Cartmeticup Telephone Exchange

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its association with telephone communications in the district.

History

A number of small exchanges were located through the country districts of WA (this was one of four such facilities in the Shire). The number of subscribers was often between 10 and 20 with a number being on party lines (ie several subscribers using the same line). These subscribers would have the same number but with a different prefix et 13U, 13K etc. Each would have a distinguishing telephone ring consisting of a combination of three digits (short and long) eg 2 shorts and 1 long or 2 longs, 1 short etc. Hours of operation were limited - sometimes 8am - 9pm weekdays (break 12 noon - lpm) Saturdays 9am - 12 noon, Sundays (9am-10am) etc. The operator could charge and opening fee outside of these hours. The Cartmeticup manual telephone exchange was run from the 'Clifden' home (property of the Crossley family) for many years. (The original Exchange was based at 'Manna Flats'. The current automatic exchange is at the corner of Tie Line and Darby Roads} Phil Crossley had been born at Hamilton, Victoria in 1888 and spent his early years on the family property before coming to the West with a close friend Stuart Ramsden in 1909. They bought the property 'Clifden' previously owned in partnership by Wilson and McDonald, comprising 1900 acres. Crossley bought Ramsden out in 1913 and was to become a very progressive and innovative farmer. In 1917 he started an Austin- Wanganella blood Merino Stud which proved very successful. This was one of the earliest in the district. Also he was one of the first to grow subterranean clover having got the parent seed from PD Forrest of 'Dwalgannup', Boyup Brook in 1923. He employed men to rake up and bag the clover burr for his use and for sale. Later he bought a hand operated machine to hull the burr. However in 1914, Crossley's farming activities were severely hindered when he fell from a motor cycle and sustained a serious leg injury. He was confined to bed for about six months and was on crutches for about a year. During the twenties he purchased additional land from adjacent properties that had been owned by RE Black, G Spencer and WA Newbey. This increased the property to over 4000 acres which remained this size until the late 1940's when 1000 acres were sold to the Soldier Settlement Scheme. In 1925 he married Molly Anderson, a daughter of one of Katanning's pioneers, and to them two children (Michael and Jill) were born. Phil Crossley was a member of the Woodanilling Road Board for 15 years, being Chairman from 1940 to 1944. After he retired to Katanning, his son, Michael, took over running the property until his untimely death in 1977. Like his father he was interested in public affairs, and serviced on the Shire from 1964 till his death.

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