Dix Vale Hall

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Social, Representativeness and Historic

Physical Description

· Single storey rectangular design;
· Weatherboard walls;
· Corrugated iron gable roof (re-sheeted with Colourbond);
· Windows shuttered for security, and;
· Small brick extension on one side.

History

These notes have been derived from
http://www.southwestlife.com.au/outdoors0503.htm and
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Western-
Australia/Manjimup/2005/02/17/1108500208272.html?oneclick=true
In 1921 Manjimup bore witness to one of Western Australia's more
disastrous land settlement schemes. The Group Settlement Scheme was
set up by the Western Australian Government after World War I to settle
immigrants with one of the objectives to increase the dairy industry. Part
of the idea was to give Western Australia's rural economy a boost by
opening up more land for agriculture. The group settlers (groupies) lived
in rough temporary huts provided by the Government until 25 acres of
each family's ballot-allocated 100 acres was partially cleared. Then they
could move to their respective blocks and get down to the serious
business of farming. Clearing took up to six months, the bush was thick
and the trees enormous. Most of the group settlers had no experience of
farming and very little bushcraft. With only crosscut saws and axes they
were faced with clearing some of the world's biggest trees from their
land. Many group settlers left unable to handle the conditions and meet
the repayments on their land and equipment and the loans they had to
take out to buy stores. Those that stayed the longest scratched a living
from dairy produce as they struggled to clear enough of their land to
farm. The great depression of the 1930s heralded the end of most of the
Groupies. The price of butterfat collapsed and their main source of
income disappeared. Dixvale was a community hall from one of these
group settlements.
The Dixvale Hall is now the main club building for the Manjimup
motocross track. The Manjimup Motorcycle Club has been established
since 1949 and has been very active in this sporting field, initiating a
major racing event that attracts people from around the world - the
Manjimup 15000.
So why is it called the Manjimup 15000? It was given the name at its
inaugural event in 1980, when it was named after the amount of prize
money that was on offer. At the time it was the richest motorcross event
ever held in Australia, and the first winner to take it home was Roger
Harvey, a rider from the United Kingdom. Just over ten years later, in
1991, the prize money had risen to $40,000.
Throughout the years spectators have seen some amazing racing and
other incidents. In 1986, American Jimmy Ellis ensured that his name
will remain in the record books for a long time. Not only did he win the
event, but in doing so he was the first rider to clear the double jumps
behind the main straight. Since that time, the tabletop jump has been
called "Jim's Jump" in his honour. Another very popular jump is
"Clifford's Leap", which was named after the Clifford Family of
Casuarina Valley Orchard in Manjimup, in recognition of their
willingness to always volunteer workers and supplies of earthmoving
equipment at the club.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integriyt: High
Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.