Pinjarra Park Estate

Statement of Significance

2.1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL The area immediately surrounding the mill and the mill ruins themselves, may have retained evidence of milling activity . This type of evidence is not necessarily recoverable from documentary sources. 2.2 SOOAL Capt. Theodore Fawcett played an important life in the community of Pinjarra from 1859 until his death in 1898. He played the role of the English squire and his debt to the community is largely non visible. However, the mill building which he constructed is a visible reminder of the role he played and possibly his lack of practical application, in farming methods, in his adopted country. 2.3 HISTORICAL Fawcett's mill was one of the largest constructed in the Murray District in the 1860s and the earliest in the Region to be constructed as a steam powered mill. (Cooper's mill, used steam earlier, however it was originally constructed as a wind powered mill.) The mill is associated with Capt. Fawcett who was an important member of the Pinjarra community. 2.4 SCARCITY VALUE The size of the complex is unusual when compared with other mills constructed in the 1860sby farmers for their own and their neighbour 's use. Mills of this size generally appeared later and were run by merchants as an economic business. growing areas in the eastern districts, plus those established in the north, were producing more wheat and of a better quality, than that grown in the Murray district. As transport became more efficient it became easier to transport wheat from the more distant wheat growing areas. The 1v1urray farmers soon realised that it would be better to concentrate on other crops such as potatoes, meat, wool, hides and fruit-growing than to persist with wheat and other grain crops. All these factors led to Fawcett's mill gradually falling into disuse. It is unclear if Fawcett ever made a profit from his milling activities or whether he was simply providing a service for himself and the local community.

Physical Description

The building appears to have been constructed in three stages, however at this stage it is not possible to accurately determine which section was constructed in 1865. The building is constructed from soft-fired bricks laid using English bond. The roof cladding is corrugated galvanized iron laid on lapped sarking. The building is rectangular in form with the long axis oriented east west. The central portion (Section B) of the building may possibly represent the first stage. Section B is two stories high with a slightly protruding gable bay on the northern side which has been rendered. A narrow single storey room has been added onto the southern side of Section B. On the eastern side of this room is a square brick chimney. The section east of the central portion (Section C) was originally two stories but is now partially collapsed and roofless. This section was added onto Section B at some stage. The walls on the northern and southern sides of this section were built with brick buttresses for additional support. Section A (on the western side of Section B) is single storey. The timber joinery to the doors and windows has not survived. The large internal structural timber beams in Section B show evidence of adze work. A portion of the upper timber floor has survived. The interior was originally limewashed. No machinery has survived

History

Assessment 1996 Construction c. 1865 Builder: Captain Fawcett This assessment has been developed from a study carried out by Palassis Architects in 1994. The study divided the flour milling areas of Western Australia into seven regions and this particular mill falls within the Murray District of that study. Eighteen flour mills once operated in the Murray Region, constructed during the period 1840s to 1870s. John Bussell constructed the earliest mill in the region, on his property in the Busselton district (1839). Power to run the mill machinery was provided by horses. No remains have been found of this early mill. Seven mills were constructed in the 1840s, the earliest constructed, and the only one to survive , was built by Joseph Cooper in the Murray district. Cooper began constructing his mill in 1843 on land near his farm at Pinjarra. The mill was originally powered by the wind, but later it was converted to steam power. Five mills were constructed in the 1850s, however the only one to survive is the Chapman brothers' mill at Wonnerup. This mill was constructed in 1850 and was powered by the wind. Three mills were constructed in the 1860s, the only one to survive was built by Theodore Fawcett on his property near Pinjarra. By this time, Cooper's mill had ceased operating. Fawcett's mill was powered by steam. The Murray Region had begun to decline as a wheat growing area and few mills were constructed in the later years. In1879 William Forrest and his son Robert constructed a steam powered mill at Bunbury. This mill was the first in Western Australia to use the new steel roller technology for grinding wheat, although the traditional stones were still used in conjunction with one steel roller. No remains have been identified for this mill. Prior to the development of the northern and eastern wheat growing areas, the Murray District was once an important supplier of wheat to the Perth and Fremantle markets . Fawcett's Mill is located on Murray Loe. 1, which was acquired by Francis Wickham on behalf of his brother-in-law, Lt. Col Fawcett, who resided in England. Fawcett's second son Theodore, came out to develop the grant in 1858. After his arrival, he engaged Ticket-of-Leave men to help clear the bush and erect some essential buildings including a small cottage for himself . On the death of his father in 1861, Fawcett inherited the estate which he named "Pinjarra Park". In1864 he went to England to marry Eliza Hill and returned with his new bride to his newly completed homestead. Fawcett continued to improve his property, building several outbuildings and a flour mill on the southern side of the main house. The flour mill appears to have been constructed in 1865, because in that year, Fawcett purchased the steam machinery that had operated Cooper's Millat Yunderup, for £220. Fawcett grew only a small amount of wheat at "Pinjarra Park";only 25 acres were planted. The mill ground wheat for Fawcett's immediate use as well tfor the farmers of the district. However, wheat had never thrived in the district, in comparison with the other wheat growing areas of the State. When rust appeared in the colony in 1868, it was not long before it was also found in the Murray district. By the 1880s and 1890s the newer wheat growing areas in the eastern districts, plus those established in the north, were producing more wheat and of a better quality, than that grown in the Murray district. As transport became more efficient it became easier to transport wheat from the more distant wheat growing areas. The 1v1urray farmers soon realised that it would be better to concentrate on other crops such as potatoes, meat, wool, hides and fruit-growing than to persist with wheat and other grain crops. All these factors led to Fawcett's mill gradually falling into disuse. It is unclear if Fawcett ever made a profit from his milling activities or whether he was simply providing a service for himself and the local community. Theodore Fawcett played a major role in the Pinjarra district. He was the driving force behind the formation of the Pinjarra Mounted Volunteers. Other similar forces were set up elsewhere in Western Australia as a direct result of Britain removing its garrison soldiers from the Australian colonies in 1862. He served as the Captain of this band until it was disbanded in 1882. He served on the Murray Roads Board and was elected to the Legislative Council as the member for Murray - Williams in 1866 - 1874 and 1866 - 1889. He and his wife had 7 children and their home served as the social point in Pinjarra society. Although Fawcett had drive and enthusiam in the agricultural development of his property, it did not thrive due to his persistence in using English farming methods. Fawcett died in 1898. For 25 years he had dominated the social, political and economic life of the Murray district, many people considered that his death marked the end of an era. "Pinjarra Park" is still owned by the Fawcett family.

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