Local Government
Woodanilling
Region
Great Southern
Queerearrup Rd Kenmare
Woodanilling
Great Southern
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 18 Mar 2003 | Category 4 | |
The lake is a significant feature of the landscape. It also is connected with early pioneers.
A very large salt lake with a total surface area of 941 acres making it the largest lake (ahead of Charling 800 acres) in the Woodanilling Shire. Depth varies to a maximum of 2 metres. It has an elongated shape and virtually joins Charling on the west and close by on the east is Flagstaff Lake. On the west is a high bank with Melaleuca sp nearest water (timber closest water edge is dead indicating increasing salinity/rising water level), then casuarina obesia and then jam (acacia acuminata) and swamp yate. It is part of a chain of lakes which when they overflow discharges water into the ill defined east branch of the Beaufort River. When inspected in April 99 it had a low level of water. Designated use is recreation with a piece around the perimeter separately designated public recreation - Reserve 29644/9176 of 380 acres. The top (northern) quarter of the lake is in the Wagin Shire .
The origin of the name comes from the Aboriginal work 'Queer' meaning brush wallaby. To the north of the lake is a spring of the same name and on the north west bank of the lake is Queerearrup Rock. The Queerearrup Station homestead built by Thomas Cornwall was to the NW of the lake in the Wagin Shire and was run in conjunction with the Beaufort Station. South of the lake was taken up in 160 acre blocks by the Thompson family; while Sam Roberts had the land bordering the lake on the SE, E & NE. Linley Thompson was the eldest of three brothers who came to the lakes area north west of Woodanilling, from SA. They were related to the Douglas's so it was natural to select land near them. Lin left school at 13, and went to work in the cellars. For a time he studied assaying at the School of Mines, but with day work in the cellars, and studying at night he appeared to be suffering from consumption. So at the age of 19 he was sent to the west to recover. Here, he obtained work with George Douglas. When his brother Arch came over, they went on the land taking advantage of the free homestead blocks of 160 acres. Their brother, Rene, who was only 16 at the time, put his age up to 18 to also stake his claim. These three selections were side by side on the SW shore of Lake Queerearrup. The boys' father, William, came across for a while and also claimed a homestead block. He brought with him the iron for the roof of a two roomed shack Arch and Lin had built. William planted 15 acres of Gordon Blanco Rosen vines, the cuttings of which he presumably brought from SA. The vines grew very well, but what survived the heavy frosts were destroyed by bush fire. However, none of the brothers were to remain long on their selections. Rene was the first to go and he sold out to Sammy Roberts in 1909 and found work in a store in Woodanilling. In 1912 he married another ex South Australian, Nell Gilmour. After working in Fremantle, Rene went to manage a store in Lake Grace in 1927. Later in the period 1935-1940, he bought Dival's store in Woodanilling. While here the eldest of their four children, Beryl, married Lew Douglas and moved in to the old Douglas homestead at 'The Lakes'. Archie sold his land to Jackie Merritt and returned to SA where he took employment as a motor mechanic. Linely hung on for a time and bought a hundred sheep, but was forced off the land through the regrowth of a lip tumour which was aggravated by exposure to the sun. After he sold his block on the SW bank of Queerearrup Lake to Ted Reschke, Linley took a job on the railways and was at Kalgoorlie when he enlisted as a stretcher bearer. In France he was exposed to mustard gas and suffered from its poisonous effects. He was repatriated back to Australia, was educated as a teacher and taught at many small country schools throughout the State. Despite his health problems, Lin lived to the age of 75 passing away while living in retirement at Glen Forrest.
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Bird; "Round Pool to Woodanilling", pp 95, 96, 205, 52, 272 | 1985 |
Landscape
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | FARMING\PASTORAL | Other |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Exploration & surveying |
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