Purgatory Soak

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its development of grazing industry and for its connection with pioneering families. It also has an association with the Aboriginal people.

Physical Description

A land soak in sandy country situated towards the SE corner of Williams Location 76 (of 40 acres) about 5 kms NE of Boyerine Siding. Early maps show a track emanating (and southwards) from Boyerine Pool extending NE passed the soak. This also shows two other locations Williams 143 & 145 of 40 acres around the land soak on the north, west and south. The latter two locations were later incorporated into Kojonup 4527 to bring that up to a homestead block size of 160 acres.

Little evidence remains of the soak which probably is at the junction of a creek which flows from the east and a washaway running north and south. The accompanying photograph depicts this area with a row of stones immediately above the washaway indicating the former presence of a stone building. Towards the horizon (looking north towards Lime Lake) shows an incursion of sand into the heavier loam typical of the land around the soak. Salt seepage areas are prevalent to the west of the soak site necessitating a deep drain.

History

In Sept 1878 Henry Boddington applied to select a block around Purgatory Soak. At this time he was leasing land to the north and due to an incorrect survey a dispute occurred between him and neighbouring leaseholders E Quartermaine (jr) and Thomas Haddleton.

After his marriage to Ellen Noonan at Arthur River in 1879 Boddingtons made their home at Purgatory Soak. The following year they moved to South Wedgecarrup and in 1902 sold this and took up a property to be known as 'Quailerup' where he built a substantial homestead where he lived until his death in 1928. Before settling at Purgatory Soak, Boddington had leased land on the Hotham River in 1875 having found a reliable watering pool. This place later became known as the town of Boddington.

Later owners of the land surrounding the land soak included F Stein, a farmer of German origin who sold the property after the first World War to the War Service Board and it was allocated to Jack Cornelius originally from the Cartmeticup/Glencoe area. He married Edith White, a grand daughter of Michael Cronin of Glencoe and raised four sons on the property before the depression and the rabbit plagues of the 1930's forced them off in 1935 carrying just a few belongings. The property which included some light sandplain land adjoining purchased by Cornelius lay abandoned until bought by the present owners Norm and Gloria Eckersley and their family in the 1940's.

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.