Murapin Lake

Statement of Significance

The lake is a significant feature of the landscape. It also is connected with early pioneers.

Physical Description

It is part of a chain of lakes which when they overflow discharges water into the ill defined
east branch of the Beaufort River.

History

The name is derived from the Aboriginal word 'mear' meaning spear thrower
The land west of the railway line between Lime Lake and Round Pool had not been thought
worthy of selection by the WA Land Company agents when they picked the best land for the
company along the railway at the time of its construction in the 1880's. Tom Cornwall,
owner of the Beaufort and Queerearrup Stations, was quoted as telling the Douglas brothers
when they were working for him in 1895 that no other land in the area apart from
Queerearrup and the Beaufort would ever be taken up as it was too poor. However, the
efforts of the pioneers and subsequent generations has proved this judgement incorrect.

Pioneers of this area were the Douglas family. Joe Douglas and his five sons all selected
land, built homesteads and farmed in the Lakes country - stretching east from Harry's
selection ('Dowlering'), Jim ('Miripin' - Murapin Lake), George ('Grandfather Swamp' near
Queerearrup Lake), Harold ('Kenmare' near hall), Joe ('The Lakes') and Archie ('Little
Kojonolokan' - later 'Adadalef'). In addition, their relatives - brothers Linley, Arch and
Rene Thompson; and friend Sammy Roberts were other pioneers in the area.

J.T. (Jim Douglas selected land between Martinup and Murapin Lakes and the north of
Murapin to the SW edge of Lake Charling and between Murapin and Little Murapin. Jim was
one of the younger brothers and arrived at the Lakes with his father Joe and brother Harold in
1900. Jim named his farm 'Miripin' and extended it to about 1300 acres. Like his father, he
was a lover of horses and enjoyed the challenge of breaking in the brumbies which he and his
brothers caught, being content to let Arch handle the marketing of them. He married a
cousin, Hilda, from SA but she was not happy on the farm and in 1921 they moved to Albany.
Jim obtained a job on the construction of the Eclipse Island Lighthouse. When this was
finished the construction of the Albany Woollen Mills began and again Jim worked through
the entire project. While Jim was always hopeful of returning to Miripin, the unpaid rates on
the property built up and eventually the Road Board demanded payment. When Sam Roberts
offered to pay the rates in return for the farm, Jim had no choice. Jim and his family moved
to Perth in 1929. During the Second World War he worked on the Fremantle slip servicing
US navy submarines. An accidental fall into the water precipitated his death a short time
later. The property was later purchased by Dick Wilcox and then to his son Trevor Wilcox,
the current owner.

Uses

Historic Themes

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.