Keirle's Store Site

Statement of Significance

The place is notable as an early site in the business and commercial development of the town of Woodanilling.

Physical Description

The site is bare except for some regrowth timber. The precinct of three shops faced the railway and station on the southern side of the line. The Keirle buildings were later described by Zetta Wetherall whose family came to Woodanilling in 1907 - "On the opposite side of the line (west) was another row of houses mostly owned by a Mr Alf Keirle (three shops really) one used as a house, one a barbers and the other groceries, meat etc ".

Keirke's weatherboard buildings were later moved to Katanning after he went out of business in Woodanilling about 1916.

History

The latter months on the nineteenth century, however made up for an idle period of three years when Alfred Keirle on July 7, 1899 began the 'land rush' when he purchased Lots 32,34,38,49, 51, 53 and 61. With the exception of Lot .36 (taken up by Alice Haddleton) and the Government reserved Lots (40, 42, 45 and 47) opposite the station, these purchases gave Keirle all the land facing the railway on the western side for a distance of 300 nearly 300 metres either side of the siding.

During his early years at Woodanilling, Jethro Coate worked in a variety of positions. Some time was spent working for the Cornwalls at the Beaufort and with the local shopkeepers Alfred Keirle and much later PN Rogers, Keirle had been his schoolmaster at Taunton in Somerset, years before. It would appear that Alfred Keirle did not have great financial success with his store. He was reputed to be very 'keen' when buying mallet bark or skins. A story is related that two well known men came in with a load of mallet bark and were unloading the bundles down onto the portable scales - seven or eight bundles at a time. Keirle would read the scale and climb up into the rail truck to stack the bundles as the other two swung them up to him. Talking between themselves, this pair would throw one or two bundles back onto their load between throwing others up into the rail truck. One commented to Keirle, "Do you think it fair for one crook to take another crook down?' Keirle replied with a chuckle, "Oh yes, that would be quite in order!"

In 1908, it was reported that Keirle was expanding his business to include a hairdressing salon, tobacconist and saddlery departments. The outbreak of the war, and with trade dropping off Keirle was forced to close his doors in about 1916 and return to Katanning. Here he operated a fruit and vegetable shop until he retired in 1925 when he sold his Katanning shop and town lots in Woodanilling along the west of the railway. Keirle did not do much business and his argumentative nature did little to draw customers. Nevertheless he was a public spirited man and was an active force in many of the town's early organisations. After being active in the establishment of the Woodanilling Roads Board, Keirle was elected to represent the town ward. His early competitors also did not appear to flourish financially.

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