Yairibin Well

Statement of Significance

The site is significant in the development of the pastoral and agricultural industries and for its association
with pioneering families. It is also very significant in the early goldfields days and with the various names
of the nearby railway centre.

Physical Description

Situated near a creek which flows to the SE. The well was lined with stone and sunk to a depth of 16 feet.
The good quality water came right to the surface so no windlass was needed. In recent years it has been
filled with sand washed down the creek and would possibly be too saline for drinking. A group of marri
trees east of the well were grown from seed that Tom Haddleton brought back with him on his early travels,
possibly on his shepherding treks to the Blackwood. A plaque marks the site some 30 metres east of the
well site which is now in a creek. It is a large damp saline area covered with rushes. This is about 100
metres NW of the Yairibin homestead site

History

40 acres of land surrounding the well was taken up by Thomas Haddleton in 1870, who, in 1863 had taken
up land at Coompatine to the south. Haddleton took out a pastoral lease in the area in 1865 and by securing
the main water holes in the vicinity was able to extend his leases to take in areas previously held by William
Andrews. The Yairibin site was selected because of its abundance of/water and in dry years, water was
carted to Coompatine. It was here that Thomas Haddleton made his home after his marriage to Alice
McKenna in 1866. They had a family of 13 children of whom the first born, Thomas (Tom) in 1867, and
Arthur (born 1887) were to be closely associated with Yairibin. When Thomas Haddleton (snr) died at
'Coompatine' in July 1903, he left an estate totalling nearly 3000 pounds. 'Coompatine' was divided
equally between William and Job, while Charles was left a 40 acre block near his farm at Woodanilling and
Arthur 40 acres at 'Yairabin' plus conditional purchase blocks here totalling 302 acres. Tom was not a
major beneficiary of his father's will and in his earlier days was not content to settle on the farm. He built a
house of mallet rails and mud pug near the creek at 'Yairabin' and lived here in between trips to the
Goldfields, shearing and working in the district. His success in finding a path to the fields brought
Katanning to the fore as a starting point for the diggers arriving by boat at Albany from the Eastern States.
It was reported:
"The war of the routes - has now been waged in amicable rivalry by various towns on The Great
Southern Railway. "Pingelly and Narrogin opened the ball and Katanning followed suit soon after,
trusting the important task of making a track to Mr Michael Cronin and party. Owing to the very partial
success of the undertaking, Katanning has been heavily handicapped as a starting place, the more so
since the successfid issue of Messrs Holland, Krakouer and party from Broomehill at a recent date -
Katanning is indebted to Mr TE Haddleton who has been twice to Coolgardie and back with good loads
and to whose practical bushmanship and careful observation is due the excellence of the road indicated.
"On the last occasion of his return, Mr Haddleton came down on horseback taking eight days for the trip
and the outcome of his journey is that within a few days about 11 teams including his own, will be on the
road to the field, each team having ample accommodation for passengers' luggage." Haddleton's route
was Katanning to 'Yariabin' (11 miles, permanent water), Bullimullin Tank (14 miles, permanent water),
'Wheatfield' (4 miles) and to 8 miles beyond 'Bunkin' (permanent water), 'Dooradine' (eight miles),
'Dongolocking' (nine miles), 'Dingarrin' (five miles) and 10 miles to W Smith's, 'Treasurin' (nine miles),
'Jeelikin' (18 miles), then to the longest stage of the journey, 30 miles to 'Tampin' and 12 miles to
Waddering Well which lands the traveller on the Pingelly Road to Southern Cross. "One of the main
advantages of the route is that at 'Tampin', 98 miles from Southern Cross, any reasonable supply of chaff
may be obtained by teamsters at a price little more than 50% of the Cross prices'"
In the early wheat carting days with horse and dray, farmers from north east of 'Yairabin' would camp at
the well. Among these were the Dawson and the James' teams. The abundance of water at 'Yairabin'
ensured that the Haddletons had plenty of callers during the dry seasons. As many as 30 carts a day would
come to get water.
When it was deemed necessary to change the name of the local siding, Round Pool, due to the confusion
caused by the similarity to Round Swamp (Tenterden), it became known as 'Yaribin' for some time before
the name Woodanilling was finally adopted.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.