the case the George Barber in the Forest Inn is the father of the younger George Barber, the father of Clarie and Fred ,and is the son of the George Barber who died in 1879. It should be noted that They’re Chip’s From The Historic Block was published in 1954. The issue of the skipped generation is not the only problem with the family tree.

There is a single death notice placed in 1923 for Clarance Barber who was killed at Buckingham’s mill near Collie on the 22 March of that year (Deaths, Western Mail. 5th April 1923, Pg.27). There are a series of notices related to the same incident. The first refers to Clarance Barber, the ad was inserted by his unnamed mother, Amy, Fred, Leighton and brother Albert. There is an other ad that was placed by George, sister in law Amy niece and nephews (In Memoriam, The West Australian, 22 March 1924, Pg. 1). There is a later “In Memoriam” advert placed by his mother and Fred. Immediately below this is another ad inserted by his “brother Albert, sister in law Clarice and little nephew Freddie (Leighton)”(In Memoriam, The West Australian, 22 March 1929, Pg 1). There appears to be only two original contemporaneous reports of the accident, both refer to the same set of facts regarding the injuries causing the death. One report refers to the deceased as Clarance Herbert Barber (Fatal Accident, Collie Mail, 30 March 1923, Pg.2). The second report published under the authority of the Acting Secretary of the Timber Workers Union refers to the deceased as Clarence Leighton (Timber Worker Killed, The Daily News, 24 March 1923, Pg.7). The name Leighton appears as part of a number of notices and other advertisements regarding the death, either under the heading Barber (a number of times) but also in 1925 under the headings”Barber” and “Leighton” (In Memoriam, The West Australian, 23 March, 1925, Pg.1). This raises the prospect of aliases. However, there does not appear to be a published finding of the coronal inquest, the coronal inquest would have to have dealt with the issue of the true identity of the victim. This brings into question the reliability of the names in the prior news paper reports. That said, the issues arise after the death of the first George Barber, that information is likely reliable. The principal issue is where does the George Barber

who was deceased in 1879 fit into the Barber family tree, is he the patriarch, and where do the other George Barbers fit into the story.

The Barbers Swamp referred to in the Waladeck Smith advertising that appeared prior to the auction of Joseph Shaws estate is probably named after George Barber, most likely the first George Barber who died in 1879. At the time of writing the author does not have access to any genealogical records. It appears that the family recycled the name George every generation. Because of the number of George Barbers, and, because of the issue with the Clarence Barber/Clarence Leighton issue the writers view is qualified. It is possible that the Swamp is named after the George Barber who gave evidence in relation to the incident at the Forest Inn. It would be a worth while exercise, in the first instance, to extract the death certificate of the George Barber who died in 1879 and then to trace the Barber lineage to verify the above.

References

Canning Timber Station, West Australian, 29 September 1885, Pg.3.

Country Letters, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 26 February 1879, Pg.3

Deaths, Western Mail. 5th April 1923, Pg.27.

Fatal Accident, Collie Mail, 30 March 1923, Pg.2.

In Memoriam, The West Australian, 22 March 1924, Pg. 1.

In Memoriam, The West Australian, 23 March, 1925, Pg.1.

In Memoriam, The West Australian, 22 March 1929, Pg 1.

Mizen, D., 2020 BARBER’S SWAMP MYSTERY URL http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber %2021.html Accessed 2/1/2022.

Mizen, D., 2022, A Game of Historic Spot the Difference. NP

Police Courts. The Perth Gazette and Western Australian times, 24 April, 1874, Pg.3.

Police News, Daily News, 22 February 1896, Pg.5.

Supreme Court, The Inquirer and Commercial News, 11 October 1871, Pg.3.

They’re Chip’s From The Historic Block, South Western Times, 2 December 1954, Pg.4.

Timber Worker Killed, The Daily News, 24 March 1923, Pg.7.

A HISTORIC GAME OF SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

By David Mizen

The idea for this paper comes from Gordon Freegard who recognised that there is something ‘wrong’ with the picture below. However, he does not take the issues with the image to their logical conclusion.

It is proposed to analyse this image and compare it to images that are unimpeachable. The authors conjecture, and, the evidence will show, that the label connected to the photograph below has been misinterpreted.

Photograph One

There are two assumptions that underly this paper. The first, that the images form part of the collection of images in the album referred to on the web page (see http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/ timber1.html, accessed 16/12/2022). Secondly, that images fifty and fifty one on the web page cited are indicative of the content of the rest of the Album. If the conjecture of this paper regarding the location of this photograph is correct, even if the image above is not part of the Album, it is, for reasons that will become apparent, a very significant image.

Gordon’s Freegard notes the pitch of the roofs in the photograph above is different to the photographs below. The photograph is captioned Earliest photo of Canning Mills (emphasis added). Next to the caption is a flag and a citation number: “Note; the two mills and the different pitch on the roofs #71”. The citations appear at the foot of the page, citation 71 attributed to Ray Simpson (http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber1.html, accessed 16/12/2022).

In addition to the matters raised by Freegard note also:

1. Slope of hill runs up to the left of the image.

2. Position of the standing tree in centre of frame, and its size and shape.

3. There is a line of trees to the right and behind the buildings with the possibility that the trees represent a creek line.

4. The absence of railway.

5. There are no whims, bullocks or draft horses.

6. There are no sheds, store or other business infrastructure in the image.

7. There are no dwellings.

8. There is only one person in the image, the white ‘figure’ on the log at the right may be a second.

9. There is nothing to indicate this is a busy site, it is not a site under construction, nor is it in production.

A viewer of the image above and its related caption would be to assume that the expression “Earliest photo of Canning Mills” denotes this is an image of Canning Mills as built by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company and EVH Keane in 1890-1891. This papers position is that the assumption is partly correct but it ignores an etymological issue and the underlying purpose of the album.

The Ray Simpson collection is a series of 33 photographs contained in an album (the “Album”). The Album came to Ray Simpson via his wife’s family. Simpson’s wife, Margaret Simpson was a lineal descendant of the White family (http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber1.html, accessed 16/12/2022). Freegard does not note which of the White family she was related to. It would be useful to know which branch of the White family she was from as this would assist in conclusively determining the purpose for which the photographs were taken, and therefore, the reason why album was created. The photographs do not appear to be of the ‘happy snap’ or ‘holiday snap’ type. They are deliberate, showing specific features, particularly features on the zig zag, the rest show some aspect of a timber mill or mills, many include workers and their wife or partner. All images show evidence of planning, where there are people they are arranged for the photograph. All of the photographs suggest the album has a purpose.

Purpose of the Ray Simpson Collection

Much of the Album appears to be dedicated to aspects of the zig zag railway. The zig zag is operational, so this gives a time frame and indicates the photographs were taken some time after July 1891. On the 29th July 1891 the railway being reported as functionally complete. The report indicating that the actual completion date was “Saturday last” that is the 25th July 1891, and a train loaded with timber had run down to Midland on that day (News and Notes, West Australian, 29 July 1891, Pg. 4) see also (News and Notes, Southern Times, 3 August 1891, Pg 5). The report by referring to the timber being sent out implies that the mill or mills were operational prior to the 25th July 1891. With exception of Photograph One, the Collection relates to the zig zag or to the Mills at Canning Location 165 or are associated with that operation. Collectively these mills, meaning the Canning Jarrah Timber Co mills, are now know as Canning Mills, many have operating railway sections in view. This again provides a date in the same range as the zig zag photographs, that is 25th July 1891 or later.

The date the Album was complied is important as it indicates the albums function. One of the attributes of a photograph is its archival quality, each image captures and re-presents an instant in time. The central tenant of this paper is that the Album is an archive, but not in a general sense that a family photo album is an archive, spread across time and space, capturing children growing up, the family going on holiday and the like. The Album is tied to a specific event. In this context the term ‘event’ is used to denote construction, in the same way the construction of a building is ‘an event’, the buildings construction being capable of being subdivided into smaller events. That is, each brick laid in a building is a single event in a much more complex and prolonged event. However, one would not ordinarily photograph the laying of each brick. Instead, one might take a picture at the start of the construction, then as construction progresses to say, the half way stage, take a reference photograph or photographs, and continue that process of photographing each defined stage until construction is complete. One might also take photographs of the commissioning ceremony if there is one, or photographs of the manufacturing facility operating after completion. It is submitted that except Photograph One, the latter point is the purpose of the Album. The collection, physically, through its images, represents and re-presents the

achievements of one or more of the members of the White family. There was no opening ceremony for the Zig Zag upon its completion, there were no politicians needing to appear in public to proclaim their achievement. Instead, one or more of the White family opted to record the early operations of the Keane and White project at Canning Location 165.That is save for one picture. The picture in question has a specific connotation and a specific denotation. That picture is as much a tribute to their partner in the project, EVH Keane, as it is to the Whites involvement and achievement in their joint project. That picture is the Photograph One above.

The White Family Achievements

The White family achievements so far as they are relevant to this paper are well known, they are the survey of the zig zag and the operation and management of Canning Mills after 1891, in the first instance on behalf of Edward Keane, then The Canning Jarrah Timber Company. There is one critical newspaper report, it is dated 9 October 1890, it states:

“Mr. S. White manager of Mr. Keane’s new mill is having all the machinery and many of the buildings situated at the Canning saw mill removed to the site of the new mill. The new machinery is daily expected to arrive, when the mill will be got under way, and the Canning hills will be a business locality second to none (the Midland perhaps excepted)” (emphasis added) (Perth Water Works Canning, WA Record, 9 October 1890, Pg.7).

The quotation above describes the subject matter of the collection, the event, and the achievement. The relocation and reconstruction of the Canning saw mills, from the old site to the new site at Canning Location 165 and its commissioning. This aspect of the project being supervised by Mr S. White. Mizen points out “Keane became the owner of Location 75 when his name was entered on to the title to Location 75 (Mason’s Mill) in March 1887” (2021, http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%2015.html, accessed 16/12/2022). There are two aspects to the quotation above. The first, the relationship between Keane and the White family and all of the things that attach to it, and, that relationship influences the purpose of the Album. The second aspect is the expression “Canning saw mill”. This raises the etymological issue flagged above.

The first recorded use of the expression ‘Canning Mill’s’ occurs in the Victorian Express on the 7th November 1883, in relation to timber supplied from “Mr Joseph Shaw’s Canning Mills...”(Town Talk, Victorian Express, 7 November 1883, Pg. 2). Shaw’s ownership of Location 75 is well known. From an etymological perspective it was no longer appropriate to refer to the mill as Mason’s Mill as Mason was no longer associated with it. The descriptor used to denote the mill was drawn from the Lands Department district name for the area. In other words the mill became known for its locality rather than its owner. Likewise, the expression “Canning Timber Mills” was also used to refer to the mill at Location 75, it being adjacent to the proposed Victoria Reservoir site in 1889 (Perth Water Works, The West Australian, 3 December 1889, Pg3.). This report refers to the mill as being silent, perhaps even derelict. So this leaves the position that a photograph with a caption including the words Canning Mills could be any time after about November 1883. Baring this in mind compare Photograph One above with the photographs below.

Points of difference:

1. As Freegard notes (see above) the roofs are different particularly the extension to the roof on the mill towards the front of the picture.

2. The slope of the land runs down hill to the right of the picture to meet the creek.

3. The tree in the centre is different – split truck instead of solid.

4. Creek in the foreground not present in Photograph One.

5. Bridge on right side of photo is not present in Photograph One.

6. The ‘dwellings’ are not present in Photograph One.

7. The direction of the shadows and their length.

In Photograph Two above note the tree entering from the right hand edge of the photograph. At the base of the tree note the smoke and the bridge. Compare that to the photograph below.

Photograph Two - Canning Mills Location 165

It is submitted this picture was take contemporaneously with Photograph Two above. The photographer is now standing on a feature that is before the bridge in Photograph Two. There is no evidence of the tall tree in between the mills in Photograph One. The slope is also different to Photograph One, the gully for the creek in Photograph Two is also evident. There is no gully in Photograph One.

The photograph below is from the opposite end of the mill to Photograph Two. Note the smoke. Again there is nothing that corresponds with Photograph One. The impression of the second, third and forth photographs is that they are part of a sequence. They are all from the same location. They are all contemporaneous.

It is submitted that Photograph One, above, is a picture of ‘The Canning Mill’s’ taken about October 1890. To put it another way it is probably the only picture of ‘Mason’s Mill’. Perhaps it is more technically correct to describe it at this point in time as Keane’s Mill. The point and purpose of the photograph being to record it prior to it being dismantled by Mr White and moved to Location 165, to what is now known as Canning Mills. It is a picture to mark the beginning of the event that defines the purpose of the Album. It denotes Keanes possession and ownership of the mill. The connotation of the first image is, that it marks the first event that drives the purpose of the Album, Keane’s physical possession of the mill at Location 75. The possession of the mill marks the beginning of the overall achievement of the Whites’ and Keane’s project. The other images carry with them the connotation of the completion of the project. It is the writers view that the first photograph was taken from about were the remains of the managers house ruins are, in front of the fence for the present function centre. Mason’s Mill Road will be on the edge of the hill on the left side of the picture. The picture is looking towards the Owen’s property. The brook and tram line is behind the buildings on the right of the photograph.

Conclusion

Photograph One is on its own highly significant for the history of the City of Kalamunda. The writer knows of no other image that does, or is likely to depict ‘Mason’s Mill’. The significance of the image will be enhanced if it were in context with the rest of the Album. The Album is a culturally and historically important item. It is however, private property, it forms an important part of the White family history. The risk to the City is that the document is private property and as a result becomes lost to the City of Kalamunda and to future students. The significance of the Album arises from its subject matter and its purpose. It is significant from the perspective of the City of Kalamunda for its connections to the White Family and E.V.H. Keane. As an interrelated issue it is significant as it records the events that physically shaped Kalamunda, the construction and operation of the Zig Zag Railway together with the construction and operation of the Canning Timber Mill(s). The Album represents and re-presents the foundation stone upon which Kalamunda was built.

Recommendations:

1. The City or the Historical Society obtain a complete high resolution digital copy of the album.

2. The images in the digital copy be arranged in the same chronology as they appear in the album.

3. The digital images be made available for further study.

References

Freegard, G., http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/ timber1.html

Accessed 16/12/2022

Mizen. D., 2021, http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/timber%2015.html

Accessed 16/12/2022.

News and Notes, Southern Times, 3 August 1891, Pg 5.

News and Notes, West Australian, 29 July 1891, Pg. 4.

Perth Water Works Canning, WA Record, 9 October 1890, Pg.7.

Perth Water Works, The West Australian, 3 December 1889, Pg3.

Town Talk, Victorian Express, 7 November 1883, Pg. 2.

SOLDIERS HONOUR AVENUE KALAMUNDA

By David Mizen

For: Edward NANNUP WX14716. Missing: 5 Mar 42 (2/2nd. Pioneer Btn) Kalamunda WA. For the little that is know of Edward Nannup see (http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/local40.html, accessed 22/12/2022).

An ‘Honour Avenue’ is listed in the City’s History Inventory. The inventory places it in Stirk Park, that listing does not account for its creation, nor does it account for its movement. The evidence below will show that the true Honour Avenue is not inside Stirk Park.

Most Western Australians will be familiar with the State War Memorial in Kings Park and the dawn ceremony that takes place each year on ANZAC Day. Fewer would be aware of the Honour Avenues in the park. Conceptually (and typically) Honour Avenues are tree lined roads. However, in an Honour Avenue the function of each tree, typically, is to commemorate one of the fallen soldiers of the relevant war, the Boer War, World War I and /or World War II, in many cases the trees have a plate or cast metal plaque bearing the name of the fallen soldier the tree commemorates. Trees were often planted by family members wishing to remember those that did not return. Trees were also planted as a result of community organisation, as appears to be the case in Kalamunda, or a combination of the two.

There are said to be 547 honour avenues in Australian, more than half are in Victoria. The most expansive of these appears to be Ballarat Victoria with 3912 trees spread over 22 Kilometers. What follows arose as an attempt to determine how many avenues were planted in Western Australia, where they are, and, what relationship the walkway in Kalamunda’s Stirk Park has to the other Avenues.

The exact number of Honour Avenues in Western Australia does not appear to be definitively known. The best known are the avenues in Kings Park. However, there are others in Western Australia, a limited amount of research (confined to a newspaper search) has identified the following locations as having some form of honour avenue:

1. Kalamunda (refer below);

2. Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie R.S.S & AIL Sub Branch Kalgoorlie Miner 27 March 1945);

3. Armadale (Future Progress, Western Mail. 16 January 1930. Pg 43);

4. Albany (Mt Clarence Drive, Albany Advertiser 15 August 1949. Pg 3);

5. Balingup (Balingup Honoured, Manjimup and Warren Times, 25 August 1932. pg 2);

6. Busselton (Proposed Honour Avenue, South-Western News, 8 October 1926. pg 3);

7. Collie (Governor at Collie, West Australian, 17 May 1921. Pg 7);

8. Wyalkatchem (RSL Matters, Dampier Herald, 28 March 1929. Pg 1);

9. Point Walter (West Australian, 23 October 1922. Pg 9);

10. Nabawah Cemetery Chapman Valley (Geraldton Guardian, 21 August 1919. Pg 2);

11. Cranbrook (Cranbrook Road Board, Mount Barker and Denmark Record, 17 March 1947.Pg 7).

It is noted that most of these places are or where at the time of the newspaper report, small country towns. The creation of the avenue of honour was recorded usually as a result of a report by interested folk to a country newspaper. It is probable that there are avenues that are not reported, and, therefore it is likely there are others yet to be found. The above list does not disclose all material in relation to all sites found, as an example there is a large body of material in relation to Albany and Point Walter. It is not intended to deal with sites 2 to 9, the reports generally revolve around the sites becoming degraded over time. This then leaves item 1, Kalamunda.

Kalamunda’s Honour Avenue.

A commemorative avenue in Kalamunda appears to have been first mooted in 1947. In August of that year an advertisement was run in the Listening Post calling for the submission of names of permanent residents of the district who had died while on service in World War II. The names were to be supplied to the Secretary of the Kalamunda and Districts Progress Association no latter than 30th September 1947 (Kalamunda Honour Avenue, Listening Post, 1 August 1947 pg 21) see also (West Australian 23 August 1947 pg 21). The names were to be entered on a Honour Roll and plaques to be placed on trees planted for the purpose of remembering the fallen soldiers. Collie RSL ran a similar advertisement on 23 August 1947. (Collie War Memorial, West Australian, 23 August 1947 pg 1.). The back ground to these advertisements is set out in an article that was published in October. The Kings Park Board had received many requests from family members of deceased service men requesting that a memorial trees be planted for their deceased family member in the existing Honour Avenue. Three hundred trees had been planted in 1932 but had not been dedicated. These trees were offered to the RSL to be dedicated to those who fell in World War II. The Public Service Sub Branch of the RSL undertook to have name plates made, and, to arrange the location and placement of the plate on a tree in Lovekin Drive. The article contains a general request for names to submitted so that a name plate could be made, the first 300 names received would be given the opportunity of acquiring plates at a cost of 21/. The article then sets out the information required to be supplied. (Dedicating Another 300 Trees, West Australian 8 October 1947, pg 18). This does not explain how Kalamunda obtained its plaques. It is assumed that demand exceeded the available space on Lovekin Drive and/or that some families wanted their memorial closer to home. It appears that the Point Walter Honour Avenue also received plaques in this process (Honour Avenue, The West Australian, 3 August 1949, pg 25). It is highly likely that all name plates were made in one batch and distributed to the groups that ordered them. From this it appears likely that the RSL produced name plates for those organisations who placed orders, those organisation then created other memorial avenues in other locations including Kalamunda.

It was reported in 1948 that:

“...at the annual meeting of the Kalamunda Progress Association [it was] stated that ... [an] avenue of jacaranda trees had been planted on Guildford-road approaching Kalamunda and would be dedicated at an early date in honour of district servicemen who fell in World War II” (Hills Affairs, West Australian. 6 May 1948, Pg.11).

It took a little less that two years for the rest of the project to come together. The Kalamunda and Districts Progress Association advised that their plaques were available on the 9 March 1950. The association further advised that a dedication service would be held at the end of March (Darling Range Road Board, Swan Express 9 March 1950. Pg 1).

The Kalamunda dedication service was held on Sunday 26th March 1950. The dedication was performed by Mr W.J. Hunt, President of the Returned Serviceman League. The avenue is described as consisting of “a double row of Jacaranda trees lining Canning Road, the main entrance to the town”. The march was led by Major-General G.W Barber and consisted of ex service men, boy scouts and girl guides (Dedication of Avenue. West Australian 29 march 1950, Pg.12). The avenue “was dedicated to the 28 men of the district who lost there lives during World War II” (Honour-Avenue. West Australian. 27 March 1950, Pg.12). This establishes conclusively that Kalamunda has an Honour Avenue, but it does not definitively locate it. For various reasons the reference in the article to ‘Canning Road’ is dubious at best. A definitive location can be derived from two latter articles, the first, a competition entry referred to in the Daily News. Lex Hill, an architectural student and Kalamunda resident won a “Kalamunda competition” to design a rehabilitation project for a “historic site” and convert it to park land. The ‘parkland’ is described as:

“...bounded on one side by an honour avenue of Jacaranda trees, at the foot of which are the memorial plaques bearing the names of Kalamunda’s fallen. The original house built in 1891 and 1892 by Mr and Mrs Fred Stirk will remain.” (Winning Entry Was Student’s First. Daily News.

14 July 1950, Pg.18)

From the above Honour Avenue borders the now Stirk Park. There is a further later description: “entering Kalamunda by the main Kalamunda Road, and continuing southwards along that highway, one soon comes to its end where it merges into the west end of a short street, Honour Avenue and turning towards the east one is struck by the sight of a long row of jacaranda trees, on the right hand side of the road, with metal plaques at their feet commemorating and in honour of the men who gave their lives in the recent war.” (Greater Love Hath No Man, Kalamunda and District News, 30 April 1953, pg 2).

From the above, Stirk Park did no exist when ‘Honour Avenue’ was dedicated, and , ‘Honour Avenue’ in its original (and true position) is the section of the now Kalamunda Road from the intersection of Boonooloo Road up to Canning Road. A number of jacaranda trees are still in this location. The only issue remaining with respect to description and location is the difference in the descriptions of “double row” described at the dedication and the subsequent description of “a long row of jacaranda trees, on the right hand side of the road” in the article from Kalamunda and District News presumably by F.J. McNamara. The F.J. McNamara description is preferred as the Kalamunda and District News covered the issue on a number of occasions and was more familiar with the issue and geography. The collective evidence implies that Honour Avenue ran from Boonooloo Road to Canning Road and was comprised of a single row of trees with the name plates at the foot of each tree. Each tree is significant.

The significance of each tree is illustrated by the following letter: “Sir:- I have just read of the theft of trees from our roads. Here is another mean theft. Recently we went to the Guildford Cemetery Kalamunda Road to put flowers on our daughter’s grave but found that a brass jardiniere and a blue vase had been taken. The jardiniere a wedding present was used as it held plenty of water to keep flowers fresh. The blue vase was one of a pair; the other is in front of our son’s memorial tree in Kalamunda Honour-avenue. Yours etc,

LESMURDIE VICTIM.”(Graves Looted, West Australian, 2 July 1951 pg 10).

The trees were planted for a purpose, to commemorate the fallen. The trees in the absence of a true grave have the same emotional function. Evidently the trees mattered. They still matter today. Honor Avenue played an important part in ANZAC Day services after its dedication. Honour Avenue was the commencement point for services after that date. It is not clear why, or when, that tradition fell away.

There does not appear to be a record of the 1950 Kalamunda ANZAC Day service. The 1951 service is recorded in the Swan Express:

“ANZAC Day was observed by a service held at the War Memorial at 3:00pm and was attended by a large crowd. Dr Barber lead the march which started from Honor [sic] Avenue and proceeded to the Memorial headed by the Seventh Day Advent Band”. (Kalamunda News, Swan Express, 3 May 1951. Pg 5).

The 1952 service is also recorded in the Swan Express:

“ANZAC Day, April 25, was observed with the memorial Service held at the War Memorial at 3.00p.m. Veterans of both wars assembled in Honor [sic] Avenue and marched to the Memorial” (ANZAC Ceremony at Kalamunda, Swan Express, 1 May 1952. Pg 4).

The 1953 ANZAC day service is described in the Kalamunda and District News:

“The Kalamunda commemoration service was preceded by a parade of servicemen which fell in at Honour Avenue and later marched to the Memorial Shrine headed by the Cameron kilted Scotch College Pipe Band, under Drum Major Ned Gmeiner, whose skill and bearing were a remarkable feature of the days proceedings. ... The veterans marched in a soldierly style, and at least two members were Boer War veterans”. (ANZAC Remembrance. Kalamunda and District News, 30 April 1953 pg 1).

In 1954 the process was repeated , “a large crowd gathered to see the veterans march from Honour Avenue...”. (Pipers Lead Darling Range ANZAC Day Service. Swan Express. 29 April 1954. Pg 1). The upshot of these reports is that Honour Avenue appears to have been a named road, in the alternative it was known by that name as a matter of legend, a matter of special and important local knowledge. That knowledge seems to have disappeared, likewise the tradition of commencing the ANZAC Day march at Honour Avenue. Honour Avenue and the trees in the avenue matter from a functional perspective as a starting point for the ANZAC Day marches after its dedication, but they also matter from a personal perspective. They are significant for those reasons. The relevant perspective is captured below.

The following was published in the Kalamunda and Distinct News 1952 : IN TRIBUTE TO HONOUR AVENUE KALAMUNDA WA

To honour someone’s presence, Or alonged for baby’s birth, A little tree is planted In the breast of Mother Earth, To tend this growing emblem And watch the leafage grow Helps the miracle of Nature Whose gift each of us know,

An Avenue of Honour grows In Kalamunda town, Fine trees of jacaranda And when they are full grown A feast of shade and beauty For each one to behold, Recalling thoughts of someone Who never will grow old.

Let us regard maturing Of the trees with interest, In the years that are to be Will planters names be blessed, Heed this quiet, restful place, Cherish it with care, In a world of great unrest, Peaceful spots are rare.

(Shaw, M.P. Kalamunda and Districts News 19 June 1952, pg 3).

The letter above and the poem illustrate the importance of the trees. That is to remember the fallen. Those remembered in Honour Avenue are :

Cpl. G.B. Wood

Pte. G.E Woodall

Stoker A.L Stirk

Dvr. J.O. Street

Pte. H.W. Smith

F/L. C. Robertson, D.F.C.

F/Sgt. C. Sherwood

Pte. W.D. Spain

F/O. J.F. Pettit

Pte. C.J. Pepper

Stoker A.J. Noell

Pte. Edward Nannup

F/Sgt. G.H. Newman

F/Sgt. I.R.M. King

Sgt. C.E. Johnson

Pte. D. Jackson

Sgt. M.R. Hodgson

O/Seaman E. Hallett

Cpl. E.H. Ford

Pte. A.W. Findlay

Stoker E.E. Francis

(Greater Love Hath No Man. Kalamunda Districts News, 30 April 1953 pg 2.)

F/O. R.K. Dorrington

Gnr. W.H. Cunnold

P/O. W.E. Brine

Pte. N.G. Barron

Pte. W.H.G. Anderson

There is one issue remaining, the above list contains 26 entries, the article “Honour-Avenue” published in the West Australian on 27 March 1950 refers to 28 fallen. Are there 2 names missing or is the figure 28 a ‘typo’? The resources available a the time of writing do not provide an answer to that question.

Conclusion

The Honour Avenue in Stirk Park is listed in the City of Kalamunda’s History Inventory. That listing does not refer to any of the above, nor why it was moved. The information related to the move does not appear to be in the public domain. The above raises the issue:- Given the RSL’s objection to moving the Kostera Oval memorial why did they allow the movement of Honour Avenue?

Recommendation

The existing listing be amended to reflect the above. In addition there be an on the ground acknowledgment of the status and importance of the jacaranda trees remaining in the original (and true) Honour Avenue.

Reference List

http://pickeringbrookhistory.com/local40.html

Accessed 22/12/2022.

Albany (Mt Clarence Drive, Albany Advertiser 15 August 1949. Pg 3

ANZAC Ceremony at Kalamunda, Swan Express, 1 May 1952. Pg 4.

ANZAC Remembrance. Kalamunda and District News, 30 April 1953 pg 1.

Armadale (Future Progress, Western Mail. 16 January 1930. Pg 43.

Balingup (Balingup Honoured, Manjimup and Warren Times, 25 August 1932. Pg 2.

Busselton (Proposed Honour Avenue, South-Western News, 8 October 1926. Pg 3.

Collie (Governor at Collie, West Australian, 17 May 1921. Pg 7.

Collie War Memorial, West Australian, 23 August 1947 pg 1.

Cranbrook (Cranbrook Road Board, Mount Barker and Denmark Record, 17 March 1947.Pg 7.

Darling Range Road Board, Swan Express 9 March 1950. Pg 1.

Dedication of Avenue. West Australian 29 march 1950, Pg.12.

Dedicating Another 300 Trees, West Australian 8 October 1947, pg 18.

Graves Looted, West Australian, 2 July 1951 pg 10.

Greater Love Hath No Man, Kalamunda and District News, 30 April 1953, pg 2. Hills Affairs, West Australian. 6 May 1948, Pg.11.

Honour-Avenue. West Australian. 27 March 1950, Pg.12.

Honour Avenue, The West Australian, 3 August 1949, pg 25.

Kalamunda Honour Avenue, Listening Post, 1 August 1947 pg 21

Kalamunda News, Swan Express, 3 May 1951. 5.

Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie R.S.S & AIL Sub Branch Kalgoorlie Miner 27 March 1945.

Nabawah Cemetery Chapman Valley, Geraldton guardian, 21 August 1919. Pg 2.

Pipers Lead Darling Range ANZAC Day Service. Swan Express. 29 April 1954. Pg 1.

Point Walter, West Australian, 23 October 1922. Pg 9.

Shaw, M.P. Kalamunda and Districts News 19 June 1952, pg 3.

West Australian 23 August 1947 pg 21.

Winning Entry Was Student’s First. Daily News. 14 July 1950, Pg.18.

Wyalkatchem (RSL Matters, Dampier Herald, 28 March 1929. Pg 1

‘MCKENZIE’S MILL’ - WAS IT REALLY MR MCKENZIE’S MILL?

By David Mizen

This is perhaps the most contentious of the items on the City Of Kalamunda’s History inventory. The reason that it is contentious is it is presently listed as being situated at the ‘old’ Location 915 on Pickering Brook Road. How or why it is listed at that location is not clear or the point of this article. The purpose of this article is to air the new evidence that has come to light and in view of the new information to argue that the present listing needs to be re-examined and amended.

What follows is an edited and rewritten section of a much longer article by this author. That article was published by Gordon Freegard on the Pickering Brook History Group’s web site in 2021 (Mizen. (2021)). In turn that article is a part of a larger work that sets out the chronology of the timber mills that follow from the business set up by Benjamin Mason and deals with the issues missed by Slee and Shaw. The full chronology was broken up to make it manageable for web publication.

Below is map section showing Pickering Brook at about 1907.

Local repute suggests that there was a mill between Location 915 (now part of 511 Pickering Brook Road) and Holdroyd Road. Lands Department map DP 202197 shows a dam near this location and an “engine shed” between this location and the railway. Several small houses are also shown (for shed and buildings see top left of map section below) however, there is no mention by the surveyor of any mill. It is likely the engine shed is an end of line watering ‘station’ for the loco running between the No. 1 Mill, the Pickering Brook terminus and Canning Mills. Harper-Nelson confirms that there was a locomotive watering ‘station’ “at Ellery’s past Carilla” (Harper-Nelson, 1977, p. 3), Ellery held a conditional purchase agreement (No 57/573) which upon completion became Canning Location 915. There is further evidence for this proposition in an advertisement calling for Sleeper Hewers placed by Weston and Smailes in 1908 that refers to “Three Miles of New Rail put in”(Situations Vacant, West Australian 23 May 1908, Pg, 16). It is the writers contention that the watering Station referred to by Harper-Nelson is the end of the line in the 1907 map above. It would be a logical place to house, water and

maintain the locomotive. It is evident that Harper- Nelson had information that is relevant to the site, it is not know if she had more information. It has been stated that Location 915 is the site of McKenzie’s Mill, this is highly unlikely, Harper-Nelson alludes to McKenzie’s Mill being east of Sala Tenna’s (Harper Nelson, 1977, p3) and therefore east of Sala Road. There is substantial documentary evidence that shows McKenzie’s much further east, the evidence for McKenzie’s is dealt with further below. There is documentary evidence in relation to Location 915 it is included below.

Section of Lands Department map DP 202197 Sourced from Landgate showing Location 915 shed and buildings, dam and other infrastructure not included.

The section reproduced further below is a Forests Department equivalent of Lands Department map DP 202197. This map does not show the dwellings and other infrastructure at Location 915, it does show the dam and No 3 Log landing. The dam is still (as of last visit in 2020) more or less intact. This site and remaining material on the site is probably all that remains that is related to the Pickering Brook No 1 Mill. Most of the rest have been destroyed. The historic dam is above the ‘new’ Kaolin clay dam. The No 3 Log landing runs into the edge of ‘new’ dam. There is now a body of evidence that implies that the No 1 Mill was near the bottom corner of Location 848 (Mizen, (2021)) (for map see below), the later No 1 Log landing was also at that site. The No 2 landing was about the lower left corner of Location 855, this site has been filed with rubbish and destroyed. The ‘road’ shown running through Location 841 and 849 is likely a whim trail that feed into the back of the No 1 Mill. The town site, the No1 Mill site and the related infrastructure should be considered as a precinct, all the sites are related, all tie back to the No1 mill. In turn the mill is significant for its relationship to, firstly, Patterson, then Barton, this in turn draws in Jessie Barton-Bruce, Harrie Massey and the Manhattan Project (University of London, no date) and also Bartons son Robert and his relationship with the Burma Railway Graves Survey Party and the Australian 26 War Graves Recovery Unit (Mizen (2023)). This summarises the issues known to the author regarding location 915, the paper will now examine the issues with respect to McKenzie’s Mill.

McKenzie’s Mill

Slee and Shaw describe Millar’s No. 6 Mill as “McKenzie’s Mill” (Slee & Shaw, 1979, p51). There are three issues attached to ‘McKenzie’s Mill’, the location of mill proper, the previously undocumented McKenzie’s Forest station and a boarding house. The Forest Station or boarding house is not dealt with by Slee and Shaw. The third issue that arises is who’s mill was it? Was it Mr McKenzie’s mill, as alluded to by Slee and Shaw,or not? The issue of the mill and Forest Station location can be dealt with quite simply.

On the 21st October 1921 tenders were called for the construction of a fence and hut close to Millar’s No. 6 Log Landing (Conservator of Forests, 1921). There is no mention of the mill, it appears likely the station was set up to monitor the operation of the mill and was constructed contemporaneously with the mill. Figure 1 below shows the relationship between the mill and the Forest Station. The sketch is from State Records Office file related to the station. The call for tenders gives a probable first date for the mill, late 1921.

Section of Forests Department Map A.28 1940 (item 304823). Map sourced from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

On 4th August 1924 it was reported that the Forest Station was burnt down (Conservator, 1921). In February 1925 steps were taken to replace the buildings and it appears that a more substantial building was erected at Barton’s Mill. It is not clear if or when the buildings at McKenzie’s Forest Station were replaced. A portion of a Forrest’s Department map showing the location of McKenzie’s Forest Station is included in the Barton’s Mill Education Department file (map section reproduced below) and shows the location and evolution of the rail eastward. McKenzie’s mill is recorded as operating in 1923/24 Forests Department report (Forests Department, 1923/24, p. N.P). It should be noted that this map like many from the Forests Department DOES NOT show all railway or other infrastructure related to either ‘McKenzie’s Mill’ or Barton’s Mill, Ashendon Road is not labeled.

Figure 1, Sketch attached to request for tenders cited above sourced from State Records Office . Photograph by the author.

Ashendon Road runs through the centre of the map section. Looking towards Mundaring the mill is on the left of the road, the Forest Station is on the right. There is important infrastructure on the right associated with a well and loco watering point. Consideration needs to be given to declaring this area a historic precinct. Until recently the north most log landing (not shown on map) was intact. It was recently lost to fire. On the writers last (late 2020) visit the eastern log landings were still intact but are at risk of fire damage. A new listing for McKenzie’s Mill should be created but a proper survey should be done to draw in all relevant features. The site includes the Forrest Station and a boarding house (see below), its a large site with many hidden features, there is a section of cobbled road east of the mill. The McKenzie’s site needs to be considered in conjunction with Barton’s Mill, Sunshine Mill and Smaile’s Mill. All of the mills were run under the Millar’s umbrella and represent differing phases of operation and technical sophistication. The question is not whether it should be listed but how it should be listed, A listing that does not deal with the infrastructure on a global basis risks losing the railway creek crossing ‘bridges’, whim crossings, wells etc. These mills operated as a group, they ought be protected as a group together with all relevant infrastructure. This suggests a historic precinct. None of the available maps show all of the relevant infrastructure, see sections below. Therefore to do this properly requires a proper ‘survey’ of the areas.

The next issue is who’s mill was it?

Map section sourced from State Records Office Education Department Barton’s Mill Cons 1497 item No 1925/0736. McKenzie’s Forest Station. Mill now removed. Related correspondence dated 1932.

This section shows the spacial relationship between ‘McKenzie’s’, Bartons Mill and some of the rail infrastructure.

Continued over page.

Map section sourced from State Records Office Forestry Dept. Correspondence regarding Millar’s Timbers Leases. Cons941 1924/0010 Mill is upper left. Forest Station to right of mill. Note absence of name.

Is the mill really Mr McKenzie’s as alluded to by Slee and Shaw

In the following respect ‘McKenzie’s Mill’ is hugely significant. In 1924 Mrs McKenzie advertises for a “faller” and a “horse team” (McKenzie, 1924, p. 20). A subsequent advertisement appears in December. The advertisement calls for a “mill hand, married, wife capable of running a boarding house”. The vacancy was at “Mrs McKenzie’s Mill, Canning” applications to “Millar’s’ Timber and Trading Company Limited St Georges House” (Millar’s Timber and Trading Company Limited , 1924, p. 11). It is evident that the mill was at least managed by Mrs McKenzie’s and that it was part of the Millar’s consortium. There are 2 points of interest, the first and perhaps most astounding is the mill is described by Millar’s own advertisement as Mrs McKenzie’s Mill, the fact there are 2 separate advertisements from apparently separate sources indicate this is not a mistake. Secondly, correspondence relating to the Barton’s Mill School shows that Mr D. McKenzie was the mill engineer at Barton’s Mill but he also had an orchard some 3 miles away (McCullum, 1910). The McKenzie’s orchards are also significant, this issue will be examined latter.

On the 28th October 1925 the Department of Labour wrote to ‘Mr I. McKenzie’ of Pickering Brook regarding registering the mill under the Factories and Shops Act 1920 noting the mill had not been registered under the requirements of the Act. Isabella McKenzie in reply annotates the letter from the Department of Labour and notes :

“I have not been working saw mill since May. Machinery pulled to pieces & stored (all the movable parts) don’t expect to start again at present.” (Department of Labour , 1925).

The reply appears to have been received at the Department on the 4th November 1925. This gives a reasonably clear end date for the operation of the mill. The map section above shows the mill, Forrest Station and an unidentified structure on the far right upper corner of the map. This unidentified feature may be the ‘boarding house’ referred to in the advertisement referred to above, or it may be a structure associated with the teamsters operating at the time. The important thing here is that the map sections clearly show how the two McKenzie’s sites (mill and Forest Station) relate to Barton’s Mill.

The remaining issue is how does Donald McKenzie and his orchards fit into the equation. McKenzie’s orchard site is adjacent to the site referred to as Saligaris Paddocks, which the writer believes is now part of the City of Armadale- Kelmscott. They were both formerly part of the City of Kalamunda. McKenzie was not satisfied with the DRRB so requested that his property be transfered to the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board. The start of the McKenzie dispute with the Darling Range Road Board goes back to about 1900, this letter was towards the end and is dated June 1914:

“Mr McKenzie wrote respecting road to his property at Pickering Brook. He had got Mr Loaring to inspect it, but supposed he was too busy along with the other members of the board looking at motor roads. It was decided that the culvert be put in and approaches to same made” (Darling Range Road Board, Swan Express, 12 June 1914, Pg 8).

In October 1917 there was a follow up, the moral of the story is if you cant get your access road fixed in a timely manner it is time to move to a more accommodating road board. The published version is:

“The Public Works Department forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Armadale - Kelmscott Road Board asking for the transfer of Mr. McKenzie’s property, which is situated on the boundary of the Armadale - Kelmscott district. The transfer was agreed to on the motion of Mr. Loaring providing the board would also agree to take over Mr. Salagari’s property” (A Transfer, Swan Express, 12 October 1917, Pg 6).

This is why there is a big piece of the former Darling Range Road Board Land now under Armadale Kelmscott control. McKenzie’s holding was described in 1909 (State Fruit Industry, West Australian, 3 November 1909, Pg.4). McKenzie’s orchard is significant because, along with Illawara they were the first to export fruit, particularly apples to the UK (West Australian Fruit in London, West Australian, 10 May 1912, Pg.3). From a historical perspective the McKenzie’s story needs further investigation and the orchard site should be brought back under the control of Kalamunda so that they may be jointly listed with the mill.

Conclusion

The present listing with respect to Location 915 is not correct. The features at this location relate to the end of line features associated with the Pickering Brook No1 Mill as set out by Harper-Nelson. The Carrilla town site was gazetted to support the mills, but by the time the town was gazetted the mills had moved much further out. However, the two sites run together with the related infrastructure, the railway and log landings.

McKenzie’s mill is a separate but related project, it operated under the Millar’s umbrella. It represents the advancement of the timber industry through the forest. It also marks the advent of forestry management practices with Departmental over site of mills. It was probably the only mill in Western Australia managed by a woman. It is also connected to Johnny Brown and his team (Slee and Shaw (1979, p 51)) .

Donald McKenzie is also significant in his own right. McKenzie’s dispute with the Darling Range Road Board physically shaped the City of Kalamunda’s boundaries.

Recommendations

Location 915 (511 Pickering Brook Road)

1. The present listing for Location 915 (511 Pickering Brook Road) be retained, but the listing be amended to refer to the material above regarding its status as an end of line maintenance facility, for Paterson then Barton.

2. The KDHS review its material, especially material prepared by Barbra Harper-Nelson to see what other information there is regarding this location.

‘McKenzie’s Mill’

1. ‘McKenzie’s Mill’ and Forest Station together with all related infrastructure should be listed in the Cities History inventory.

2. The mills primary significance is that it was probably the only mill in WA that was managed by a woman. The site of the mill marks the progress of the destruction of the forest.

3. McKenzie’s mill is part of the Barton’s mill complex that includes Barton’s Mill as the central mill, McKenzie’s Mill to the north, and the Old Sunshine Mill to the south, together with all of the infrastructure that supports that complex. The complex is significant for its work sites, work practices and related residences.

4. Mrs McKenzie is related to R McCaskill father of the child buried at Canning Mills. (See post script below)

Post Script

After this paper was completed the following was located:

“The Late Mrs. I. F. McKenzie.

The funeral took place in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Karrakatta, yesterday afternoon, of the late Mrs. Isabella Frazer McKenzie, wife of Mr. Donald McKenzie of 56 Canterbury Terrace, Victoria Park. Mrs. McKenzie ,was born in Queensland 62 years ago and had been a resident of this State for 34 years. The chief mourners were Mr. Donald McKenzie (husband), William Donald, and Murdock McKenzie (sons), Annie McKenzie (daughter), Mr. R. McCaskill (brother), Mrs. R. McCaskill (sister-in-law), Mrs. B. Keatch and Mrs. R. McLennan (nieces), R. and J. McCaskill and R. McLennan (nephews). The pall-bearers were Messrs. P. Gray, P. Skinner, J. Finnigan, B. McVittie, W. G. Bettenay and J. H. Davenport. Among the many present were Messrs. A. Wayne, S. Campbell, H. Catt, L W. Stewart, Geo. Bell, J.J. Brown, L. Ponton; Mesdames Coulter, Bell, Little, Campbell, McVittie, Cotton. Hayward, Hewison. Gray, Sexton, Finnigan, H.W. Keatch, McCounell, Laswell and Miss Campbell. Numerous wreaths were placed on the grave, where the service was conducted by the Rev. J. Colvin. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Donald J Chipper and Son.

(The Late Mrs. I. F. McKenzie. West Australian, 14 July 1931, Pg 9).

Reference List

A Transfer, Swan Express, 12 October 1917, Pg, 6.

Conservator of Forests. (1921, October 21st). Tender. The West Australian, p. NP. Conservator. (1921). file Note to T.N. Stoate S3116 Cons 934 1928/0832. Perth: State Records Office.

Darling Range Road Board, Swan Express, 12 June 1914, Pg.8.

Department of Labour., (1925, October 28th). Letter to Mr I McKenzie. Perth: State Records Office Au WA S321 Cons 749 1925/1506.

Forests Department. (1923/24). Working Plan No 1 Mundaring Working Circle. Perth: Forests Department. Forests Department Map A.28 1940 (item 304823). Map sourced from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Harper Nelson, B. (1977), Bartons Mill, 1977. Kalamunda: N.P.

Jacoby. (1910, May 14th). Letter to Minister for Education. Perth, Western Australia. State Records Office

Eduction Department Bartons Mill School file

Lands Department survey map DP 202197 Sourced from Landgate

Slee, J., & Shaw, B. (1979). Kalamunda a home in the forest. Kalamunda: Shire of Kalamunda.

McCullum, J. (1910, March 23rd). To the D.G. Retrieved from Letter item 10 : State Records Office

Eduction Department Bartons Mill School file

McKenzie, M. (1924, November 1928). Wanted. The West Australian, p. 20. Millar’s Timber and Trading Company Limited. (1924, December 30th). Wanted. The West Australian, p. 11. Mizen, D. 2021 MILLAR’S KARRI AND JARRAH COMPANY 1902, URL http://pickeringbrookhistory. com/timber%2017.html

Accessed 18/22/2022.

Situations Vacant, West Australian 23 May 1908, Pg, 16.

Slee, J., & Shaw, B. (1979). Kalamunda a home in the forest. Kalamunda: Shire of Kalamunda. State Fruit Industry, West Australian, 3 November 1909, Pg.4.

West Australian Fruit in London, West Australian, 10 May 1912, Pg.3.

MARY LOUISE (MOLLIE) SKINNER

19 SEPTEMBER 1876 - 25 MAY 1955

By David Mizen

The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, in relation to the suburb of Cook, in Canberra , Australia’s Capital, states:

“(21) Skinner Street .. .. From Atkinson Street south-east of Clisby Close generally southwesterly, south-easterly and north easterly to Oakes Street.

...

(19) Skinner Street – Cook - Mary Louisa Skinner (1877-1955) Authoress, famous for her short stories; collaborated with D H Lawrence in writing ‘The Boy in the Bush’. (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, (No.83) 2 October 1969 , Pg. 5790).

The Commonwealth of Australia knows more about this important author that the City in which she spent significant time and in which her family owned property.

Kalamunda History Inventory Listing

The City of Kalamunda’s History Inventory contains a listing for Place 163 Wilson Home. In that listing it is stated: “This home was originally a two roomed cottage with a verandah built in 1903 by the Skinner family and occupied by them until 1919” (City of Kalamunda (2019), Municipal Heritage Inventory 2015,NP).

The listing in its present form is devoid of any meaningful information. Skinner was a relatively common name in Western Australia in the early 1900’s. The listing goes on to set out the subsequent purported owners of the property. Returning to the Skinner family. The most significant members that are easily identifiable are:

1. Colonel JT Skinner, died 1902 leaving a widow two sons and five daughters (Colonel Skinner, Western Mail 15 November 1902, Pg. 12).

2. John Skinner, late Corporal “A” Company,16th Battalion who owned a property called “Lemnos” in ‘Walliston’ which he purchased in early 1917 (District News, The Swan Express, 29 March 1918, Pg.3).

3. Mary Louise Skinner (referred to in the Gazette above);

4. Robert Skinner killed in action (The Roll of Honour, The West Australian, 14 June, 1917, Pg.7);

With respect to John Skinner’s property Smiths Weekly provides a rational for the name ‘Lemnos’ which states: “WAY back in 1915, Lemnos Island, ... was an Allied naval and military base, and the harbor afforded splendid protection for all. Rubbing shoulders with each other were ships of all sizes, from the mighty battleship, “Queen Elizabeth”, right down to small tug-boats, and even Nile River ferry steamers.

WE did not see much of the Island prior to the Gallipoli landing, but when the 1st Australian Division was relieved and returned to Lemnos for a rest period, we had the opportunity to become acquainted with the island and its inhabitants. Those Diggers who were privileged to be there, will remember it for the quaint wind mills with their huge revolving sails. These mills used by the peasants to grind their corn, were built on the hills dotting the countryside, in order to catch the maximum volume of wind” (Lemnos, Smiths Weekly, 18 April, 1942, Pg.12)

It is a notorious fact that the 16th Battalion Royal Western Australian Regiment was part of the New Zealand and Australian Division that landed at ANZAC Cove on the 25th April 1915. The division formed the second wave after the initial assault. John Skinner, is at the least, significant as a Gallipoli survivor. But this is not the end of the story, or, the end of the problems with the listing. There are other individuals in the authors list above. There are also other Skinner families.

The author has identified at least one other line of Skinner’s, that line may or may not be related, but the author can not tie any of them to Kalamunda. Colonel JT Skinner, referred to above, is a very significant person in Western Australian history, however due to his date of death the author can not place him in Kalamunda in the time frame of the listing. On that basis, the house in question is not his, unless the listing is wrong. Turning to John Skinner, the house could be his, but the time frame for the listing is wrong. The print media record indicates he purchased his property about 1917 after his return from Gallipoli. There are other possibilities, but the print media record clearly identifies John Skinner as owning property in ‘Walliston’ in March 1918. In addition, there are other relationships at play in this scenario. The Geraldton Express on the death of Mrs Parry states:

“On Saturday morning Mrs. Parry relict of the Rt. Rev, Bishop Parry, second Bishop of Perth, passed away in one of the private hospitals of the city. ... The deceased lady was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Leak QC, ... The deceased lady leaves surviving her two sons, one of whom is the Rev. Lionel Parry, lately ordained for the Anglican ministry, and the other is a member of the firm of Messrs Cavanagh and Parry, architects. She also leaves one daughter, Mrs. Sanderson, of Kalamunda. ...The chief mourners were Messrs G. H. Parry, L.W. Parry (sons), Mrs. A. Sanderson (daughter), Mr. A. E. Parry (stepson), Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Cecil Clifton, and Mrs. H. T. Kelsall (sisters), Mrs. George Leake (sister-in-law), Mr. A. Sanderson (son-in-law), ...” (The Late Mrs Parry, Geraldton Express, 3 November 1909, Pg.3).

The next piece of the puzzle was published in 1919, the publication was probably a ‘puff piece’. However, on the 11 May 1919, the Sun announced:

“The Letters of a. V.A.D,” written by a clever West Australian lady, Miss Marie Skinner, have scored such a success that there is a run on them at the booksellers. Miss Skinner’s publishers have made her liberal offers for another book. She is matron at the Warren Hospital, Jardanup, and is a daughter of the late Colonel Skinner. Her mother, who lives at Kalamunda, is a daughter of the late Mr. George Leake and sister of the late Lady Parker (Chats with the Cats, Sun, 11 May 1919, Pg.6).

The state of play now is there are two possible owners of the property the subject of the History Inventory listing, John Skinner or Mrs Skinner. In the alternative there are two properties. However, the date Mrs Skinner is stated to be living in Kalamunda is after the date of purchase of the property stated to belong to John Skinner. This raises the possibility the properties are near to each other, or, possibly next door to each other. However neither property appears to have been purchased in the time frame indicated in the listing. The next piece of the family jigsaw puzzle is published in 1923.

On the 7 March 1923 the Daily News published the obituary of the Late Mrs J.R.E. Skinner which states:

“The funeral of the late Mrs. Jessie Rose Ellen Skinner, an old colonist, took place on Monday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends. Deceased was born in Perth, and except for an extended holiday to the Old Country, had resided all her life in this State. She was the daughter of the late George Walpole Leake, one of the early pioneers of the colony, she married the late Col. James Tierney Skinner, C.B., D.S.O. The chief mourners were Mrs N. E. Single Misses M. L. and M. S. Skinner (daughters), J. R. Skinner (son.), J. H. M. Law, E. Fletcher (sons-in-law), Mrs. Tom Lodge, Mrs R. C. Clifton, Mrs Keith Adam, Mrs Kelsall (sisters), Messrs. R. C. Clifton, K. Adam, T. Lodge, Dr. Kelsall (brothers in law). Among those present were Messrs. N. Keenan, A. Sanderson,...” (Obituary, Daily News, 7 March 1923, Pg.3).

There is a further final piece of the jigsaw puzzle published 20 February 1925. It states:

“On Wednesday, 11th inst., Mrs. A. Sanderson, of Kalamunda, entertained a number of friends of Miss M. Skinner at an afternoon tea party at the Karrakatta Club. Mrs. Sanderson and Miss Skinner are cousins, their respective mothers being two Miss Leakes and two of the prettiest of our Perth belles long ago. Miss Skinner book, “The Boy in the Bush,” has been subjected to much criticism. Vases of wildflowers and roses formed the pretty floral decorations at the tea party” (Social Sparks, Freelance, 20 February 1925, Pg.13).

This final piece takes this paper back to the beginning and the point of the entry in the Commonwealth Gazette. The pieces of the family tree are now all laid out. It is now time to turn to the ‘back story’. The first part is contained in Camp Chronicle which reports:

“On Saturday, March 16, a busy bee inaugurated by the Walliston Progress Association met at ‘Lemnos,’ the residence of John Skinner, late Corporal ‘A’ Company, 16th Battalion, who has been living in the district for the past 12 months, and spent the whole day working in his orchard. Mr. Skinner was severely wounded at the landing at Gallipoli. After being treated for many months in Egypt, he returned to Australia in January,1916, suffering severely from blood poisoning from the effect of shrapnel wounds in the head. He came up to the Kalamunda district in 1917, hoping to receive benefit from the fine air of the hills, and has improved in health so much that he was able to take up a small orchard. He is still far from strong, and has for the past three months been an inmate of the Base Hospital, Fremantle. It was gratifying and encouraging to him to return and find that his neighbors had rallied round and done so much to help him” (Who’s Who in Khaki, Camp Chronicle, 28 March 1918, Pg 4).

From the above John was at the Base Hospital approximately early January to late March 1918. In November 1918 the Daily News wrote:

“The ‘Morning Post,’ London,of September 27, says:— ‘The Letters of & V.A.D.,’ by R. E. Leake,is full of charming still pictures of hospital life. The author has a keen eye for stray humors, and I rejoice over the saying of a valiant color-sergeant on his way to the operating theatre: ‘Whatever you says, man alive, I stays by my word. It goes against my repulsion to be cut up by him, and I am all of a tremble at the thought of it and non -pulsed as well!’ The author of the book is Miss Mollie Skinner, who has used a family name as nom de plume; she is on the nursing staff of the Base Hospital, having returned a few weeks ago from service abroad (Mainly about People, Daily News, 28 November 1918, Pg 3).

John and Mollie’s time a Base Hospital does not appear to overlap. However:

“Sister Mollie Skinner, recently returned from nursing service, is staying with her brother, Mr. J. Skinner, at Kalamunda. She is recovering from a severe injury to her knee” (Mainly About People, Daily News, 9 September 1918, Pg.5).

It is not clear how long she was incapacitated, the physical incapacity would have given her time to write. In December 1919 she is advertising her own private nursing care facility in ‘Kalamunda’ (Wanted Known, Kalgoorlie Miner, 26 December 1919, Pg. 2). By November 1920 Mollie had relocated to Leithdale, Darlington (Mainly About People, Daily News, 5 November 1920, Pg.3). Meanwhile John’s position was not improving.

Following his stint at Base Hospital it appears he returned home for a short while before his health deteriorated and he needed further assistance, he spent time at St Andrews Lesmurdie, there are a number of reports of J Skinners cricket outings with the St Andrews Cricket Team in the latter part of 1920. Again in 1921 and early 1922. In February 1922 a ‘smoker’ was held for Mr Jack Skinner hosted by the local RSL to mark his moving to Darlington. John followed Mollie to Darlington. It was also reported that Mr Payne had taken over his selection near the soldiers convalescent farm (Soldiers and Sailors, Sunday Times, 26 February 1922, Pg.5). The fact Mr Payne is reported to have taken over John Skinner’s property does not ‘square’ with the present History Inventory Listing. Now to the crux of the matter, Darroch states:

“BEFORE moving to Perth for a year in 1994, I know that Lawrence and Frieda had stayed at Mollie Skinner’s guesthouse, Leithdale, at Darlington outside of Perth, and that Lawrence had subsequently rewritten Mollie’s novel, The Boy in the Bush. I also knew that Mollie Skinner’s returned WWI injured veteran brother, Jack, on whom she based the hero of The Boy in the Bush, moved to Darlington from his returned soldier settlement farm at Kalamunda in the Hills, when Mollie took up residence at Leithdale” (Darroch, 2017).

Of the academic commentators, Sandra Darroch is the most accessible, the brief commentary that is accessible deals with Rose Cottage. The most significant commentary is by Emeritus Professor Paul Eggert and is contained in the Cambridge Edition of The Boy in The Bush published by Cambridge University Press. There is a significant amount of discussion in the academic journals on Mollie Skinner and Lawrence. Its a significant debate in the English Literature cannon. As Darroch points out ‘Jack’ Skinner is the subject of the of The Boy in the Bush.

Jack Skinner, properly known as John Skinner, is connected to Kalamunda through St Andrews and his own property Lemnos. Based on Myles’s comments regarding Rose Cottage it appears likely that John’s mother also owned a property in Kalamunda, but John’s mothers home, Rose Cottage, was moved to Darlington in 1923 (Myles (2017). Mollie spent significant time in Kalamunda either at Johns looking after the property for him, and also, likely looking after him, but she also ran her own private facility in ‘Kalamunda’ prior to moving Darlington. Given that Rose Cottage was moved to Darlington this leaves Jack’s property as the likely subject of the listing, with all of the possibilities, and, all of the consequences that flow from that. Given the apparent time line, it appears that the genesis for The Boy in the Bush is Mollie’s time spent in Kalamunda, the original name for the book prior to DH Lawrence’s rewrite was the House of Ellis, there is an Ellis ‘house’ in the Kalamunda Museum. It should also be noted that the book was made into a TV series filmed in 1984. English literature as a genre is not this authors suit. The Boy in the Bush needs someone with an interest and knowledge of Kalamunda’s history and qualifications in Literature to analyse and put together an argument regarding how and where Kalamunda fits into the book. The digital extracts of the book that are available to the author are reminiscent of the newspaper articles advocating for Ben Mason to have a proper railway, limitless jarrah everywhere. This brings this paper back to the problems with the City’s History Inventory.

It is clear that the listing regarding the Skinners has many manifest flaws, this also appears to be true of many of the listings in the Inventory. At best, the listing in question fails to identify which of the Skinner family owned the property the subject of the listing, further, if the property is Jack Skinners, it fails to identify the correct time frame for his ownership. At worst, the reference to the Skinners is completely irrelevant. Proper identification of ownership means in this case, the difference between a site of international significance as a result of it’s association with the author Mollie Skinner, and a site of no significance at all. There are fundamental problems with the way the listing was created and maintained. The City appears to rely on well meaning amateurs for its information, that information has been received, and a listing was created. In this case, with no apparent verification against the relevant Certificate, or, Certificates of Title. Further, the City does not appear to internally review it’s Inventory listings regularly, or at all. The problem in this case, and with regard to other items in the Inventory, is things change, often very quickly. This has consequences. The photograph in the City’s present listing bears no resemblance to real estate sale photo’s of the same address (on the house, ND). If the site the subject of the current listing was associated with Jack and Mollie Skinner, the fabric of that building has been lost, the structure that was of Jack’s and Mollie’s era appears to have gone. That loss, is essentially as a result of a deficient History Inventory listing, a bureaucracy that seems not to take history seriously, and, has no process to validate, or invalidate information received prior to creating a listing. The question that arises is - Have the properties in the City of Kalamunda with associations to an internationally significant author and members of a hugely important Western Australian family been lost for ever? There is at least one other significant property in the City of Kalamunda that is directly associated with Mollie Skinner, further research and location of evidence is needed to resolve that property’s listing. In addition, it is pointed out that there is at least one other related property in the Inventory listing who’s ownership is not properly attributed that is at risk of loss, if it has not been lost already. A question that arises from this paper is how many of the other properties in the Inventory have the same or similar problems. In this authors view all the History Inventory listings need a proper root and branch examination, review and update.

The other thing that the author observes is that no one has whole heartedly ‘claimed’ Mollie, there does not even seem to be a complete list of her short stories – there is no visible recognition of her work in the way Catherine Suzanna Pritchard is recognised, except in academia, but that recognition is not accessible to most in the City of Kalamunda. She is recognised in Canberra but not in her home state of WA. Darlington has made a half hearted attempt but there is no real recognition of her in a material sense. The City of Kalamunda has an

opportunity to stake a claim and to build something – a literary award for scholarship on her life (there are arts grants for research), literary workshops, a project or projects built around Mollie, Jack, St Andrews and the bush. A biography of Mollie or Jack. Short film (or long) projects based on, or around, Jack, or Mollie, or both. Given the current governments stated interest in rebuilding the WA film industry there are a huge number of possibilities.

Post Script

Lest WE Forget

The Boy in the Bush “DEATH NOTICE.

SKINNER.— John Russell, late of 16th Battalion, A.I.F, on July 14, 1925, at Southern Cross, son of the late Colonel James Tierney Skinner , C.B, D.S.O, and the late Mrs. Jessie Rose Ellen Skinner, after nine years of suffering” (Deaths, West Australian, 15 July, 1925, Pg 1).

Buried in Southern Cross Cemetery Anglican section plot A113 (Shire of Yilgarn, (ND)). (Unmarked.)

Reference List

Chats with the Cats, Sun, 11 May 1919, Pg 6

City of Kalamunda (2019), Place 163 Wilson Home, Municipal Heritage Inventory 2015, City of Kalamunda. Colonel Skinner, Western Mail 15 November 1902, Pg. 12

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Thursday 2 October 1969 (No.83), Pg. 5790

Darroch, S., 2017 URL https://www.dhlawrencesocietyaustralia.com.au/rananim_sept_2017_p3.html

Accessed 13/1/2023

District News, The Swan Express, 29 March 1918 Pg.3.

Lemnos, Smiths Weekly, 18 April, 1942, Pg.12.

Mainly about People, Daily News, 28 November 1918, Pg. 3.

Mainly About People, Daily News, 9 September 1918, Pg.5

Mainly About People, Daily News, 5 November 1920, Pg.3.

Myles, L., (2017) URL http://www.dhlawrenceinaustralia.com.au/rananim/Rananim_Vol_24_No_2_Sep_2017.pdf Accessed 17/01/2023.

On the house, (ND), URL https://www.onthehouse.com.au/property/wa/lesmurdie-6076/23-rootesrdlesmurdie-wa-6076-8691541

Accessed 17/01/2023.

Obituary, Daily News, 7 March 1923, Pg.3.

Shire of Yilgarn, (ND), URL https://www.yilgarn.wa.gov.au/community/facilities/southern-crosscemetery.aspx Accessed 16/1/2023.

Social Sparks, Freelance, 20 February 1925, Pg.13

Soldiers and Sailors, Sunday Times, 26 February 1922, Pg.5

The Late Mrs Parry, Geraldton Express, 3 November 1909, Pg.3.

The Roll of Honour, The West Australian, 14 June, 1917, Pg.7

Wanted Known, Kalgoorlie Miner, 26 December 1919, Pg. 2

Who’s Who in Khaki, Camp Chronicle, 28 March 1918, Pg.4

LEST WE FORGET: CAPTAIN ROBERT KENNETH ALEXANDER BRUCE

AND THE 26TH AUSTRALIAN GRAVES REGISTRATION

UNIT (26AGRU) - SOE/FORCE 136 - THE LAST MISSION?

By David Mizen

Robert Kenneth Alexander Bruce was born on the 29th August 1901 (Unknown, 1938). Probably at Donnybrook. He is the first child of John and Alice Bruce. John Bruce will be known to most that are familiar with Kalamunda’s history as John Alexander Barton of Barton’s Mill (Mizen, (2020)). For the purposes of this paper he will be referred to as Barton.

John Barton worked in the timber industry in the lower south west (Mizen, (2020)). The Bartons moved to Canning Mills probably some time in 1905. Where the Barton’s lived is not clear, Kessel states that in his time at Canning Mills circa 1906-1907, Barton was mill foreman (Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg. 3). This probably means that the Barton’s occupied the mill Mangers House at Canning Mills. John Barton died 13th July 1908 at the No1 Mill Pickering Brook. Roberts mother remarried and the family moved to Korbel (Mizen, (2020)). In all, the Bartons lived in ‘Kalamunda’ a little under five years. However, this was long enough for the family to make life long friends with a number of key figures in Kalamunda’s history. When Robert’s youngest full blood sister died in 1950 there were notices placed by members of the Weston, Owen and Beard families Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg. 3)). There is no evidence of how Robert spent his younger years.

Robert attended Perth Modern School and attained his leaving certificate in December 1919 (The University Leaving Certificate Examination, The West Australian, 15 December 1919, Pg8). Harper-Nelson states he then went into the West Australian Surveyor General’s Department (1995, p. 2). The Malay Civil Service list confirms that Robert was a Cadet Surveyor to the Surveyor General (Unknown, 1938). He gained his unrestricted surveyors license in 1924 (Unknown, 1938). Robert is recorded working in the Plantagenet District (Albany) in 1925 (Plantagenet Road Board, The Albany Advertiser, 10 October 1925, Pg 4). A little later in the year at Kojonup (Kojonup Road board, Great Souther Herald, 31 October 1925, Pg.3). These reports relate to routine land surveying for country roads and country towns. There is little in the media record of his work in WA In 1927 or early 1928 he took up a position as surveyor on agreement in Malaya. He was appointed to the Malaya Civil Service on 11 February 1929 (Untitled, Malacca Guardian, 11 February 1929, Pg 11).

During the 1930’s Robert worked his way up through the Malay Civil Service. There are references to Robert in the various editions of the Dominion Office and Colonial Office List which show his progress up through the Malay Survey Office. In addition to Robert progressing up the public service ladder, by 1931 Mrs Bruce was headmistress of the Banda Hilir English School (Malacca News, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 September 1931, Pg.11). They were both active in the social scene, particularly tennis. Who the Bruce’s crossed paths with in the latter part of the 1930’s is not known at this point. There are a number of possibilities.

John Davis was a Malay Police Officer. He served as part of the Police Special Branch,, he was also part of the Special Operations Executive. This later became part of GoodFellow’s Force 136. Davis began his police career in Pahang in 1931, he learnt Malay and spent time in Canton and Macau, he learnt Cantonese. This lead to his work with Special Branch. In 1941 Davis was working on intelligence relating to the Malayan Communist Party. This included the ‘stay behind’ parties (Unknown, (ND), John Davis February 12, 1911 - October 27, 2006). Prior to the fall of Singapore Davis had been training local communist guerrillas at the 101 Special Training School (Chow, A. (ND.)). Davis and others had a plan to defend Singapore but communication, organisation and forward planing does not seem to have been a strong suite of the British Army in 1941.

It became apparent in early 1941 that parts of Malaya and Siam (Burma now Myanmar) had not been mapped. As a result it was decided by Colonel W.F.N Bridges to form a military Survey Company. At the time Bridges was Surveyor General of the Federated Malay States and Deputy Director of Surveys at the Combined Military Headquarters Singapore. An experienced air surveyor Mr T.W Williamson, was recruited from the existing Survey Department. Additional personnel were given specialist training. The officers given specialist military training were Major I.C Booth, R.K.A Bruce, G.C. Stubbs and A.L.M. Greig. These four officers were sent to India for a six month course in aerial surveying and conducting war surveys. They returned to Malaya in December 1941 (Booth, 1945) see also (Auckland War Memorial Museum, (N.D)).

The Field Survey Company was formed in September 1941. It was initially comprised of 16 officers and about 400 other ranks. Major I.C. Booth, R.K.A. Bruce, GC Stubbs and A.L.M. Greig were incorporated into the company on their return from India. The company became part of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force attached to the British Army (Booth, 1945). There are a number of other figures in the Malay story who are not yet accounted for in this narrative, the first is colonel Basil Goodfellow (noted above). Goodfellow was evacuated from Singapore in February 1942, and responsible for the establishment of Force 136. Two others used less conventional methods but were successful in evading the Japanese. The first was Captain Richard Broome, the second was the previously mentioned John Davis. GoodFellow, Broome, Davis (Chow, A. (ND.) and another operative Lt Col F Chapman formed the basis of what became Force 136.

The purpose of Force 136 was to harass and sabotage by all means possible the Japanese operations. In essence Force 136’s purpose was guerrilla warfare (Government of Canada, (ND.)) See also (Chow, A. (ND).

The purpose of Federated Malay States Volunteer Force Survey Company as originally envisaged was to provide field surveys. This was soon abandoned and the local survey knowledge was put to defensive use. The company’s job became to plot, fix and orient the defensive field guns. However, Booth’s report notes that on the 5th January a party was established to assist field detachments utilising cadastral survey sheets to prepare target listings giving co-ordinates by reference to mile posts, bridges, cross roads and other points of importance. The reported purposes was for artillery use. The company was actively engaged in the defense of Singapore but was swallowed up when Singapore fell. On the 15th February 1942 the company become Prisoners of War (Booth).

The above is extracted from a short report prepared by Major I.C Booth. Booth was the company commander. The report was prepared after the Japanese occupation collapsed. The report is titled “A short History of the field Survey Company Federated Malay States Volunteer forces (FMSVF)”.The report was filed on the 10th September 1945 (Booth). The Auckland War Museum has a entry in relation to A.L.M. Greig. This entry is very close to the related part of Major Booths report. It is not clear whether Greig provided the information or whether the Museum was drawing from the Booth report. Booth’s report also notes the members of the FMVSF were put into forced labour on the Thai - Burma Railway. This included Robert. The horror of the Thai Burma railway is well known. Booth’s report notes one death while in captivity. It should also be noted that the POW’s went to extreme lengths to maintain records of all kinds during their incarceration (War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg.2). This record keeping became extremely important after liberation. Japan surrendered on the 2nd September 1945. The collapse of the Japanese army resulted in the liberation of the survivors of the railway and other POW camps, the liberation of the Malay and Burma regions was achieved by Force 136. By August 1945 there were 371 Force 136 operatives in Malaya backed by about 3000 Communist guerrillas (Chow, A., (ND)) .

Force 136 personnel in Malaya and Burma were operating in conjunction with the British Army Command. There was a large contingent of Gurkha troops (Chow, A..) In addition there was a significant portion drawn from the Chinese-Canadian population in Canada and parachuted into Malaya and Burma in June and August 1945. Once on the ground Force 136 co-ordinated with Army command and the RAF to air lift 1000 tonnes of supplies, 120 doctors and relief workers into all known POW camps in Malaya in the first week of September 1945. Canadian 136 operatives were parachuted into Burma in March and April 1945 and were engaged in the liberation of POWs and stabilisation work pending the arrival of the British Army (Government of Canada, (ND.)). At this point

the author does not know which camp Robert was in. What happened immediately following the collapse of the Japanese occupation is not clear. There is a report in the Straits Chronicle that groups ‘Captain Bruce’ with Lt Colonel Chapman and Captain Davis as insurgents into Malaya prior to September 1945 (Daring Guerrilla Activity in Malaya, The Straits Chronicle, 21 September 1945, Pg.1). This report does not accord with Booth’s report, which puts Captain R.K.A. Bruce in captivity in a POW camp. There is nothing obvious that links Captain R. K. A Bruce with Chapman and Davis, unless the reported air survey training included other special training, there is nothing to substantiate this proposition.

It is more likely that the article has mistaken Captain R.K.A. Bruce for Captain Richard Broome who was noted above. Booths report all but rules Bruce out as an overt Force 136 operative. However, it is not possible to totally discount Robert as a covert Force 136 operative. There are a number of issues that arise from the records that are available, that are related to Roberts movements after liberation, that suggest something was afoot.

Captain R.K.A. Bruce’s movements are known from the end of September 1945 and theoretically there should be a traceable army paper trial. Before venturing into Roberts post September activities there is an issue that needs to be flagged. That issue arises from Booth’s report. In the report there are two statements of interest:

1. “1. War Diary records of the field Survey Company were destroyed on 15.2.42 – the date of the capitulation of Singapore – because they contained references to disbanded Asiatic personnel.

2. “15. [Speaking of the Asiatics] ... Many of them were frightened and said so – but they still obeyed orders. Some – and every nationality was represented did sterling individual work and behaved as old soldiers throughout.” (Booth).

However, in late 1941 Booth and the others had been in India for six months and in this period Davis was ramping up his training activities. The authors conjecture is there may well be a crossover between the local members of the Malay Survey Department and Davis. The first point above can be read in two separate ways. The first, as a general attempt to protect the non European members of the civil service who were not overt members of the British Army, an act by the master of general benevolence, an act of charity. The second reading is far darker. The company duties on the 5th January 1942 included constructing target lists and providing reference information, including mile post co-ordinates, cross roads, bridges and other points of importance. The stated rational for the compilation of these lists was for artillery purposes. Such a list would also be invaluable for a stay behind saboteur or saboteurs. With respect to the second point, the local Malay and Burmese population generally hated the Japanese. This was the motivating factor that Chapman and Davis were employing at the ST 101 training school and later when they were both on active duty in the jungle (Chow, A., (ND)) . It is also likely to be true of those locals employed by the Malay Surveys office and those that were enlisted in the Survey Company. At the least, Robert would have had situational knowledge of these matters as a result of his role as senior survey officer and by virtue of his role as Captain.

Whether Robert had direct knowledge of Chapman and Davis and their operatives and activities is unknown. In any event, Robert was assigned back to duty at some time in early September 1945.

At some point in mid to late September Robert was seconded to what has now become known as the Graves Survey Party. The details of the rational for his appointment are not available to the writer at present. The process by which he came to be in the party is recorded and forms part of the Australian War Museum records (Australian War Memorial (ND, AWM52 21/1/5 - HQ Australian War Graves Group SEAC [South East Asia Command]) . Some of the logistical details are recorded on the Australian War Memorial web site and are set out below.

The War Diary for HQ Australian War Graves reveals that Graves Command Head Quarters and the 26 WGU, took a very convoluted flight, it departed Melbourne on the 17th August, then to Sydney (18 & 19th) - Perth (19 to 21st ) - Cocos Islands (21st) - Colombo (21st to 29th) - Calcutta - Madras (31st to 1st ) arriving in Rangoon on the 2nd September. The stop over in Colombo was for 9 days. Ceylon is notable for being the Head Quarters of Force 136 operations (Chow). On the 24th of August the diarist (there is a signature which appears to be Capt R Kerr) notes:

“Comm. Attended D of Org. Conference. Had pers interview with D. of O. And read secret reports.” (Kerr, R, 1945, Pg,2).

On the 29th August Kerr or his batman notes “Captain arranged for the onward movement of HQ and 26 WGU to Madras ... 1st Sept ... HQ and 26 WGU left Madrass for Rangoon ((Kerr, R, 1945, Pg,3) (emphasis added). The diary does not record the make up of the 26 WGU. The War Diary for the 26 WGU for this period is not listed on the War Memorial Web site with the other War Grave Units. On arrival at Rangoon the HQ War Diary sets out what would be expected, the requisitioning of vehicles, finding accommodation and scheduling meetings. This includes Lt Lemman meeting the Australian Contact Team Office. It also notes that about 100 POWs were already in Rangoon and that some material including burial sites and other plans had already been handed over. The diary also notes that 26WGU was to remain in Rangoon to work the Moulmein – Bangkok area “with Br.” (Kerr, R., Pg 4). It is assumed this means with the British Army. The diary also notes that the unit was “under supervision but NOT command of A.D.G.R. &.E.”. The emphasis is in the original. This implies that (a) 26 WGU the unit was under British command and (b) it was a special purpose unit. Given Captain Kerr’s trip to Colombo and subsequent diary entries it is open to conclude it was operationally part of SOE/Force 136. On the 6th September the diary notes that Lt Leeman was conducting interviews with POWs and collecting information. There is a 9 day break in the diary where nothing is recorded. The next recorded date is the 16th September, the diary records Leeman is introduced to the upper echelons. It now also contains the first reference to the survey party. The diary states “Lt Leeman and Lt Eldridge and 3 P.W Officers to do a recce of Railway Line” (Kerr, R., Pg 6). There is a further entry confirming successful requisition of all necessary stores and equipment. The next entry is on the 22nd September and indicates that five 26 WGU personnel were to depart for Bangkok by air, poor flying conditions prevented the departure. The anticipated departure date was the 23rd or 24th (Kerr, R., Pg 7). In trying to trace Roberts story through the official army records there are a number constants:

1. On the Australian side Lt Leemon and latter his co commander,

2. The steadfast refusal to name the Prisoner of War Officers Babb and Bruce, these two do not appear anywhere in the official unit records, for all intents and purposes they don’t exist;

3. Photographs and related listings on the Australian War Memorial’s web site put both Captain R.K.A Bruce and Padre H. C. F. Babb as Survey Party team member.

The War Memorial’s web site pages dealing with the ephemera, the 26 WGU photographs and film footage allow some of the pieces to be pulled together from this point onwards. On the 22 September 1945 Captain R.K.A Bruce and Captain White of the 2/26 Australian Infantry Battalion left Bangkok by truck and traveled to Nakom Paton. There, they transfered to two trains and proceeded to the start of the Burma Thai Railway. There is film footage of the departure, it is located on the Australian War Memorial site at this location: https://www.awm. gov.au/collection/C190462. Captain Bruce appears at about the 10 second mark smoking a cigarette. The stated purpose of this mission was to locate and record British and Australian graves of service men killed in action and POW graves. It was also to locate and recover film and other records and documents the Prisoners of War had created and buried at or near the POW Camps (Australian War Memorial (ND)). Much, if not all, of the buried POW documentary material was recovered. However, this brings up another point in relation to Booths report.

Booth States:

“A draft history was prepared soon after capitulation and was buried with other records in Siam. This draft cannot now be traced although the cache has now been cleared, ...”(Booth) my emphasis).

Booth does not say the document was not recovered. Japan surrendered on the 2nd September, The 26 WGU was on site at Rangoon and operational on the 2nd of September. Booth’s report was filed on the 10th September, the recovery mission did not officially start till the end of September 1945. There is a void in the records from the 5th September to the 16th September. The Graves Survey party was formed in that void.

Documents and listings for the photographs and film footage on the Australian War Memorial web site indicate that the Graves Survey Party was attached to, or was part of, the 26th Australian Graves Registration Unit (26 AGRU). The 26 WGU and the 26 AGRU are one and the same thing, likewise Lt Leeman referred to above and Lt Leemon referred to below are one and the same person. The 26 AGRU was under the ‘control’ of AIF Lieutenant Jack Leemon. In October 1945 Major Weymyss of the British Army visited the 26 AGRU. On the War Memorial

web site there is a photograph of Lt J.H. Leemon and Major Weymyss. The memorial staff cryptically point to the Majors insignia of a parachutists wing (Australian War Memorial (ND) Prachuap Kiri Khan). There was no need for a high ranking British parachute officer to visit the Australian 26 AGRU. However, this comes back to the point in Kerr’s diary, the unit was not under Australian command. There is a fundamental question – why was the 26 AGRU the odd one out with respect to its command structure. The only answer that comes to mind is that there was something in the cache, or caches that the 26 AGRU were tasked to recover that contained something the British Army wanted back. Evidently if there was such a document or documents, it was nothing to do with the Australian officers or soldiers material. The Australian material was collated and turned up in various court hearings. This included a cache created by Dr Hamilton (War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg.2). The cache at Thanbyuzayat included Brigadier Varley’s diary. The Graves Survey Party took a photograph of the cache after its recovery (Australian War Memorial (ND), Thanbyuzayat) Varley’s diaries were produced in court as evidence in at least two separate matters. The most conspicuous and well know was the Japaneses War Crimes Trials, see for example (Diggers Died with ‘True Valour’ Says Diary, The Argus, 6 June 1950, Pg 1). With respect to the War Crimes Trials 26 AGRU the Graves Survey Party did their work, the evidence was gathered and presented. This was phase one of the units operations. The existing diary starts on the 5th January 1946, the first report of activities is dated 26 January and notes “checking is now complete and acknowledgment will be made as soon as possible. Complete precedence is being given to exhumation and the work consequent upon exhumation. The other work is done as thoroughly as that permits.”(Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves Pg. 18). It is assumed that this means that the survey party had found all there was to find and the unit was now moving into a recovery and reburial in the cemetery. The diary notes that on the day of the report 93 bodies had exhumed and reburied, it also notes that the 26 AWGRU had been joined by the 35 and 36 AWGRU and that their returns would be provided by those units (Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves Pg. 18). There are two other points of interest. The first, the now Major Kerr visits the unit at Kanburi Cemetery on the 28th February (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg.31). The second point is the report for the week ending the 6th April which is as follows:

“Subject : WEEKLY REPORT NO 26/26 FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6 APR 46

1. PRAHUAB KIRIKHAN AREA

The OC (Lieut LEEMON) and party returned to unit on 1 Apr 46 in little more than half the estimated time. The Australian section of the Allied party exhumed 202 of the 258 bodies brought back to KANBURI. Numerous natural and weather difficulties were overcome, and great service was performed by all the OR’s in the party. Lieut YAMAGUCHI, OC Japanese working party, proved particularly capable and efficient and is worthy of special mention.

2. LOSS OF PISTOL

The OC’s pistol was lost while in the KIRIKHAN area. The loss was connected with the disappearance and probable murder, of L/Cpl NOMA, the Japanese interpreter. This matter has been covered fully in a report rendered separately.

3. BURMA-CHINA SEARCH PARTY

This party left on 1 Apr. The estimated time for the trip is four weeks. S/Sgt CAPPER and L/ Sgt RANKIN are members of the party. ... ” (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg 45).

In a modern context the loss of a soldiers weapon is a punishable matter. In the context of this situation a criminal negligence homicide charge could have been laid. Yet, there is nothing in the record to indicate any action was taken against Leemon. The rest of the diary appear to this writer to be unremarkable, the workload decreases as time goes by. In June the Unit is moved back to Bankok (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg.170). There is no reference in the War Memorial catalogue of any other missing diary to follow the diary that is referred to above The diary does not contain any information regarding the Unit being disbanded. It is not clear where Robert was in early 1946.

At some point in early 1946 it appears that Robert was released from the British Army. It was reported Robert was appointed as Chief Surveyor Penang in July 1946 (Malayan Union Appointments, The Straights Times, 25 July 1946, Pg.5). This follows the 26 AGRU moving to Bankok. Following the conclusion of the War Crimes Trials Robert, Mrs Bruce and daughter Katherine spent six months in Western Australia (Local chit Chat, Blackwood times 29 August 1947, Pg.12). Robert returned to Malaya on the Gorgon arriving on the 30th January 1948 (Passengers Due by the Gorgon, Morning Tribune, 30 January 1948, Pg 3).

ROBERT KENNETH ALEXANDER BRUCE died on the 26th August 1956 (Metropolitan Cemeteries Board). Roberts death was reported in Malaya on 30th August 1956 the report records that at the time of his retirement in July 1955 he had reached the position of Chief Surveyor of Johore. It also notes that he had been awarded an OBE ( Malayan Dies in Australia, The Straits Times, 30 August 1956, Pg 8) see also (Malayan Dies in Australia, Straits Budget, 6 September 1956, Pg.16). Despite numerous searches the awarding of the OBE cannot be verified.

Legacy

This paper can not comment on Bruce’s achievements in the Malay Survey Department. His contribution to the Graves Survey Party is difficult to quantify due to the refusal to refer to him in the official records. Captain Bruce’s Graves Survey Party was an anomaly, it had multiple functions, to find, record and recover documents, and, to find and record grave locations, then, secondly, recover those graves and ensure proper interment of the remains.

The Graves Survey Party was part of a slightly bigger unit, the 26 AGRU. But the party was not under the Australian command structure. The 26 AGRU’s job along with many other AGR Units was to exhume collect and relocate the remains of the fallen and inter them in a proper cemetery. This was a colossal task. The official army documentation available at the time of writing this indicates that for the majority this was ‘routine’ work. The documents lack feeling. The single 26 AGRU diary that is available comprises 191 pages and covers the period January to August 1946. There is nothing in that diary which indicates why that unit was outside of the Australian command structure, why that unit was tasked with the Railway and other recces and why the relevant personnel were appointed.

Document recovery is not a job that is given to any body. Particularly where it is known that those documents evidence War Crimes and will be used for prosecuting that issue. In addition, there is no answer as to why Capt Kerr and probably Lt Lemmon and the nucleus of 26 AGRU had to go to Colombo and why Kerr was made privy to secret documents. There is also the additional difficulty of the missing original draft FMSVF company history and the missing first 26 AGRU operations diary for the critical period September to December 1945 (Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves) and the apparent lack of action relating to the loss of Lt Leemons weapon and the apparent murder of a Japaneses officer. This paper can not conclude that Captain R.K.A. Bruce was an Force 136/SOE operative but it can say the Graves Survey Party or someone in it was operating on a completely different set of orders to the rest of the AGR Units.

Significance

There are a number of questions related to the War graves survey party that remain unanswered, this includes Bruce’s role in it. It is evident he was put there for a reason, but that reason is not clear. The evidence hints at a secondary function but the presently available evidence does not allow any kind of conclusion to be drawn. The Graves Survey Party as a whole were responsible for the recovery of documents that were instrumental in the prosecution of Japanese war crimes. The Graves Survey Party were part of the 26 AWGU , which was one of many such units.

The significance of the War Graves Units is evidenced by the experiences of 2 opposing ends of the spectrum. Edward Nannup who is remembered in Kalamunda’s Honour Avenue was a member of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion (Mizen, 2023), Nannup is buried in the Singapore cemetery (CWGC, (ND.)). Neil McPherson also of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion survived the fall of Singapore and after the war made several visits to the POW camps in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s (McPherson, N., (Various)).

This included visiting the Three Pagodas, there is a photograph of the Survey Party at this site. McPherson also visited the Cemetery at Thanbyuzayat , Hell fire pass and Non Pladuc station- there is also a photograph of the Survey party at this location. The significance of the War Graves Units generally is summed up in this statement: “In 1998 Neil returned to Thanbyuzayat with his son Ean to pay his respects at the graves of his many mates who died on the railway, after 56 years it was still a very emotional pilgrimage. In 1999 he returned again with two of his pioneer mates, this time to find the grave of a cousin he was unaware was buried there, in 1998, he placed wreaths on this Scottish soldier’s grave whose family did not know of its existence” (McPherson, N. (Various)).

Recommendations

During the course of writing this paper contact was made with a tour guide associated with the Thai- Burma Railway the writers attention was drawn to the following books:

1. War Graves Digger by Jack Leemon

2. First Reconnaissance of the Burma-Siam Railway by Albert Eldridge and H.C. Babb

3. Search for Graves along the Burma Thailand Railway 1949 by H.C. Babb

In addition

4. The Price of Peace: True Accounts of the Japanese Occupation, Foong Choon Hon, trans., Clara Show (Singapore: Asiapac Books, 1997). Includes chapters by Davis and (Babb or Lemmon)

5. Our Man in Malaya Margaret Shennan (Biography of John Davis);

6. The Jungle is Neutral F. Spencer Chapman (Chapmans Malay Jungle operation);

7. Operations Most Secret SOE the Malayan theatre Ian Trenowden - (Most SOE/136 were conducted by Dutch submarines out of Colombo – the Dutch did not have a submarine base in Colombo it was Fremantle ! This needs looking into. This text is in the Australian War Memorial Library )

8. The Thailand-Burma Railway, 1942-1946: Documents, post-war accounts, maps, edited by Paul H. Kratoska. It appears to be scarce, it is a 6 volume set it is expensive.

Most of these are available on the second hand market it is recommended that the City or the Kalamunda And Districts Historical Society purchase copies before they become impossible to find. The purchased copies be placed in the History reading room as REFERENCE materials.

References

Auckland War Memorial Museum, (N.D) URL https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/onlinecenotaph/record/ C143415#

Accessed 23/1/2023

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves. URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ C2703793

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ C2715801?image=18

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/1/5 - HQ Australian War Graves Group SEAC [South East Asia Command] URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2703681

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND) URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C190462

Accessed 23/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND) Thanbyuzayat, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279266.

Accessed 23/1/2023

Australian War Memorial (ND) Prachuap Kiri Khan https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306874

Accessed 23/1/2023

Booth, I.C., (1945) A short History of the field Survey Company Federated Malay States Volunteer forces. Chow, A. (ND.) Force 136(Operation Gustavus in Malaya) URL https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_68_2005-02-02.html

Accessed 23/1/2023.

CWGC, (ND.) URL https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2139942/edwardnannup/ Accessed 26/1/2023

Daring Guerrilla Activity in Malaya, The Straits Chronicle, 21 September 1945, Pg 1

Diggers Died with ‘True Valour’ Says Diary, The Argus, 6 June 1950, Pg 1

Dominion Office and Colonial office List 1931 Straits Settlement surveyor on agreement 1931 pg 438

Government of Canada, (ND.) URL https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/secondworld-war/uncommoncourage#asia

Accessed 25/1/2023

Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg 3. Kerr, R., (1945) URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2703682

Accessed 25/1/2023

Kojonup Road board, Great Souther Herald, 31 October 1925, Pg 3.

Harper-Nelson, B. (1995, May 4th). Bartons Mill. Talk Given 4th May . Kalamunda, Western Australia: Kalamunda Historical Society.

Local chit Chat, Blackwood times 29 August 1947, Pg 12.

Malacca News, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 September 1931, Pg 11.

Malayan Dies in Australia, The Straits Times, 30 August 1956, Pg 8.

Malayan Dies in Australia, Straits Budget, 6 September 1956, Pg 16.

McPherson, N. (Various) URL https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2020-01/Macpherson_Neil.pdf

Accessed 26/1/2023.

Metropolitan Cemeteries Board URL https://portal.mcb.wa.gov.au/name-search/ns-detail/?id=25e13222- 8e1d-ec11-b6e700224814c2d3

Accessed 27/1/2023

Mizen (2020) John Alexander Barton URL http://www.pickeringbrookhistory.com/local%2053.html

Accessed 27/1/23

Passengers Due by the Gorgon, Morning Tribune, 30 January 1948, Pg 3.

Plantagenet Road Board, The Albany Advertiser, 10 October 1925, Pg 4.

The University Leaving Certificate Examination, The West Australian, 15 December 1919, Pg 8.

Unknown, (1938), Dominion Office and Colonial office List , M alaya Civil Service Surveys Department pg 704.

Unknown, (ND), John Davis February 12, 1911 - October 27, 2006 URL http://www.guise.me.uk/haycraft/john/obituary.htm

Accessed 24/1/2023

Untitled, Malacca Guardian, 11 February 1929, Pg 11

War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg 2

Photos of Capt R.K.A. Bruce

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C43399 War Graves Commission survey party at Nakom Pathon train station https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279290 Three pagodas https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279266 unnamed but Bruce 2nd from right looking down. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306868 possible kneeling front right.

ST ANDREWS HOSPITAL LESMURDIE (PLACE NO 108)

By David Mizen

“An event that is attracting a good deal of interest in local motoring circles is a sand pull and hill climb, which the Automobile Club are to conduct on the Welshpool Road at Kalamunda on Saturday, April 28, for prizes donated by ‘The Motorist and Wheelman.’ No conditions are being imposed other than that competing cars must be of the touring or roadster type, while the event is open to both professional and private drivers. Any device may be employed to assist the passage of the car through the three stretches of sand between the starting point (opposite Mr. S. C. Marriott’s residence) and the main constructed portion of the road up the hill. It may be removed at the foot of the hill, but must be carried on the car to the finishing point, at the water trough opposite Mr. E. L. Maw’s orchard. Afternoon tea will be provided by Mr. A. Sanderson, M.L.C., at St. Andrew’s Hall, Lesmurdie, and the proceeds from this will be handed to the local Red Cross Fund. As the event is the first, of its kind to be held in the State, and there is no entrance fee, it is anticipated that there-will be a large number of competitors. Entries close with the secretary of the club (Mr. W. E. Hale) on Tuesday, April 24” (Motoring, West Australian, 17 April 1917, Pg 7).

The present listing for St Andrews minimises the connection to and involvement of the Returned Serviceman’s Association and Later RSL, it completely omits a reference of international literary significance. If the present statement of significance is to be believed the returned soldiers are better of forgotten. This paper intends to highlight the Repatriation Hospitals significance.

The ‘Motorist and Wheelman’ event referred to above took place at the hight of the first World War. Fund Raising was starting to take on new dimensions. The Red Cross were at the forefront of the fund raising drives. The above event appears to be the first contact between the Red Cross and St Andrews in the physical sense. Sanderson’s relationship with the Red Cross has not be examined. However, his position as a parliamentarian would have put him in contact with numerous charities. The story of St Andrews is not about the individual politicians, the drivers of the various repatriation schemes were the returned men themselves.

It is impossible to write about the returned service men with out traversing the two principal groups, these two groups over lap. The first is the Returned Serviceman’s Association (RSA) and the second is the self styled “uglies”. Chronologically the RSA were first, it was made up of returned service men,. It appears to be the precursor to the Returned Serviceman’s League (RSL). Something occurred in 1919 that led to the RSA disappearing from the scene, the organisations name was ‘phased out’. What prompted the change is not clear and is beyond the scope of this paper. It is proposed to deal with that issue at a later date as the RSA was a significant presence immediately after the end of the war. It was involved in the initial repatriation efforts that culminated among-st other things in the settlement at Pickering Brook. The soldiers who returned from the conflict were largely unimpressed with the state of affairs when they landed back in Australia. The RSA did the initial heavy lifting, the organisation built connections to get things done, but even they ran into road blocks and eventually battle fatigue. Then there is the ‘uglies’.

In similar fashion to the RSA and its morphing into the RSL, the story of the formation of the ‘uglies’ is beyond the scope of this paper. It is touched on in briefly in the biography of P.A. Connolly (Mizen, 2022). Connolly was a supporter of St Andrews both indirectly through his involvement with the Red Cross, but it is also highly likely he provided direct support through his personal charitable activities. Connolly became the Life Patron of the Ugly Mans Association (PAC, Call, 19 November 1920, Pg 3). Connolly was on the management committee of the Red Cross when it purchased St Andrews, having been elected as a life member in 1916 (News and Notes, West Australian, 11 February 1916, Pg.3).

Red Cross and St Andrews

The agitation for proper facilities for returned servicemen seems to have started around February 1917. At a civic reception it was noted that the RSA in the eastern States owned hospitals and convalescent homes, and it was hoped that the WA Branch of the RSA would soon have similar facilities (Civic Reception, South West Times, 15 February 1917, pg.3). There was a significant delay in the implementation of the associations wishes, it appears that there was a shortage of suitable facilities. However, a suitable property was located. On 9 April 1919 the Reparation Department announced that:

“After scouring the country for many miles around, looking for the most suitable site for a convalescent home” said Dr. Agnew, “we have made arrangements to acquire St. Andrew’s School at Kalamunda, the property of Mr. A. Sanderson, MLC ..and we were very fortunate in being able to secure such a satisfactory place, almost ready for occupation. The area of the land is 80 acres, and it is situated 2 1/4 miles from the railway station. It is intended to develop the establishment on the lines of a farm colony, at which soldiers will be brought back to normal-both physically and occupationally. Men, who through long periods of idleness in hospitals and convalescent homes have lost both the physical ability and the mental attitude for useful employment who have in fact developed what is often known as ‘hospitalism, will be given healthy mental and physical recreation, be re-taught the value of work and gradually restored to a normal and useful condition both of body and mind.

...

The Red Cross Society, which all over Australia has done such magnificent work for soldiers throughout the war, is prepared to stand by us now and give us magnificent help in the equipment and maintenance of these institutions. One in my position cannot speak too highly of the Red Cross, not merely for its financial and material help, but also for the splendid moral influence its women workers have had on the soldiers. In New South Wales, for example, the Red Cross Society is running all our homes for us--equipping, staffing and maintaining them under our supervision-and I am prepared to say they are running them better than we could do, and bringing to bear on the lives of the men a power for good that we could never hope to wield. I have no doubt that the society’s organisation in this, State will do all that is required of it in regard to these homes, as successfully as is being done in the Eastern States” (Incapacitated Soldiers, West Australian, 9 April 1919, pg 4).

The assistance provided by the Red Cross referred to in the article above appears to have been a general resolution of the Red Cross management committee to appropriate the sum of 20,000 pounds to purchase and equip convalescent homes and hostels. It further appears that from the principal sum, an amount of 9,000 pounds was allocated to purchase and equip St Andrews. It was however, stipulated that the facility revert back to the Red Cross when the Repatriation Commission had no further use for it. The Red Cross also under took to maintain and manage the various institutions in its portfolio. This included the organisation of a “Voluntary Aid Detachment” (V.A.D.) (Care of Disabled Soldiers, West Australian, 24 May 1919, Pg.7). (But see Mollie Skinner Appendix 1). There does not appear to be any detailed account of how the facility was operated, or the role of the V.A.D. It is assumed that the V.A.D under took the organisation of the social events. There are a number of reports of the activities and events going on at the facility.

In the report of the 9th April (above) it was noted the facility was to be run along the lines of a farm. This was given a further explanation in July. The facility was to be a convalescent home, it was not compulsory. It would not take cases that required active medical treatment. The facility would provide work from 1 to 4 hours daily. This would allow a gradual return to physical fitness (Repatriation, West Australian, 23 July 1919, pg.6). It immediately became clear that visiting the hospital would be an issue.

In August it was reported that a local returned soldier had put on a ‘motor service’ between Kalamunda and the hospital. The report states that the unnamed individual was going to meet all trains and had placed a time table at the respective ends of the journey. The object being to facilitate visits to Lesmurdie Falls and to allow families to visit the soldiers at St Andrews. Arrangements were also made to allow visitors to obtain refreshments (Kalamunda, Swan Express, 29 august 1919, Pg.4). There does not appear to be any follow up

reports to indicate whether or not this service actually materialised when the hospital became operational.

The West Australian reports that first substantial intake of returned soldiers was on the 8th September 1919. It was also noted that the staff at St Andrews were all war veterans and were employed by the Department of Repatriation. The report again made mention of the object of the hospital being to return men to fitness and then to return them to work. The report states that:

“...to this end outdoor exercise will be encouraged. Active sports such as football, cricket, tennis, boxing, medicine ball, etc., will be available, and the erection of a gymnasium hall has been proposed, all with the object of using and strengthening limbs rendered idle for long periods through war injuries.

...

For the present St. Andrew’s will be open to the public on Sundays. Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and the question of a suitable train service is receiving consideration”(Repatriation, West Australian, 8 September 1919, Pg 4).

The following was published in the Daily News 16 September 1919: “Unsolicited testimonials are always the best evidence, and the following private - letter received by the secretary of the Fremantle RSA (Mr. Harold Abbott) from a patient at St. Andrew’s (Military) Convalescent Home, Kalamunda, was not sent for publication. It reads: —

‘Just a line to let you know that I have arrived at the home O.K., and like it very much. There are only 11 men here at present (September 12), but more are expected daily. Whoever selected the staff could not have picked better ones. The matron stands on her own, and nothing whatever is too good for the boys. The sisters are most kind, and full praise can also be given them. They are all good sports, and quite different from the usual hospital sisters. It is a lovely place here, very quiet of course, but we can always find something to do — chopping wood, getting the tennis court ready. We expect a lot of V.A.D’s up to-day. Everything is scrupulously clean, plenty of good food, and you do as you like. In the course of a day or so everything we require will be supplied. Everyone here but the wardsmaids, cook, and laundress, belong to the RSA, and we are a happy family” (Kalamunda Home Appreciated, Daily News, 16 September 1919, Pg 4).

This patient above, is noted to be anonymous, one patient is internationally known. That patient is known through the international literary cannon:

“BEFORE moving to Perth for a year in 1994, I know that Lawrence and Frieda had stayed at Mollie Skinner’s guesthouse, Leithdale, at Darlington outside of Perth, and that Lawrence had subsequently rewritten Mollie’s novel, The Boy in the Bush. I also knew that Mollie Skinner’s returned WWI injured veteran brother, Jack, on whom she based the hero of The Boy in the Bush, moved to Darlington from his returned soldier settlement farm at Kalamunda in the Hills, when Mollie took up residence at Leithdale” (emphasis added) (Darroch, 2017). See also Appendix 1 below.

On the 3rd October the Swan Express reports that the hospital had 16 occupants. The facility was managed by Mrs Hood and the matron was Mrs Newton. The report also contains reference to proposed new buildings that would raise the population to 70. The Darling Range Road Board was reported to be dealing with the perennial problem of train timetables (Kalamunda, Swan Express, 3 October 1919, Pg.4). It is not clear where the source of funds for the new buildings came from. The construction of the proposed new buildings was commenced on the 2nd January 1920.

The ceremony for the laying of the foundation stones for the new buildings took place on the 2nd January 1920. A large number of Kalamunda residents turned out for the ceremony, together with a contingent of prominent “city dwellers”. The job of setting the first stone fell to the newly elevated Baronett Birdwood, the stone being a block of Donnybrook freestone. With the first stone set it is stated that:

“The Chaplain-General (Archbishop Riley), in asking General Hobbs to lay the second foundation stone, said that the inmates of the institution would be delighted, that the stone

on inside of their entrance had been laid by their great Commander in-chief, and that the stone on the other side had been-laid by their great Western Australian leader. (Applause.) As he had attended other foundation stone layings, where the stones had subsequently been removed in order to steal the coins placed beneath them, he would point out that on this occasion the cavity under each stone contained only a “bob” (Laughter,)

Afternoon tea was subsequently served to all the visitors, who were given facilities for making a thorough inspection of the premises. The existing building, which affords somewhat crowded accommodation for the present 38 inmates, forms the rear portion of what is intended to be a quadrangular block, with a large square paved courtyard in the centre, containing a fountain and surrounded by verandahs. The additions will complete the quadrangle, and will provide ample accommodation for 80 convalescents, and the whole of the necessary staff. It is intended to make an early start with the work, which will he carried out in sections, in order that necessary accommodation may be made available as soon as possible. As in the purchase of the property, the Red Cross is providing the funds for the additions which will be executed in local stone and brick” (Soldier Convalescents, West Australian, 3 January 1920, Pg 7).

The hospital was one part of the Repatriation Commission’s brief. The evidence above refers to the hospital being run to include a limited amount of work each day. The legal framework that governed the scope of the Repatriation Commissions also included establishing various business including sawmills and other industries (Repatriation, West Australian, 16 August 1917, Pg.6). It appears that there were a number of proposals to utilise the powers to create industries. The first was a proposal to create a woolen mill. This collapsed due to the cost and the extended time frame to deliver the equipment necessary to process wool (RSA West Australian 8 January 1920, Pg.5). The second, was a proposal to establish a butter factory (Dairy Farming at Jandakot, Fremantle Times, 9 January 1920, Pg.1). The third proposal was to construct a saw mill.

RSA Saw Mill

The mill was set up as a co-operative controlled and operated by returned soldiers. The mill was on Canning Road Walliston. The mill came about despite departmental red tape (Soldiers and Sailors, Sunday Times, 22 February 1920, Pg.5). The precise location of the RSA mill is not clear. The boundary for Millar’s exclusive timber cutting license would have been close to the proposed mill. This may have caused the bureaucratic issues referred to. The mill would have to have been approved by the Forest Department. The Forest Department would have had to ensure that the mill would not interfere with Millar’s operations at Barton’s Mill. At this time Millar’s 100,000 acre exclusive timber milling license was still in place. These issues were evidently resolved. The mill was officially opened by The Minister for Lands – Mr F.S Willmott on Thursday 26th February 1920. Also present were Mr. W. R. Nairn, M.L.A, the Deputy Comptroller of Repatriation (Lieutenant Colonel Tilney), the Chief Inspector of the Repatriation Department (Major Barrett), the controller of the Soldiers Settlement Board (Mr. McLarty) Messrse. W. A. Woodham and J. R. Butler (chairman and secretary, respectively of the Perth sub-branch of the RSA). Capt. Parkes (chairman of the local repatriation committee) (RSA Enterprise, West Australian 27 February 1920, Pg 5). It is evident that the mill was part of the wider repatriation project. It is not clear from any of the media reports in relation to the mill, whether or not, it was officially part of the provision of work aspect of the St Andrews project. The Perth Branch of the RSA, J.R. Butler in particular, had close ties to St Andrews and were responsible for the planing, construction and commissioning of the mill.

The mill was situated on about 600 acres on land belonging to Mr Arnott The cost of the plant, equipment and installation was about 900 pounds. This was in the form of loans shared equally between the repatriation committee, the State Government, and the Perth Branch of the RSA. Water for the mill was drawn from a well about fifty feet deep near the mill (RSA Enterprise, West Australian 27 February 1920, Pg 5). There are other conflicting reports regarding ownership of the land.

The mill is staffed by a team of six, three in the bush felling and hauling logs, the balance at the mill to operate the machinery. Mr. Butler observed that the mill would be able to supply standardised settlers homes 25 pounds cheaper than other sources. He also noted that the mill could supply furniture grade she oak, and timber for fruit packing cases. Following the opening the delegation inspected St Andrews Convalescent Home (RSA Enterprise, West Australian 27 February 1920, Pg 5). The chief purpose of the mill was to cut “scantlings, weather boards and pickets”, the timber to be used in the construction of soldiers homes in the newly opened soldiers settler scheme in Piesse Brook. After this it was intended to make standard two room houses (RSA Enterprise, West Australian 27 February 1920, Pg 5). It is not clear whether the houses were to be in kit form or whether it was intended to extend the scheme to erect the homes on site. There is a distinct possibility there is an overlap between the mill and the homes built by the Ugly Mens Association referred to in Mizen’s paper on PA Connolly, this needs further investigation. As noted previously, in addition to work, recreation was also a feature of the rehabilitation. Sport was played in various forms.

Sport in the form of football and cricket played by teams from St Andrews appears in the news reports of the day. It was sport at St Andrews that brought about one of the worst motor vehicle accidents the state has seen. The West Australian records the details:

“ The worst motor disaster ever recorded in Western Australia occurred yesterday evening, when a Ford lorry, carrying 29 persons, crashed into an embankment when returning city wards from Kalamunda. Two women were killed outright and a third succumbed to her injuries while being re moved to Perth. The ill-fated party consisted of a team of Fremantle cricketers and their friends who had left Fremantle in the morning to play a match against the soldier inmates of the St. Andrew’s Convalescent Home at Kalamunda. A motor lorry to convey the party had been hired from F. W. Churcher, baggage agent, of Fremantle, who acted as chauffeur,. The vehicle was only a one ton lorry, but it was made to accommodate the 29 persons forming the party. All went well until the excursionists were about a mile out of Kalamunda on the return journey, which was commenced about 6.30. It seems that at this point something went wrong with the brakes, and that for about three-quarters of a mile of down grade the lorry was practically out of control.

The disaster occurred at a spot known as Chinaman’s Gully, which already had a sinister reputation. It was at this point some mouths ago that Miss Maxwell met her death owing to a motor car overturning, and the jury on that occasion found that no blame was attachable to the driver of the car. At Chinaman’s Gully the road takes a sharp turn on a steep incline, and in the most favourable circumstances a car requires skillful handling. On the right hand side there is considerable slope from the crown of the road to the water-table, and the embankment then rises abruptly to a height of a couple of feet.

An examination of the road after last night’s accident a showed that the wheels of the lorry had skidded on this slope. The car mounted the embankment and crashed into a tree growing at its edge, the very tree which was struck by the car in which Miss Maxwell was driving when she met her death. The impact was terrific. The passengers were hurled from the lorry which did not overturn, but was turned completely round. The scene viewed after the accident was a terribly gruesome one, the mangled and bleeding bodies of the victims being strewn over the ground and far up the embankment; while the cries and groans of the injured were heartrending. Not more than half an hour afterwards Dr. Morgan Richards, of Kalamunda, accompanied by Nurse Denham, arrived, and worked with splendid energy in binding up fractured limbs and giving what relief was possible to those who were not past human aid. Meanwhile the police of Perth and suburbs had been advised, and in a very short time Dr. Richards was joined in his work of mercy by Dr. Clark, of Midland Junction, and Dr. Pitcher, of Guildford, while Sergeants O’Halloran and Constable Hulme, of Guildford, and Sergeants Smith and Lewis, of Perth, with first aid equipment, reinforced the local residents who were giving such assistance as was possible to the medical men. Fires were lit, and the sufferers were made as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. In respect of transport, however, there was serious lack of provision. Such of the patients as could sit up were sent away in motor cars, but after 11 o’clock last night eight or ten severely injured were still lying

on their backs by the roadside.

The accident occurred at 6.30, and it was 9 o’clock when the fire brigade ambulance reached the scene. By that time two children and nine other person, had been sent away in motor cars. The ambulance took four more, but not till an hour later did a second ambulance arrive. This was a horse vehicle from Victoria Park, and considering that it was drawn by a single horse the driver had done well to reach the scene by 10 o’clock. Two persons were removed in this vehicle, and the Subiaco motor ambulance, which arrived 20 minutes later, took two more. It was not, however, until after 11 that another ambulance arrived - the Fire Brigade vehicle on its second trip-and the last of the injured were got away about 11.30. The-delay reveals the utter incapacity of existing provisions for such an emergency.

It was impossible last night to ascertain the names of the whole of the victims. Quite a number of the passengers sustained concussion of the brain, several had fractured limbs, and others received injuries to the spine. Even the exact number, of persons on the lorry is uncertain, but apparently there were three babies in addition to 19 older persons. One of these babies was dangerously injured, but the other two practically escaped injury. The three babies were taken in charge by Policewoman Dugdale, who went out with the police party from Perth, and she took them all to the Children’s Hospital. The police cars also removed a number of other injured before the ambulance arrived.

The Mann family, of Marmion street, Fremantle, suffered most severely. Mrs. Mann, senior, was killed outright, and also her daughter Eileen, aged 16 years. Mrs. Mann, junior, was injured and her husband and his sister Bessie, were seriously injured. Another sister escaped injury, and so did the baby.

Miss Lily Gibson (15) died on the way to the St. Ives Hospital, Guildford.

Most of the patients were admitted to the Perth Public Hospital, where, at an early hour this morning seven were on the dangerous list, Edward Irving, Frederick Noel Gibson, Lily Swinson, Bessie Mann, Roy Mann, Henry Wilkinson and a man, name unknown.

Among the other injured were three brothers McGlashan, Aubrey White, of 59 High-street, Fremantle; Mrs. Ferguson and two daughters, of Holland-street, Fremantle; Harry Gardener, of Amer-street, Fremantle; and Edward Clark, of 576 Highstreet. Fremantle.

Among the more fortunate was the driver Churcher, who was however, badly bruised and suffering from shock. When asked to account for how the accident occurred, he confessed that his recollection was by no means clear. He remembers only that when the car rounded the bend, the tyres skidded on the rough gravel near the embankment. He succeeded in clearing the tree with the front portion of the lorry, but the back portion struck, and the whole party was thrown from the vehicle” (Motor Disaster, West Australian, 19 April 1920, Pg 5).

The death toll slowly mounted. On April 20 the death toll was four (Terrible Motor Smash, Geraldton Guardian, 20 April 1920, Pg.3). On the 21st it was 5 (Motor disaster, Albany Advertiser, 21 April 1829, Pg 3). On the 25th it was 6 (Dashed to Destruction, Sunday Times 25th April, 1920, Pg.1). The Sunday Times lays out how the accident laid bare the total lack of emergency facilities. However, the resulting fallout is more important. The Western Australian published the following:

“The recent disastrous accident on the Kalamunda road has directed public attention to the necessity for the establishment, of an efficient and centrally controlled ambulance service. When interviewed yesterday by a representative of the ‘West Australian,’ Mr. J. K. Campbell, honorary general secretary to the St. John Ambulance Association, said that the association had long felt the lack of a proper medical ambulance van which could be available to anyone at any emergency. The loss of life which was occasioned through the inability of patients to obtain comfortable and ready transit to a hospital or a medical man, was not apparent to the general public. There should be a van controlled by some central authority and which would provide not only for accidents but medical and even infectious cases and it was the aim of the St. John Ambulance Association to secure such a vehicle. Through the generous

efforts of the Ugly Men’s Association the association had already secured a block of land in Irwin-street, which was conveniently situated and on this site it was the intention to erect a central depot. The enterprise would cost at the outset £2,000 and when established the association would require an annual income of £600 for its maintenance. The Fire Brigade ambulance, was controlled, was of an even more unsatisfactory nature than the public were aware of, and although doing good work it was seriously handicapped. In the first place the van was maintained by the voluntary donations from various local authorities and race clubs. The difficulty of maintenance was somewhat lightened by the fact that the firemen were rendering excellent service in the fixing of repairs and the general upkeep of the car. In the second place the motor at present in use has done the maximum amount of work which could be expected of any car, , and its scope was seriously handicapped by increasing unreliability. The association had in mind for several years past the necessity for providing a van, but owing to the lack of public support nothing had been done to organise a public appeal. The association itself was not a body with considerable financial backing, but with financial help and public support it would be only too willing to undertake the establishment of an efficient and centrally controlled ambulance service. When the suggestion of the an ambulance service was referred to Dr. Holland a member of the council of St John Ambulance Association by a representative of the ‘West Australian’ he stated the necessity of an ambulance for medical cases at the present time, he said the Fire Brigade Ambulance was not equipped to remove medical cases except to the Perth public hospital and in cases of emergency improved ambulance facilities were usually arranged. This practice was dangerous as it was unreliable and something should be done to provide an ambulance for the conveyance of medical cases from a private house to a private hospital” ( Ambulance Service, West Australian, 21 April 1920, Pg.7) (emphasis added).

The response to the accident can be divided into two parts. The first, is that the accident triggered the formation of a proper ambulance service. St John took control of the Perth ambulance service on 1 July 1922 (https://stjohnwa.com.au/about-us/our-history/st-john-historical-timeline accessed 14/12/2022). The second, there were substantial efforts made to support the victims and their families. There is a record in the media regarding those activities which were driven by the Fremantle community. There does not appear to be anything in the media with respect to the effect of the accident on those at St Andrews.

The practical reality was that transport to and from St Andrews was an issue, however it appears that someone was paying attention, on the 19th May it was reported that Mr Butler of the Perth Branch of the now RSL had secured the donation of an 8 seater Studebaker for the purpose of taking the soldiers at the various facilities - St Andrews, Keane’s Point and Woorolooon on outings. In order to make the vehicle fit for the soldiers to use some alterations were required. Those alterations were completed and the car taken up to St Andrews. The RSL were also provided with 200 pounds for running expenses (Motor Car For The Convalescents, Daily News, 19 May 1920, pg.6). It was further reported in June 1920 the Perth Branch of RSL had secured a motor car for the use of the soldiers at St Andrews, but also at Woorooloo Sanatorium and the ANZAC Hostel at Keane’s Point. The car was rostered for a week at each of the sites. A letter from Sister Bruton to Mr J.C. Butler of the Perth Branch states :

“We have all had a very nice time with the car, and I wish to thank your branch for the men and the staff. The driver has been most kind. I am afraid he has not worked ‘union’ hours, as he has been up early to take the men to the train, and out late with a concert party. We are all looking forward to his return’’ (Car for Convalescent Men, Daily News, 7 June 1920, Pg 6).

It was also noted that Mr. Feakes and the car had traveled some 865 miles in the week. This indicates that the external activities were extensive when transport was available. It was next rostered at Woorooloo (Car for Convalescent Men, Daily News, 7 June 1920, Pg.6). It is assumed that the car in both reports is the same vehicle. It is probable that the car was supplied by Paddy Connolly.

There are numerous reports after the Kalamunda Road accident that indicate that sporting activities

resumed shortly afterwards. The following is a sample. Kalamunda and St Andrews played resulting in a win to Kalamunda (Cricket, West Australian, 14 March 1922, Pg 8). The report does not indicate were the game was played Kalamunda Cricket Club were presented with the Darling Range Cricket Association Shield following a tie with St Andrews Cricket Club (District News, Swan Express, 29 June 1923, Pg 3). At this point things at St Andrews were winding down.

From the Federal governments perspective there was insufficient need to retain the property exclusively for soldiers (Soldiers Home, Sunday Times, 21 December 1924, Pg 11). This was not the view taken by the RSL. The RSL protested to the Federal Government. At the time of closure there were 27 men in occupation. The RSL pointed out that there was an ongoing need to provide care for men who had been gassed (City Notes, Midlands Advertiser, 11 April 1924, Pg.1.). It appears the protest fell on deaf ears. St Andrews was closed on the 31st October 1924 (Soldiers Home, Sunday Times, 21 December 1924, Pg 11). There was a postscript to the Red Cross and St Andrews story in 1926.

In 1926 a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into the allocation and expenditure of ‘war patriotic funds’. Generally the Red Cross were commended for their work, however there was a mild rebuke in relation to the expenditure of 16,000 pounds on St Andrews. It is likely this refers to the funds expended on the 1920 additions. The upshot of the Royal Commission was the recommendation that the Commonwealth Government refund the sum of 16,000 pounds to the Red Cross (Western Australian, Report of Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into and Report upon War Relief Funds (1926), Pg 3). At this point the Red Cross still owned the property. Its closure as a repatriation hospital was not the end of the property’s use as a hospital.

On the Saturday 4th April 1925 the Soldiers Convalescent Home was handed over to the management committee of the Perth Hospital. Lady Campion as President of the Red Cross handed the keys to Mr Hawkins, the chairman of the Perth Hospital’s management board. The Governor, Sir William Campion then “unlocked the gates and proceeded to the spacious quadrangle in the centre of the building where he made the official opening declaration”. Perth Hospital took the lease from the Red Cross at “pepper corn” rental. The the property was operated as an auxiliary to the Perth Hospital (An Auxiliary Hospital, Swan Express 10 April 1925, Pg.2). The operation of St Andrews in its auxiliary hospital phase was not examined as pat of this paper, however the Red Cross sold the property in 1929. The sale proceeds were credited to the relevant society accounts (Red Cross Society, West Australian, 11 October, 1929, pg 8).

Conclusions

St Andrews Hospital is significant for the reasons set out below:

1. St Andrews played a vital part in the rehabilitation of returned soldiers who served in WWI.

2. The hospital was one of only three such facilities in the state;

3. The hospital provided employment as it was staffed by returned service personnel who were members of the RSA/RSL;

4. The hospital was made possible by the Red Cross and its decision making committee which included P.A. Connolly, the whole of the Red Cross Committee from this period is historically important and should be named;

5. Significant alterations took place while the building belonged to the Red Cross to accommodate additional personnel for rehabilitation;

6. The foundation stones of the additional buildings were laid by significant members of the defense force, namely Birdwood and Hobbs;

7. Significant community support as provided to the returned soldiers by way of a “Voluntary Aid Detachment” (VAD).

8. At the end of the repatriation phase the facility served as an axillary to the Perth Hospital;

9. The RSA wood mill formed part of the Repatriation program and is significant as it provided employment and training for returned service men and provided building material for returned service personnel and their families;

10. There is a relationship between the RSA Mill and St Andrews;

11. The accident that occurred after the St Andrews cricket match is significant as it resulted in the formation of a co-ordinated ambulance service operated by St John Ambulance service.

Recommendations

1. In the motto of the RSL: Lest we forget, the existing listing be amended to give full recognition to the hospitals role in rehabilitating the returned soldiers of WWI. The hospital is significant for the reasons set out above.

2. P.A. Connolly be acknowledged as board member to Red Cross as decision making body that purchased the facility (all Red Cross board members are significant historic individuals in their own right and should be named).

3. The Red Cross alterations be referred to in the listing including the connections to Birdwood and Hobbs.

4. RSA Mill be listed in its own right – subject to there being further work to properly locate it, but the respective listing ought to recognise the relationship between the two sites..

5. There be a follow up to investigate the provision of kit form homes from the RSA Mill and to examine whether or not:

5.1 any of those homes were built in Pickering Brook as part of the repatriation project in Pickering Brook and if so whether any survive;

5.2 any of the homes were built by the Ugly Mans Association as part of their activities to provide homes to war widows and their children were source from the RSA Mill.

6. There be an attempt to verify the claim in the quotation at the beginning of this paper regarding the status as the first motoring competition in the state, if it can be verified it be included in the listing.

7. There be an acknowledgment in regard to the accident and the formation of the St John Ambulance Service.

Appendix 1

See https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A4438?mainTabTemplate=agentWorksBy

Co authored with D H Laurence. Why hasn’t Kalamunda claimed her like Mundaring has Cathrine Susannah Prichard? Where was her parents home ? Is it Place 163 ? If it is why no mention of Mollie? Where was Jack Skinners Farm? – Important as the Jack was the subject of the Boy in the Bush.

Mollie Skinner

“LETTERS OF A V.A.D.

Miss Mollie Skinner, daughter of the late Colonel Skinner and Mrs. Skinner, of Kalamunda, has written a very interesting book, “Letters of a V.A.D.,” under the pen name of R. E. Leake. The book is published by Andrew Melrose, Ltd., London and is a series of letters written during a year of strenuous war work at the front to a much loved friend. The writer possesses that true gift of casting the glamour of reality overall that she has to tell, and the letters from first to last ring true. The reader literally lives the thoughts, emotions, interests, sympathies, and sorrows of the nurse, first on the transport, then in the base hospital, and on at the front, seeing through her eyes the tender touches of humour, the deep tones of tragedy, the living light of supreme heroism which literally glorifies not only the sufferings of the men,but the work that is accomplished for them, by the medical, surgical, and nursings staff on active service. The writer has a very tender and intensive knowledge of human nature, a clear power of characterisation, and a great sympathy with natural loveliness. One of the interesting aspects of a very interesting book is the basic foundation of the reality of the spiritual which dawns increasingly upon the Red Cross nurse with every new experience with which she is confronted, and is linked throughout to a vital interest in Roman Catholic mysticism. The book bears the obvious imprint of actual experience, and is a very delicately drawn picture of events which reveal the infinite purpose weaving so exquisitely the rarest flowers of virtue, fidelity, fortitude, sympathy, brotherhood, out of the pain and the darkness; the agony of death. A very real crucifixion comes into the life of the Red Cross nurse through the cold criticism, the callous misunderstanding of her senior, “the Bloodless One,” and also through the love of the colonel-a charmingly drawn character, whose personal history, complicated by the tragedy of divorce, makes a story where principle has to fight its solitary and awful fight against inclination and happiness through the pathos of infinite pain. The glorious courage of the black man, the

senior surgeon, who finds himself at Gallipoli, and will not allow himself to be recommended for the honour he has won, is a side of life that has become real experience to many in all parts of the war world,who have come into close personal contact with the magnificent work of the Army Medical Corps. O’Shanessy the Irish Catholic soldier of supremely beautiful character and faith, so grievously wounded, will be recognised as a familiar figure by those who know the stuff of which our men are made. The writer, in speaking of the Australian soldiers says:“I love them. They are shy and modest,yet brave and bold, humble and unpretentious, yet exceedingly complacent and self-opinionated. A most peculiar mixture. The most horrible sin in their eyes is to be uppish, yet they are so magniloquent and pragmatical as a body that it is absolutely impossible to move them if they make up their minds. They have a terrible method, for instance, of “counting out” anything or anyone of whom they disapprove. This begins in deadly silence, and has in it the terror of concentrated mind. On these occasions a simultaneous current of thought seems to circulate through them, so that they begin to act together almost mechanically. At first boredom settles down on them, and gloom-the calm before the storm, then a wave of thought stirs the silence into a suppressed excitement, which culminates in a single voice which booms out ominously, ‘One.’ The thought wave and excitement are lost then in an over powering and awful silence, you could hear a pin drop. It reaches the senses of the offender. He wriggles. And then every son of the Empire at exactly the same second, hammers through the magnetic force with one single simple sound, ‘Two.’ The offender grows smaller; he loses all sense of ground. This is too tremendous for him. It is as if he was sinking irretrievably in a bog. ‘Three.’ “It is enough. He is non est. No one has ever been known to last out until seven. What would happen if he did? Don’t ask ME! says the Australian. “Conversely, as Euclid says,they have a most delightful method of appreciation which they showed to their beloved Anzac General who passed through here the other day! The troops heard that he would be on the train, and collected in groups about the station. No chance of them looking as if they were out to do him honour. I suppose they slouched about and hitched themselves on to fences and posts, and pulled their Gurkhahats over their eyes, and chewed straws, and put their thumbs in their belts. At any rate, just as their hero stepped from the train rang out a hundred or more voices in soft musical unison with no prelude at all, no frill, or flutter. ‘He’s a dear-old--boy.’ “No one could resent this, and if they did it was useless.” No one could stop it. You might as well try to stop the flow of a flooded stream. It happened again in another form when he reached the camp– and Voice spoke emphatically, endearingly appreciatively: ‘We want-we want-we want YOU.’ It was perfectly paced, perfectly sane, perfectly tranquil. ‘We want you.’ “How splendid for the general.” The book is to be heartily recommended, and no doubt many old Western Australian will feel a special interest in it, the authoress being a grand-daughter of the late Mr. George Leake and niece of the late Premier, Mr. George Leake. The key note of the book is sounded by Francis Thompson’s most beautiful ode. ‘The Hound of Heaven,” “Is my gloom, after all, shade of His hand outstretched caressingly. (Emphasis added) (West Australian 18 April 1919, Pg 6).

In addition with respect to the Skinner’s:

“The existing cottage still standing in 2017 is Brook Cottage built c1914 by a carpenter Robert Dinning. After he returned from WW1 he sold the cottage to a lady who owned it briefly, then the 3 acre property (part of Lot 24 of the Darlington subdivision 1241) was sold to Jack Skinner. In Mollies autobiography she mentions that the family were in Kalamunda where Jack had a Returned Soldier’s Settlement Scheme property and when he bought the property in Darlington he moved his mother’s cottage which was next to his farm in Kalamunda and placed it next door to his Brook cottage. His mother’s house was called Rose Cottage and looked identical to Brook being of a similar era. The naming of Rose Cottage may have nothing to do with flowers as Jessie’s middle name was “Rose”.

This would have been 1921 around the same time Mollie moved to Leithdale from her convalescent home called “Shirley” in Kalamunda, due to the owner wanting to sell the

property. By Feb 1922 there is a newspaper article that has a smoke evening at Kalamunda in honour of Jack and mentions it’s because he’s moved to Darlington.” (Myles, ND,).

The Swan Express 24 February 1922: “KALAMUNDA.

An eager jovial and enthusiastic body of men gathered in the Kalamunda Agricultural Hall on Saturday night last to attend a complimentary smoke social to Mr. Jack Skinner, who has moved from the district to Darlington. The function, which was one of the most successful of its type held in Kalamunda was arranged by the local subbranch of the R.S.L, but was of a public character. The chairman of the sub-branch of the RSL.(Mr. E. A. Gray) presided. All toasts suitable to the occasion were honored, including that of “Parliament,” proposed by Mr. J. Bell and responded to by the member for the district (Mr. R. S. Sampson, MLA), and that of “The RSL,” proposed by Mr. A. R. Halleen and responded to by the secretary of the sub-branch (Mr. C. G. Rutherford). Tribute to the whole hearted regard of the people of the district for the guest was paid by the chairman. Messrs. R. S. Sampson. MLA for Swan. H. S. Hummerston (representing the district cricket teams), W. Wright,and others. With a happy accompanying speech, charged with plenty of local color, Mr. Sampson presented Mr. Skinner with a handsome leather traveling case on behalf of residents of the district. Mr. Skinner made suitable response. In addition to the inevitable batch of “Scotch” Jokes, the proceedings were brightened considerably by a musical programme contributed to largely by Mr Harry Little and Messrs J. Antoine. S. Smailes, and, others, the accompaniments being played by Mr. Evans. Before the conclusion of the function which was marked by a spirited singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” opportunity was taken, at the instance of Mr J. Bell, to extend a welcome to Mr. J. Payne, who is re-entering the district to take over Mr. Skinner’s farm at Lesmurdie” (KALAMUNDA. Swan Express 24 February 1922 Pg.5).

Reference List St Andrews Paper

Ambulance Service, West Australian, 21 April 1920, Pg 7.

An Auxiliary Hospital, Swan Express 10 April 1925, Pg 2.

Car for Convalescent Men, Daily News, 7 June 1920, Pg 6.

Care of Disabled Soldiers, West Australian, 24 May 1919, Pg 7.

City Notes, Midlands Advertiser, 11 April 1924, Pg 1.

Cricket, West Australian, 14 March 1922, Pg 8.

Civic Reception, South West Times,15 February 1917, pg 3.

Dairy Farming at Jandakot, Fremantle Times, 9 January 1920, Pg 1.

Darroch, 2017 URL https://www.dhlawrencesocietyaustralia.com.au/rananim_sept_2017_p3.html

Accessed 13/1/2023

Dashed to Destruction, Sunday Times 25th April, 1920, Pg 1.

District News, Swan Express, 29 June 1923, Pg 3.

Incapacitated Soldiers, West Australian, 9 April 1919, pg 4.

Kalamunda Home Appreciated, Daily News, 16 September 1919, Pg 4.

Kalamunda, Swan Express, 29 august 1919, Pg 4.

Kalamunda, Swan Express, 3 October 1919, Pg 4.

KALAMUNDA. Swan Express 24 February 1922 Pg 5

Motoring, West Australian, 17 April 1917, Pg 7.

Motor Car For The Convalescents, Daily News, 19 May 1920, pg 6.

Motor Disaster, West Australian, 19 April 1920, Pg 5.

Motor disaster, Albany Advertiser, 21 April 1829, Pg 3.

Mizen, D., (2022). Patrick Andrew Connolly NP (previously supplied)

Myles, L., ND, URL https://www.dhlawrencesocietyaustralia.com.au/rananim_sept_2017_p2.html Accessed 13/1/2023.

News and Notes, West Australian, 11 February 1916, Pg 3.

P.A.C. , Call, 19 November 1920, Pg 3.

Red Cross Society, West Australian, 11 October, 1929, pg 8.

Repatriation, West Australian, 8 September 1919, Pg 4.

Repatriation, West Australian, 23 July 1919, pg 6.

Repatriation, West Australian, 16 August 1917, Pg.

R.S.A. West Australian 8 January 1920, Pg 5.

R.S.A. Enterprise, West Australian 27 February 1920, Pg 5.

Soldiers and Sailors, Sunday Times, 22 February 1920, Pg 5.

Soldier Convalescents, West Australian, 3 January 1920, Pg 7.

Soldiers Home, Sunday Times, 21 December 1924, Pg 11.

St John Ambulance https://stjohnwa.com.au/about-us/our-history/st-john-historical-timeline Accessed 14/12/2022.

Terrible Motor Smash, Geraldton Guardian, 20 April 1920 Pg 3.

Western Australian, Report of Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into and Report upon War Relief Funds (1926), Pg 3.

THOMAS STATHAM

By David Mizen

Thomas Statham was born in Derbyshire England. The year is not presently known. Prior to coming to Western Australian Statham engaged in contracting work in Melbourne and in Queensland (News and Notes, West Australian, 16 February 1918, Pg 6).

Queensland has Statham’s first major recorded construction project. That project was the construction of the Mt Crosby reservoir in 1891. It is now heritage listed (Heritage Brisbane, Unknown). Given that there are heritage listed sites associated with Thomas Statham in at least two states he is moving towards being a person of national significance.

It appears that Thomas Statham and his wife Amanda arrived at Albany Western Australian on Friday June 9 1893 on the Ophir (Shipping Notes, Western Mail, 17 June 1893, Pg 30). See also (Shipping Intelligence, Australian Advertiser, 9 June 1893, Pg 3). However his obituary referred to the year of arrival as 1890 (News and Notes, West Australian, 16 February 1918, Pg 6). There is no record of Statham in the Western Australian print media in 1890.

The first mention of Statham in the local media record appears to be on the 10th October 1893, the report indicates that he had set himself up as a road contractor and it was hoped that those looking for work would be employed by him (Parliament, Daily News, 10 October 1893, Pg 2). Immediately Statham was caught in the cross fire of a dispute regarding wages paid to break stone. The report indicates a myriad of conflicting interests in the supply of stone for road building to the Perth City Council (Correspondence, West Australian, 19 October 1893, Pg 6). Those conflicts and competing interests did not go away. The initial problem was that there was no reliable source of suitable road building material.

The issues with the supply of stone and labour evidently forced Statham to look for a suitable, reliable source for stone, both for building construction and road works. With respect to building stone, there is evidence that Statham had an interest together with Alexander Forrest in a Donnybrook stone quarry (Building Progress, West Australian, 7 May 1932, Pg 9). The report does not contain a date for this partnership. Statham’s primary need was access to hard stone for road works and concrete construction, considerable energy was expended in this direction.

In 1893 Statham purchased 30 acres of the Talbot Estate from Septimus Burt. This is the site of the quarry now known as Statham’s Quarry. Following purchase the first job was to supply stone to enable the construction of a ‘road’ to the Canning Jarrah Timber Company’s (CJTCo) railway. The word ‘road’ is used in the original report but it is likely to mean the railway spur line that runs into the quarry from what at that point in time was the CJTCo’s main line to Canning Mills. The work was completed in November 1893. The machinery was then built and rock crushing commenced. Much of the stone was supplied to the Perth City Council (Darling Range Quarries Ministerial Visit, Western Mail, 2 September 1898, Pg 8).

In December 1893 The West Australian reports that Mr Statham’s blue stone and granite quarry was commencing and that a considerable amount of capital was being expended to set it up (Visit to The Canning Jarrah Saw Mills, West Australian, 5 December 1893, Pg 7). It is stated that W.F. Guppy also had an interest in the quarry (Glimpsing Back, Swan Express 18 December 1925, Pg 11).

On 26th March 1894 Statham built a new crushing plant, it failed after 24 hours, having had its “[big] end knocked out”. New replacement machinery was installed (Darling Range Quarries Ministerial Visit, Western Mail, 2 September 1898, Pg 8). The bulk of the stone for construction of the platforms at the new Perth Railway Station was supplied from Statham’s Quarry in this period (An Important Local Industry, Western Mail, 5 May 1894, Pg 15). There were a number of Ministerial visits to the quarry over the years with varying reports. Annexed as Appendix 1 is transcript of the Inquirer and Commercial News’ report of the September 1898 visit. Statham also had interests in the supply of gravel for road works.

In 1895 Statham was supplying the Swan Road Board with significant amounts of gravel (Swan Roads Board, Western Mail, 25 October 1895, Pg 35). Further significant quantities were delivered in 1896 (Swan Roads Board, West Australian, 21 February 1896, Pg 4). There is a much later reported prosecution in which Statham was charged with a breach of the Municipal Institutions Act, the charge related to the supply of gravel. It appears that Statham was obtaining his gravel from somewhere in the vicinity of Smith’s Mill (Darlington). (Local Industry, Swan Express, 22 February 1902, Pg 2). It is likely the gravel was the overburden from what became Statham’s fire brick factory Further, there appears to have been a gravel pit adjacent to the brick works that Statham could access.

In mid 1895 Statham nominated for the WA Cycling club Road Race (Cycling the West Australian , 23 July 1895, Pg 3). The race was to “Guildford and back”, Statham was given a 12 minute handicap (Cycling, the West Australian, 27 July 1895, Pg 6). Statham was forced out with a puncture (Cycling, the West Australian, 27 July 1895, Pg 6). Statham entered the Club Handicap (one mile) on 23 May (WA Cycling Club, The Enquirer and Commercial News, 15 May 1896, Pg 6). The outcome is not reported. It may be the case he was officiating. He was officiating for the Spring Meeting, although in what capacity is not recorded (WA Cycling Club, the Enquirer and Commercial News, 15 May 1896, Pg 6). Statham’s next competition was the two mile handicap in March 1898 (The Sports, The Inquirer and commercial News, 25 March 1898, Pg 5). It would appear that Statham was eliminated in his heat. April 1898 saw him enter the one mile wheel race on a 150 yard handicap (Perth Cycling Club, Western Mail, 1 April 1898, Pg 40). There does not appear to be a report of the outcome. Following this report it appears that Statham either lost interest or the pressure of business forced him out of the sport as he ceases to be involved.

There are numerous reports in the print media in this period of Mrs Statham attending various functions with Lord and Lady Forrest and others. Evidently she was a lady of some style. In August 1899 she was elected honorary treasurer of the Industrial School for the Blind (News and Notes, The West Australian, 25 August 1899, Pg 4). In 1901 Thomas Statham was involved with the Western Australian Deaf and Dumb Institution together with J.C. Port (of Port and Honey timber mill) (News and Notes, The West Australian, 11 October 1901, Pg 4).

Statham was a committee member for the Gooseberry Hill Cricket Club in 1898 (Gooseberry Hill Cricket Club, Inquirer and Commercial News, 23 September 1898, Pg 3), and was a member of the Darling Range Road Board from 1898 (Darling, Inquirer and Commercial News, 23 December 1898, Pg 4). He was reelected in 1899 (Darling Range Road Board, The Western Australian, 4 November 1899, Pg 6). He was still on the board in 1901 (Darling Range Road Board, The Swan Express 7 September 1901, Pg 3). He is not reported as a member after about this date, he does however seem to have been the Boards delegate to the Road Boards Association for several years after this.

In January 1901 Statham accepted a request to stand for State Parliament (Greenbushes, West Australian Sunday Times, 27 January 1901, Pg 8). A later report indicates that he was nominating for the state seat of Swan (The General Elections. Western Mail, 9 February 1901, Pg 20). The reports do not indicate which party he was standing for. In 1898 Statham was associated with the anti Federal National League (An Anti Federal Campaign, Western Mail, 1 September 1899, Pg 23). Given his association with Alexander Forrest this is perhaps not surprising. However, given the nationalist nature of the John Forrest era in WA politics the prior anti federalist stance would have made his position awkward, he does not appear to have pursued the nomination. At this time Statham was developing his fire brick business which commenced trading about the same time as his nomination.

Statham’s fire brick factory at Smith’s Mill was operational on 1st February 1901(Smith’s Mill, Swan Express 9 February 1901, Pg 4). By 1906 it was providing a multitude of products, the total output from Statham’s brick and gravel works at Smiths Mill in the year ending 30th June was twenty nine thousand tons (Smiths Mill and Its Industries, Western Mail, 1 September 1906). At about this time Statham started agitating for the use of Donnybrook stone.

In 1901 John Twinem and Statham amalgamated their interests to form the Donnybrook Freestone Co and operated a quarry just out of Donnybrook (Donnybrook, Southern times, 14 May, 1901, Pg 4). There is only one large project that can be definitely linked to Statham’s Donnybrook Stone and that is the piers on the William Street bridge (Donnybrook Stone, West Australian, 13 September 1954, Pg 11). Alexander Forrest died in 1901, following his death it was proposed to erect a statue in his honour, Statham volunteered to donate the stone for the base (Alexander Forrest Memorial Fund, West Australian 6 December 1901, Pg 2). Following this, Statham was awarded a prize for his exhibit of Donnybrook stone and fire bricks at the 1902 National Show of Produce. Also awarded prizes were Illawara Orchard for export apples and Mr Urch of Gooseberry Hill for his strawberries (Prize List Western Mail, 15 March 1902, PP6-7). The Alexander Forrest statue was unveiled in 1903 (The Alex Forrest Statue, The Daily News, 29 August 1903, Pg 1) The first stone from the Statham and Forrest quarry was used in Forrest’s Statue (Building Progress, The West Australian, 7 May 1932, Pg 9). Statham also donated the foundation stone for St Bartholomew’s Church. The foundation stone was of Donnybrook Stone (Church News, Western Mail, 22 August 1903, Pg 42). In the early 1900’s Statham had issues with the railway service to his quarry on the zig zag.

Statham together with James Morrison, E.H. Dean-Smith, Price, Annett, Sanderson in 1902 formed the Upper Darling Range Railway League to lobby for the government to takeover the Canning Jarrah Timber Company line. The meeting formed a committee comprised of (as listed in the publication) Statham, Guppy, R.O. Law, Price, Whyte [White?] and Pamphleteer, Dean[-Smith], Goldsmith and Lt Col E.W. Haynes (corrections in [ ] are the authors) (News and Notes, West Australian, 8 March 1902, Pg 7). Following this Statham returned his attention to the Perth City Council.

Later in 1902 Statham was elected as East Ward councilor for the City of Perth (Municipal Elections, The West Australian, 12 November 1902, Pg 7). In 1905 he failed to gain reelection (Swearing In Ceremonies. The West Australian 5 December 1905, Pg 4). The following was published after Statham’s first council election campaign in 1899:

“The school for scandal at the Perth City Council keeps the public amused with its vagaries of speech and action. If you go over to the South Perth Zoo you can see just the same-antics going on-in the monkey house. Why not present Alex. Forrest and Petherick, and poor old John Hurstpeace to his municipal soul - to the Gardens, and let the children feed them with nuts and – buns. For purposes of classification labels could be affixed:

“Alexis Silvanus; Genus,” Bear.’; Habits, accumulative and perpetual. Visitors with cash about them are; warned to keep outside the railings.’’ Then among the bovine class, “Johannes’ Hurstus, or municipal old man of the sea. Perfectly harmless. Can be stroked with impunity. Please not to throw bottles at this animal.” Further on near the reptile, house, “ Town clerkus parasiticus. Leech species. Found on mayors and rate paying bipeds. Dangerous.”

Fresh specimens could be added from time to time ; they are plentiful enough, in all conscience. There is an elegant space in the serpent house just the size for Tom Molloy, and some rabbit holes in the granite rockery into which Quarry Statham might wish to crawl, and pull the hole in after him”. (Pugilisic Par. West Australian, 3 December 1899, Pg 2).

Statham was small time race horse owner and had horses initially in the stable of J.E. Smedley (Talk on turf, Sporting Life, 3 February 1906, Pg 5). Statham was instrumental in the formation of the WA Breeders Owners and Trainers Association (WA Breeders Owners and Trainers Association, Western Mail, 19 May 1906, Pg 36). In addition he was a member of the W.A.T.C. (Sporting News, Daily News, 12 June 1906, Pg 7). Statham had a win in the Belmont Park meeting 24 February 1906 with Bronze (West Australian Notes, Australasian, 10 March 1906, Pg 19).

In 1907 Mr Statham’s Hatteras ran in the Railway Stakes against Mr P.A. Connolly’s Blue Spec, Blue Spec won, Hatteras finished midfield (Railway Stakes, The Register, 30 December 1907, Pg 7). Statham’s horses contested several smaller meetings with some success. However, following a shocking run by Hatteras in the Easter Handicap, Haatteras, Statham, the jockey E.H. Sutherland, and the trainer Tom Garvey were suspended for

twelve months (W.A.T.C. April Meeting, Sunday Times, 19 April 1908, Pg 1). At the time of his suspension Statham was president of the WA Breeders Owners and Trainers Association and was seen as a reformer of the WATC. By way of contrast, P.A. Connolly was now on the rise with his success with Dyded Garments in the Sydney Cup (Horse, Mirror, 24 April 1908, Pg 22). Thomas Statham disappears from the WATC scene from this point. Mrs Statham is often noted attending W.A.T.C. events and her fashion sense is noted.

Following the WATC episode Statham’s motor launch Wooramel appears (News and Notes, Daily News, 6 December 1909, Pg 6). From this point on Statham becomes prominent in the Flying Squadron. By 1912 he was Vice- President (Yachting, West Australian, 9 September 1912, Pg 8). In 1913 he took a trip to Europe and on his return it was noted that he was confined to home on account of illness (Yachting, The West Australian, 15 November 1913, Pg 14). The motor launch Wooramel together with the Mundaring appears for sale by Auction on 22 December 1914 (Auctions, The West Australian, 22 December 1914, Pg 2).

In 1916 Statham was Managing director of the Wooramel Pastoral Company (Public Notice, Sunday Times, 28 May 1916, Pg 3). The following report appeared in 1917:

“Traveling Sheep.-Drovers’ advises ... that a line of fat wethers sold by Mr T. Statham, of Wooramel Station, to a metropolitan butcher, which are being overlanded to Mullewa, are creating a favourable impression upon those pastoralists through whose runs they are passing on the way down, many expressing the opinion, that they are one of the finest lines of sheep that have come overland for some considerable time. Mr Statham has spent a good deal of time and spared no expense in endeavoring, to breed his sheep to a satisfactory standard” (News and Notes, West Australian, 16 January, 1917, Pg 4).

In May 1917 Statham donated the Honour Roll for the Carnarvon Club who’s members served and in two cases did not return from service in the War. The unveiling ceremony was conducted by Mr C.D.V Foss former local magistrate, the ceremony was attended by a number of local business men and guest Mr H. Boan MLC (Mr H Boan MLC. The West Australian, 26 May 1917, Pg 8).

Thomas Statham died at Tandarra Private Hospital East Melbourne on February 13 1918. His wife Amanda survived him. The death notice does not record there being any children. Statham’s body was returned to Perth and the funeral procession moved from his home, Mount Crosby, to the Anglican portion at Karrakatta Cemetery (New and Notes, West Australian, 12 March 1918, Pg 4). It appears that during Statham’s time on the Perth City Council he and Mrs Statham resided at 56 Goderich Street East Perth (General Servant, The West Australian, 6 October 1899, Pg 8). At some time after Statham’s Perth Council duties ended the Statham’s purchased the property they named Mt Crosby, at 42 The Esplanade Peppermint Grove.

Rather than stop at this point it was decided to trace Amanda Statham, Thomas’s widow. Amanda Statham appears to have had a relationship with the Sunday Times. She is in many respects an early version of what is now known as an influencer.

In 1923 Amanda Statham bought herself a 10-15 hp Fiat model 501with Italian de luxe bodywork (Motors and Motoring, Sunday Times, 4 February 1923, Pg 10) see also (Movements in Motordom, Mirror, 3 February 1923, Pg 6). In the edition of the Sunday Times reporting Amanda Statham’s purchase, a little further down the page, the following appeared:

“The Fiat Agents, Mesers Arthur Anderson Ltd. are justly proud of Fiat achievements in recent competitions. These achievements have resulted in numerous sales throughout the State, and there are now three times as many Fiats running in WA, as there were six months ago”(Motors and Motoring, Sunday Times, 4 February 1923, Pg 10).

Evidently Mrs Statham got her license and some experience, but the Fiat wasn’t big enough or robust enough for her next idea. In 1925 the Fiat made way for a Studebaker six (Motors and Motoring, Sunday Times 16 August 1925, Pg 5). The next report appears on 20 August:

“Three lady motorists, Mrs Statham, of Peppermint Grove, Mrs C. Croker, of Nedlands, and Mrs C. E. Kelly, arrived in Geraldton on Sunday morning on a round trip from Perth. With Mrs Statham at the wheel of her six-cylinder Studebaker car they left Perth at noon on Friday, and traveled via Watheroo, Mingenew, Dongarra. They intend re turning via Mullewa, Perenjori, and Moora” (Personal, Geraldton Guardian, 20 August 1925, Pg 2).

The full Sunday Times version is contained in Appendix 2. In 1928 this vehicle was replaced by another Studebaker of the same model (Motors and Motoring, Sunday Times 12 February 1928, Pg 30).

The property Mt Crosby was cleared by auction on 26 February 1930 (Auctions, The West Australian, 26 February 1930, Pg 20). Amanda Statham then either leased or bought and sold a steady succession of small properties. She also went on a series of cruise holidays see for example (The Social Round, The Daily News, 7 July 1937, Pg 8).

Throughout the 1930’s there are reports of Amanda Statham at RAC bridge nights and W.A.T.C. events. She was an able bridge player, there are a number of reports of her obtaining the highest score of the evening.

In March 1939 the Sunday Times notes:

“AMONG passengers to leave Fremantle in the Dominion Monarch was Mrs A. M. Statham, of Cottesloe. As well as enjoying the trip to New Zealand Mrs Statham will renew the acquaintance of many friends in the Eastern States, and intends to be away for some weeks”(The Social Roundabout, Sunday times 19 March 1939, Pg 19).

The departure date is very close to the anniversary date of Thomas Statham’s death. She did not return.

Appendix 1

SOCIAL (By M.C.)

At the invitation of Mr and Mrs Thomas Statham, a number of Ladies and gentlemen assembled at the Perth railway station at noon on Saturday. A special train was in readiness to convey the party to the Darling Ranges, where Mr Statham’s blue stone quarries are situated. The magic word “luncheon” on the cards of invitation was sufficient inducement to conjure up a vision of a hungry party, seated promiscuously on heaps of blue metal, or displaced boulders while endeavoring to dislocate chicken, and at the same time keep their plates on their knees. On arrival at the rendezvous, however, the arrangements were found to be on quite a different scale. Crows’ Nest Cottage, situated near the brink of the yawning chasm in the range, whence blue metal is displaced by means of dynamite, was seen to be in readiness for the occupation of the large number of guests who had put in an appearance. Tables had been arranged within and on the verandah, while the catering had been placed in the able hands of Mr and Miss Robbins, of the Victoria Park Hotel and the Adelaide Cafe, who were responsible for the luncheon. Needless to say, the viands were of excellent quality, and, as appetites were sharpened by the trip over the range, ample justice was done to the spread. Though the weather in the forenoon was not of too promising an aspect, and wise people came prepared with umbrellas and overcoats, the fleeting clouds which threatened rain dispersed by midday, and a charming afternoon resulted.

After lunch Mr and Mrs Statham led the way to the quarry, and it was at once seen what a valuable property it was, as the whole face of the hill was exposed to view, and the shimmering surface of the smooth blue rock made a fine background to the picture which was formed by the party of guests as they disposed them selves in order to give Messrs. Greenham and Evans a chance to take a photographic, view. The crushing mill was working, and the visitors had an opportunity of inspecting the machinery, as the crushers ground up large fragments of rock to the size required for road metal. The water for the use of the engine is pumped up from the valley below, a distance of 800ft. During the afternoon a heavy charge of dynamite was exploded, and the concussion was so great as to displace some hundreds of tons of blue stone into the abyss below. A thorough inspection having been made by the party, a return was made to Crows’ Nest where some speech making incidental to the occasion took place, and toasts were honored with, acclamation.

The host and hostess of the day were in evidence at every turn, and did all that was possible to make the outing one of pleasure to all who had accepted their invitations to be present. Usually those pleasant outings are arranged solely in the interests of gentlemen, but on this occasion Mrs Statham exercised her influence in favor of a few ladies being invited, and the innovation was a decidedly happy one. The situation of the quarries is quite a romantic spot, in the heart of the Darling ranges, and from Crows’ Nest a view is obtained of a fine expanse of country, with a birds’-eye view of Perth and the river in the distance. The lights and shades on the wooded hills and in the mountain gorges are very fine, while the air is bracing and beneficial. In the near future the Darling Ranges should prove to Western Australia as fashionable a health resort for the summer season as the Blue Mountains are for New South Wales. The region is easy of access, the surroundings are pleasant, and the atmosphere of a health-giving nature. The spot would be an excellent site for a sanatorium,and the facilities for access would make it an agreeable week’s end or holiday resort for business men. The special train brought back the party before 6 o’clock, most of the ladies bearing their spoils of wildflowers gathered around the vicinity of the quarries, and an incident which gave much pleasure to the visitors was the presentation of lovely sprays and button-holes at Midland Junction on the outward journey, a handsomely arranged bouquet being presented to Lady Forrest by Mrs Statham.

The list of invited guests contained the names of the Premier and Lady Forrest, Sir James Lee Steere, Sir George Shenton, Mr F. H. Piesse (Commissioner for Railways) and Mrs Piesse, Mr George Leake, M.L.A, Mr and Mrs John Davies, the Mayor and Miss Forrest, the members of the Perth Municipal Council, Mr Frank Wilson, M.L.A. And Mrs Wilson, Mrs Wilson, Mr and Mrs J. B. North, the Hon. Mr Amherst, Mr and Mrs C. P. Dickinson, Mr and Miss Willis,Mr and Mrs Hurst, Mr and Mrs J. S Read, Mr and Mrs F. E. Saltwell Mr and Mrs H E. Petherick, Mrs E. M. Byrne and Mr Leo Byrne Mr and Mrs Nanson Mrs Donald Cameron and Mr J. A. Cameron, Dr and Miss Nyulasy, Miss Gwen Eliot, Miss Ida Stone, Mr Congdon, M.L.C., Major Bateman, Dr. Elgee, Mr England. Mr Deverell, Mr Rason, M.L.A., Mr Howard Smith, Dr. Y. M. C. Stewart, Mr Johnson (Mayor of Guildford), Mr E. Solomon (Mayor of Fremantle), Mr Hackett, M.L.C. Mr King (Mayor of Claremont), Mr Dillon Bell (superintendent of public buildings), Mr C. Y. O’Connor (engineer-in-chief), Mr Wallace, M.L.A., Messrs. R W. and Richard Hardey, Mr B. C. Wood, M.L.A., Mr T. F. Quinlan, M.L.A., and Messrs. W. G. Leflroy, A. Lovekin, J. T. Short, C. Saw, W. Wilkinson, Clarke, Hobbs, M’Donald, Kerr, Wigglesworth, Kaitch, Downing, Grosser, Deague, Hughes, H. S. Trigg, R. Skinner, Kemmis, R. Bunning, G. T. Poole, M’Master, Licht, Taylor, Massey, Gliddon, R. Law, H. H. Holman (emphasis added) (Social, Inquirer and Commercial News, 2 September 1898, Pg 5). (Emphasis added)

There are three points to make about this report. The first, there are several reports in different papers of the same event, this report is the ‘odd one out’ for several reasons, it is more about the people and the event, this leads to the second point. The overall feel of the report and the nature of the relationships is not conveyed in the same way or at all in the other reports. They are more about the physical hole in the ground and the machinery. The third, is where was Crows Nest Cottage? This is not reported in the other versions at all.

Appendix 2.

Mrs A. M. TATHAM AND HER NEW STUDEBAKER

Poor Quality photo in original article.

“A striking appreciation of the Studebaker is contained- in the following letter written by Mrs A. M. [S]Tatham, who says:

‘Having just, completed an extensive trip with my Studebaker car, I thought a few details of the tour would interest you. Although I only purchased this car from you (Armstrong’s) on July 3, I felt very confident of getting, through without trouble. ‘Accompanied by two lady friends I set out on Friday, August 14 on a journey to Geraldton. Unfortunately the trip was commenced on a wet day, and these conditions applied almost throughout the outward trip. We proceeded via New Norcia, and owing to lack of information, instead of cutting across to Pithara we proceeded along the railway track, through the sand plains. However the car gave me no trouble and pulled through the sand very easily indeed.

‘The first night we spent in Watheroo, and made Dongarra on the following evening. Unfortunately it was again raining when leaving Dongarra, but we were not to be

deterred and pushed on. We found the Greenough flats very slippery indeed, but we succeeded in reaching Geraldton without accident. We stayed for a week at this centre, and we were complimented on our pluck in crossing the Greenough flats during wet weather. In fact, we were told that several commercial travelers would not face the journey with their cars, and went by another route. After spending a very pleasant time in Geraldton we motored to Mullewa, and were in time to attend the sports and had a good time. Two days later we left for Perth by the Wongan Hills line and had a good run home. ‘I find the steering very easy and the balloon tires give the utmost comfort, besides making the negotiating of sand much easier. I am pleased to state that I am satisfied with my purchase.’

(Mrs A. M. [S]TATHAM AND HER NEW STUDEBAKER, Sunday Times, 20 September 1925, Pg 6)

A correction regarding the spelling of Mrs Statham’s name was published the following week.

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