Cartmeticup Telephone Exchange

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its association with telephone communications in the district.

History

A number of small exchanges were located through the country districts of WA (this was
one of four such facilities in the Shire). The number of subscribers was often between 10
and 20 with a number being on party lines (ie several subscribers using the same line).
These subscribers would have the same number but with a different prefix et 13U, 13K
etc. Each would have a distinguishing telephone ring consisting of a combination of
three digits (short and long) eg 2 shorts and 1 long or 2 longs, 1 short etc.

Hours of operation were limited - sometimes 8am - 9pm weekdays (break 12 noon -
lpm) Saturdays 9am - 12 noon, Sundays (9am-10am) etc. The operator could charge and
opening fee outside of these hours.

The Cartmeticup manual telephone exchange was run from the 'Clifden' home (property
of the Crossley family) for many years. (The original Exchange was based at 'Manna
Flats'. The current automatic exchange is at the corner of Tie Line and Darby Roads}

Phil Crossley had been born at Hamilton, Victoria in 1888 and spent his early years on
the family property before coming to the West with a close friend Stuart Ramsden in
1909. They bought the property 'Clifden' previously owned in partnership by Wilson
and McDonald, comprising 1900 acres. Crossley bought Ramsden out in 1913 and was
to become a very progressive and innovative farmer. In 1917 he started an Austin-
Wanganella blood Merino Stud which proved very successful. This was one of the
earliest in the district. Also he was one of the first to grow subterranean clover having
got the parent seed from PD Forrest of 'Dwalgannup', Boyup Brook in 1923. He
employed men to rake up and bag the clover burr for his use and for sale. Later he
bought a hand operated machine to hull the burr. However in 1914, Crossley's farming
activities were severely hindered when he fell from a motor cycle and sustained a serious
leg injury. He was confined to bed for about six months and was on crutches for about a
year.

During the twenties he purchased additional land from adjacent properties that had been
owned by RE Black, G Spencer and WA Newbey. This increased the property to over
4000 acres which remained this size until the late 1940's when 1000 acres were sold to
the Soldier Settlement Scheme. In 1925 he married Molly Anderson, a daughter of one
of Katanning's pioneers, and to them two children (Michael and Jill) were born. Phil
Crossley was a member of the Woodanilling Road Board for 15 years, being Chairman
from 1940 to 1944. After he retired to Katanning, his son, Michael, took over running the
property until his untimely death in 1977. Like his father he was interested in public
affairs, and serviced on the Shire from 1964 till his death.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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Disclaimer

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.