Kojonolokan Hills

Statement of Significance

The site is a prominent natural feature of the landscape

Physical Description

It is a range of granite hills which rise from the plains bordering the lake country in the north west of the Shire. Close by (the SE) are the Two Haycocks (or Puridine Hill and Little Puridine). At the base of a granite rock at Kojondokan Hill is a vertical catchment wall which was built in the 1920's by a leaseholder JT Newton. A mixture of lime and cement was used being bound with a large quantity of hoop iron and fencing wire. Later leaseholder Dan Lewis (in the 1930's) extended the wall height by about 5 feet

History

Charles Edwin Watkins and his wife Elizabeth selected 1400 acres around the Kojonolokan Hills just prior to the turn of the century. They built a stone and mud daub homestead soon after it was taken up, but they spent only a short period on the farm in its first decade, (possibly two years in all). Watkins was a well educated and much travelled man. Born at Akaroa, New Zealand in 1858, he was the son of a chemist and descendant of an original member of the Canterbury settlement. Watkins had a distinguished academic record, qualifying in engineering and surveying, as well as securing a Diploma in Geology at the Dunedin University. During his period of practice in surveying and engineering at Reefton, he also obtained his certificate as mining manager, being the first in NZ to gain such a qualification. In 1892 he came to WA and after passing his examination as a surveyor in this State, he was appointed to the position of manager of Hope's Hill Mine and Battery in the Southern Cross district. Three years later, he joined the Government service and worked in the Mt. Margaret and Coolgardie districts. Subsequently he spent two years in Albany with the Harbour and Rivers Department. The exposed south-eastern slope of the Kojonolokan Hills was chosen for the homestead site and flowers planted by Mrs Watkins have continued to produce bulbs and flower each spring from that time to the present day. Watkins was keen to develop his property and in April 1902 he advertised piece work to let - 300 yard dam at 1/6, 100 yard underground tank at 2/6, Burning and fencing. In 1904 he accepted the position as a contract surveyor with the Lands Department and appears that he spend most of the decade living at Albany and Esperance. Despite Watkins non residency, he continued to build up his land holdings. His land was first leased in 1911 to the Ramm brothers, in 1918 to John Newton of Albany, then Harry Boddington from 1927-1936, Dan Lewis (until the early 50's), Frank Gill, Ray White 1954-74 and others. Control of the farm later passed to his son CT Watkins and finally it was sold to the current owners

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Historic Themes

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