Local Government
Woodanilling
Region
Great Southern
Location
Great Southern Hwy Woodanilling
Location Details
Other Name(s)
Billabong Paddock
Construction Date
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 18 Mar 2003 | Category 5 |
Category 5 |
|
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 about 1 km north west of the Woodanilling town. The residence and bakery
were about 50 metres west of the Great Southern Highway. A palm tree marks the site
which consists of chimney remnants and a pile of granite rocks.
History
This is the site of the second bakery in Woodanilling. The Simpson family had earlier
established a bakery in Steven's old house near the railway station. The area is known as
the Billabong Paddock and was previously owned by the Gilchrist family. The Simpson
family were resident here until April 1916 when Mrs Simpson held a clearing sale at her
house.
The two Gilchrist brothers, Jim and Frank, took up land in 1900 after an unsuccessful
stint on the Goldfields after arriving from England in the mid 1890's.
Jim settled on the ;Billabong Block', % mile north west of the town and Frank on the
block immediately north of this. Jim Gilchrist left after several years to settle at
Bridgetown, while his brother and family moved to the east side of the line to 'Jam Hill'.
When Jim Gilchrist offered his land for sale in 1906, he had cleared 40 of his 160 acres
and fenced it with six plain wires. Other improvements included a house and 200 fruit
trees and vines which were to bear the following year.
Two of the Frank Gilchrist family (Ted and Sarah) went to the Woodanilling School, but
by 1904 the family left their block and went to Katanning.
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Bird, Round Pool to Woodanilling ps 158, 202 | 1985 | ||
| Photos: 9/15, 9/16 |