Convict Well

Statement of Significance

The site is important because of its association with the convict era, building of the Albany Highway and its links with pioneering families

Physical Description

The site is located 50 metres north of the Albany Highway, about 400 metres north of the junction with the Robinson Road. Originally a well, the site has been extended to encompass a small dam adjacent to it. A stone hut and hayshed were also constructed near to the well. The well is stone lined and about two metres in diameter. The current depth is about 2-3 metres (silted up) but is still a reliable supply. During the very dry year in the mid 1940's, water was carted from here to supply some of the water needs of Kojonup. The well at times has been equipped with a windmill, tank and stationary engine.

History

The well was dug by convicts who were working on the construction of the Sound Road (Albany Highway) during the mid 1850's. The stone hut and other buildings may have been built at that time or a little later. It is probable that this was the first home of William Cornwall and his wife Eliza before the building of the Beaufort Homestead in 1862. The Gibbs family who were later to become the pioneer settlers at Darkan lived here for a time until 1867. A diary extract from Bishop Hale, Anglican Bishop of Perth on his journey to Albany states: March 23 1866: "Dark on arrival at Gibbs J 38 mile. All male part of Gibbs family in the bush, but we did very well, slept in hut. Kenworthy [his curate] in hayhouse. Place remarkable for abundance and excellence of water, belongs to Cornwall." April 26: Return trip. "Left Kojonup 8.30 to reach Gibbs about 2pm. Drizzling rain, after arrival very heavy and constant. Mrs Gibbs askedfor a service but no one came. Baptised her child and had prayers. " April 27: "Left at 6.30 without breakfast, Mrs Gibbs made a charge of 17/- for the horses and I gave her 25/- in quittance of allfavours, had a good breakfast at Spratt's 124 mile. Most of the time the Gibbs men spent hunting or helping Cornwall with the shepherding or shearing.. The kangaroo skins were taken through to Perth and traded for provisions. Sometime in 1866 or 1867, the Gibbs family moved to Darkan. The next known occupants of the cottage at the Beaufort were the Hale family. Stephen Hale (with his wife) Emma arrived in the colony on 20-8-1842 aboard the 'Simon Taylor' classified as an assisted immigrant as an agricultural labourer for Trigg. Hale was bricklayer and potter by trade and later pursued his trade in the district of Guildford for some.years. They has a large family but apart from Stephen (jnr) and Owen, they were all daughters. Four of these girls married locally. Edith became John Delaney's wife in 1882. Delaney, who was one of Chipper's coach drivers, later became well known in the Kojonup district as a mailman. Emma and Annie became wives of Arthur River settlers - JB Fallon (131 mile) and - Thompson with Dora marrying Thomas Blackmore of Kojonup (formerly of Yellyellan) - Cartmeticup. Owen Hale was the only one of the family with a real interest in land in the Woodanilling area. He was the original selector of the Kunmallup Well site.

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