Local Government
Woodanilling
Region
Great Southern
Robinson Rd West Woodanilling
Located on Kunmallup farm
Woodanilling
Great Southern
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 18 Mar 2003 | Category 4 | |
The place is significant as it is a burial site - one of a number of lonely graves in the Shire.
It is believed that there are at least three people buried within the orchard at Kunmallup. A neighbour (John Carter) when undertaking contract ploughing of the orchard for Flanagan in the 1950's observed three graves in this area. Two were marked with timber pailings and the third was unmarked. While the exact site is now unknown it is thought that the SW corner was the likely area as in the vicinity the heavy red soil gave way to a more sandy structure which would lend itself to easier digging.
The identity of those buried is not verified but it is said that the original grave belonged to William Knott (died 1882), not long after acquiring the property. Knott's wife remained at Kunmallup and it is thought that a neighbouring pioneer (Bailem) may have been the next grave. Possibly the third grave was either a youngster bitten by a snake while eating mulberries in the orchard or an infant/still born baby. Some sources contend the latter was buried under where a rose bush was planted near the garage (Flanagan) Knott and his wife took over the Kunmallup Well site in the 1880's when Owen Hale vacated it to move to the old 131 mile police station. Pastoral leases in the vicinity at this time which were held by Michael Quinn from 'Glenfield', Williams' were also later secured by Knott. According to John Carter (whose father took up the next property to Kunmallup in 1904) Mrs Knott was living on her property some years before Mr McDonald came along, possibly in the late 1880's. She already had one daughter from a previous marriage named 'Girlie'. (Her first husband is buried on the property). McDonald was a kangaroo shooter who came and lived with Mrs McDonald as she was known from that time on. She had another daughter from this union. "The property was eventually sold I think after old Mr McDonald died and the three women moved to a small place along the Coben Soak Road on the south side almost opposite where Toby Grey now lives. The two daughters married, I am not sure of Girlie's married name. Carrie married a Mr Wright who also had a property on Coben Soak Road. These marriages were very short lived. Later when the old lady died the two girls moved into Katanning to live. Carrie died in the early 1960's.
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Bird;" Round Pool to Woodanilling", pp 91, 211, 258 | 1985 |
Historic Site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Grave |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OTHER | Other Sub-Theme |
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