De Grey - Mullewa Stock Route No. 9701

Child Places

• 18199 Stock Route Well No. 9
• 18198 Stock Route Well No. 19

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Child Places

• 18199 Stock Route Well No. 9
• 18198 Stock Route Well No. 19

Statement of Significance

Wells and other water sources were critical in the opening up and development of the district and were crucial in the droving of stock. Each individual watering point has its own value, however as a whole they indicate the historic routes taken by drovers and travellers.

Physical Description

The closest well to Mullewa that remains is 4.9km north, on the west side of the Camarvon Rd and north of Sutherland Road, along a dirt track. This is the Perkins No.2 Government Well, which was sunk in January 1934 by Frank Field. 34 feet deep, the stone lined well has a timber lining to the top 1 metre and a metal grille cover. The well, which supplied an average of 16 gallons per hour of fresh water, is surrounded by a partly collapsed timber pole fence. Nearby is a Bicentennial plaque mounted on a large rock. The first Perkins Well was sunk and equipped by a Government well-sinker in 1897where the main road crosses the Wooderarrung River, but this went salty. There are further water sources at Woodenooka, 14.9km from Mullewa, west of the Carnarvon Road (built 1895), at Waterfall, 6.5km from Mullewa, east of the Camarvon Road (natural pool), at White Government Well, 10kmfrom Mullewa, west of the Camarvon Road (sunk 1920), at Woodenooka, 14.9kmfrom Mullewa, west of Carnarvon Road (built 1895) and at Hughies Rocks, 32.6km from Mullewa, east of Carnarvon Road (natural pool, reserved 1880).

History

In the 1860s and 1870s the demand for grazing land increased, as did the need to find permanent water supplies for stock and droving purposes. This expansion caused resentment among the local Aboriginal tribes as water and food supplies were depleted by stock, occasionally leading to violent altercations with settlers and shepherds. By the 1870s 'runs' or pastoral stations had been taken up in the Mullewa and Murchison area and a main route became established to provide access for travellers on foot, cart or horseback. Sheep and cattle were walked out from established runs around Geraldton and the Irwin River by shepherds. The sheep were taken back to their parent runs for shearing, and the pathways used became recognised stock routes with stopping and resting places 10 to 15 miles apart at watering points. Some of these were springs or rockholes, and others were wells dug for shepherds. In the 1890s Government well-sinkers established further wells and equipped them with block and tackle pulleys for whipping (drawing) water and a Government issue canvas bucket which held 44 gallons. In 1905 the entire network of northern and eastern stock routes were gazetted as A Class Reserves, 80 chains wide, from the Kimberley in the far north to Perth. The stock route between the De Grey River and Mullewa was number 9701. In the 1950s the transportation of stock in motor trucks on prepared road systems became common place. Many of the roads were developed along the old stock routes, following the most suitable terrain. Since then some of the wells have deteriorated, others have been restored and are included in heritage trails.

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Stock Route Well No. 19

Parent Place or Precinct

05113 De Grey - Mullewa Stock Route No. 9701

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Stock Route Well No.19 has considerable historic significance as evidence of earlier pastoral activity in the Murchison District, when water supply along the stock accessways were paramount. The significance of the well is enhanced by it's good condition and high authenticity, with the use of local bush timber evidence of the utilisation of locally found materials.

Physical Description

Located to the north of the Byro Station entrance and approximately 7 metres to the east side of the Carnarvon-Mullewa Road, the historic stock route is set amongst low scrubby vegetation. The earth and stone lined well measures approximately 2.5 metres in diameter and is covered by timber planking. The well mouth is situated on the mound of earth taken from the well, to give height for the bucket of water, pulled up the well by a horse or camel, to be manually poured down the launder to the trough. The pair of well covers is in place. The windlass stands over the well with its rope attached. No bucket is extant. The laundry chute is in place to the trough. A gin pole is situated on the eastern side of the fenced area and the swivel post has gone down. The wire rope is missing. A sign post with a fork at the top stands outside the fence on the southern side of the fenced area. The tin sign showing distances to watering points in either direction, in punch-hole lettering, has falled to the ground. The original semi-circular galvanised iron trough extends for 60 feet (18.30 metres) to the north. A bush timber fence of posts laced with wire surrounds the well, the construction is called picketing. Both the fence & trough bracing are in good order. At the time of construction the well was 33 feet deep, with the water level at 21 feet. The well, which had a diameter was 8 feet 6 inches, cost 90 pounds to construct. Construction materials: Local timber - Mulga (Acacia aneura) for trough bracing & fence posts & sign post. Blackheart (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) for gin pole & swivel Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) for windlass barrel Imported manufactured iron well convers with hinges & handles (pair) Pulley wheels for gin pole & swivel Wire rope for gin pole & windless 8 gallon bucket for drawing water Flat iron curved into a drain for directing water to trough (launder) Troughing, windlass frame and assorted bolts, wire & accessories.

History

By the 1870's 'runs' or pastoral stations had been taken up in the Murchison area and sheep and cattle, to stock them, were brought from established runs in the Geraldton and Irwin districts, from the south west and also from Victoria and South Australia. Sheep were originally droved back tothe parent runs for annual shearing and fat stock continued to be droved souht to market, necessitating the use of a regular stock route with watering points. many of the early wells were sunk along creeks in the hope of obtaining water at shallow depths. Frank Wittenoom wrote in his memoirs that: "It must not be thought this well sinking was an easy or soft job. A spot would be chosen, often by certain plants that grew around, trees, ants and other infallible signs... Dynamite was not known, so until water was struck, loose blasting powder was alright. When water was reached, the powder had to be encased in paper or a piece of moleskin trousers, well buttered with fat and formed into a cartridge to fit the hole... many of these wells were sunk to about 10ft without water, when we would leave them then and try another place..." The main route followed the Murchison River as far as possible, where water could also be obtained in rock holes. As stock numbers increased, both from the local district and from new runs further north, government well-sinkers and construction gangs established watering points approximately 10 miles (16kms) apart ( a recognised days march for travelling stock who grazed along the way). Gradually three trunkroutes leading north - south from the Kimberley to Perth, were gazetted as unfenced reserves 80 chains (1.6 kms) wide for travelling stock and the public. The De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route No.9701 was gazetted in 1893. well No. 19 was constructed in May 1896 by Charles Mitchinson Straker, who was born in 1857 in England and arrived in Western Australia in 1882 from the eastern colonies, was a jackaroo, overseer and manager of stations in the Pilbara. He subsequently became an inspector of Aborigines. he was responsible for operating the stock route from Mullewa to Roebourne following which he returned to pastoral management in the Pilbara, where he also sat on the local Roads Board. At the time of construction, Well No.19 was equipped with a windlass only. It was 33ft deep, with the water level at 21ft. The well, which had a diametre of 8ft 6 inches, cost 90 pounds o construct, equating to a cost of pounds2/14/0 per foot. Specifications on a subsequent Water Supply map state that the depth of the well was 36 ft with the water level at 13 ft. The map indicates that the well could provide for 125 gallons per hour, with an overall 4,500 gallons of fresh water. In the 1920's Public Works gangs erected and installed ginpoles and swivels to whip water. The stock routes were used until the 1940's and 1950's after which motor vehicles became available to transport stock on the road networks. (sources: De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route, Bicentennial heritage Trail Brochure, 1988; NM Broad,"The Overland Movement of Stock in the Pastoral Zone of Western Australia, 1850-1960", PHD Thesis in preparation, 2003; Historic File, Public Works, 277/900, Northern Stock Route Westward, Gascoyne River o Roebourne held by NM Broad; Map, North West Division, 73/300 chain, Public Works dept Water Supply, held by NM Broad.)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Modifications: Nil

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Stock Route Well No. 9

Parent Place or Precinct

05113 De Grey - Mullewa Stock Route No. 9701

Uses

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Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Although recent reconstruction works have impacted on the authenticity of the place, the Stock Route Well No.9 has considerable historic significance as evidence of earlier pastoral activity in the Murchison District when water supply along stock accessways was paramount. The remnant stockyard enhance the significance and interpretive qualities of the place.

Physical Description

Located approximately 53 kilometers south of the Murchison Settlement and on the east side of the Carnarvon-Mullewa Road, the location of the historic stock route well is marked by a sign on the side of the road. Access to the well is via a winding track which passes the remains of a sheep enclosure, showing the remains of brush fencing forming a large circle, approximately 45 meters in diameter. The site is marked by a small signpost with the words, 'Historic Shepherd's Stock Yard'. Some modifications were carried out to the historic well during the 2001 reconstruction works including the removal of the earth well mound and the installation of a concrete slab to replace the original timber plank well cover. At the centre of the concrete capping is a metal lid that can be lifted to view the well. Positioned over the timber cover is a metal framed windlass with a thick horizontal timber post as the axle. The original gin pole & swivel (of local blackheart timber) were disposed of in 2001 and replaced with telephone poles, however the original metal fittings were recovered and re-used. The well is surrounded by a square fence constructed of mulga posts bound by wire. The original semi-circular galvanised steel water trough extends for approximately 15 metres to the south of the well and is covered by original mulga bracing. A sign at the site states: "ET Hooley Stock Route Well 9. Restored September 2001 by members of the North-West Districts Rifle Clubs Associaiton. Headquarters Bernard Clinch Memorial Rifle Range, Greenough".

History

Refer to Place No. 25 for background information on the De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route. Wll No. 9 was constructed in November 1895 by Charles Mitchinson Straker. At the time of construction the well was equipped with a windlass only. It was 26ft deep, with a water level of 7ft 6 in. The well, which had a diametre 8 ft 6 in, cost pounds 65/12/0 to construct, equating to an average cost of pounds 2/9 per foot. Specifications on a subsequent Water Supply map state that the depth of the well was 26 ft with a water level of 10 ft. The map indicates that the well could provide for 400 gallons per hour, with an overall storage of 4,500 gallons of brackish water quality. The stock routes were used until the 1940's and 1950's after which motor vehicles became available to transport stock on the road networks. Well No.9 which was largely reconstructed in September 2001 by several members of the North West Division Rifle Club Association, is now a tourist site. The stock yard was used for sheep. Sheep were folded in enclosures at night ti prevent them from straing and suffering attacks by dingoes. Cattle were not contained at night, but rather 'camped' on soft open ground and were watched by drovers riding around the mob. (sources: De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route, Bicentennial heritage Trail Brochure, 1988; NM Broad,"The Overland Movement of Stock in the Pastoral Zone of Western Australia, 1850-1960", PHD Thesis in preparation, 2003; Historic File, Public Works, 277/900, Northern Stock Route Westward, Gascoyne River o Roebourne held by NM Broad; Map, North West Division, 73/300 chain, Public Works dept Water Supply, held by NM Broad.)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low-Medium

Condition

Good

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Boolardy Homestead Group

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Boolardy Station has high historic significance as one of the oldest station sin the Murchison s=district and for it's associations with Frank Wittenoom. The older building illiustrate the use of local materials such as stone, mud bricks and mulga. Additional buildings erected over a period of approximately 60 years are evidence of how the station has developed over time. Furthermore, the large groupings of buildings reflects the way the station operated in the past, with a small community of people living and working on the station.

Physical Description

The Boolardy Station comprises two original stone huts, the main house, meat house, a blacksmith's shop, Jackaroo's quarters, Cook's House (1952), Store, Office and Bookkeeper's Room, workers' quarters and two shearing sheds. The oldest remaining buildings in the Boolardy Station Complex, which date from c1876, are two one-room stone huts. The first, known as the old store, is approximately 20x 20 with a fireplace and no windows. It was constructed from random stone collected from a nearby creek with mud mortar and hand hewn mulga. The whitewashed building has a corrugated iron lean-to at the rear. The second hut, located adjacent to the blacksmith's shop is also of stone construction and is approximately 6'x8' inside with a fireplace. The Homestead is a large, 'L' shaped building of mud brick construction completed in the late 1890s. The steeply pitched corrugated iron hipped roof extends to cover the verandahs which surround the building. The verandahs are partly enclosed to facilitate more use of the building. The main entrance is enhanced by a roof gable. Timber framed french doors open out onto the verandahs. Originally there was a detached stone kitchen, however this building was re-roofed and joined to the main house in the 1920's. The outside walls were plastered in 1929 by Tom Bryce. In the 1950's the bedroom wing at the west end of the house was added. At this stage the old mulga posts on the verandah were replaced with brick pillars and half wall, all the mud bricks walls were underpinned, a damp course was put in and the building was re-plastered. The garden around the house was originally enclosed by a mud brick wall with pillars linked by mulga rails. The front fence has been replaced with a stone wall to help keep the water out when the creek rises following heavy rain. To the east of the house are the storage sheds, the saddle room, and the blacksmith's shop complete with bellows. These buildings are all of stone construction with steeply pitched corrugated iron roofs and whitewashed walls. The adjacent Workshops are timber framed with weatherboard enclosures at each end covered by semi-circular corrugated iron roofs. The central section has a mono-pitched roof supported on large timber posts. This replaced an earlier curved roof which was damaged in a storm. Surrounded by trees the west section contains the worker's quarters. The Jackaroo's Quarters consists of a small timber framed building clad with weatherboard with a hipped corrugated iron roof and a broken-back verandah roof. In the 1950s a stone cottage called Wittenoom House after Mr F Wittenoom and a new cement brick store, office and bookkeeper's room were constructed. The collection of buildings also includes an asbestos house, the engine shed, the meat house, a number of recent farm machinery sheds as well as several aboriginal houses to the south. Boolardy Station has two shearing sheds; the Top Shed features a distinctive semi-circular corrugated iron roof and corrugated iron shearer's quarters while the Bottom Shed has stone quarters. Both have been damaged by storms in recent years.

History

First traversed in 1854, by Robert Austin, the discovery of the rich grassy plains of Boolardy and importantly, the Ngatta hole were credited to John Perks on his exploration trip for sheep country in 1873. The following year the first leases were taken up by perks and Edward Wittenoom. Boolardy Station was referred to as Gnatta Station in the late 1870's and consisted of 150,000 acres with 5,000 sheep. Throughout the 1880's the Wittenoom's, who also operated Murgoo and Nookawarra Stations, established a substantial sheep run on the property. In c1892 Frank Wittenoom established a sheep stud at Boolardy but it was later moved to a property near Moora. In 1894 George Thompson commenced managing the property until Frank Wittenoom's nephew Langlois Lefroy took over in 1903. Wittenoom's two other nephews, Edward and Frank Lefroy also had turns at managing Boolardy. Frank Wittenoom had no children of his own and set about re-structuring his estate in 1919 by forming the Boolardy Patoral Company Limited. When he died in 1939, the Lefroys continued managing the property, although there were other mangers who worked

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Medium Modifications: Verandahs partly enclosed.

Condition

Good

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Statement of Significance

Boolardy, with Yuin and Murgoo, is one of the original stations taken up by the Wittenooms with the assistance of John. Perks in the 1870’s .. The first buildings date from the 1880's and illustrate well the use of local materials being of stone or mud bricks with timber work of mulga and ant bed floors. Hand hewn door frames and wall and verandah plates are classic examples of the art of using an adze. Additional buildings erected over a period of about sixty years show how the station developed and the technological changes which occurred. Boolardy is one of the few remaining properties where the families of the original owners still take an active part in management.

Physical Description

The oldest remaining buildings, which date from the 1880's, are two one-room stone huts. The first, now known as the old store , is about 20' x 20' with a fireplace and no windows. It was built from stone from the nearby creek with mud mortar and all the timber is hand hewn mulga. It now has a corrugated iron lean-to at the back . The other hut, also of stone with a fireplace, is about 6' x 8' inside and is believed to have been built for John Perks - it stands close to the blacksmith shop . The main house, completed late in the 1890's, has walls of mud brick and all the timber work is mulga·, believed to have been cut from near Mt .Murchison. Floors are of ant bed, which is gradually being replaced, and the roof is of iron. The garden around the house was enclosed .by a mud. brick fence with pillars ked by mulga rails. The house was one room wide, with a passage down the middle, and verandahs back and front . It has a detached kitchen of stone and a meat house. In the 1920's the kitchen block was re-roofed and joined to .the house and the outside walls of the house were plastered to cover the fretting mud walls . In the 19So•s all the mud brick walls were underpinned, a damp course put in, the building replastered and the passage wall removed to enlarge the dining room . At this time also the bedroom wing at the west end was added and the old mulga posts on the front verandah replaced with brick pillars and wall. The front fence was also replaced with a stone wall to help keep the water out when the creek rose after heavy rain . Also erected in the 195O's by the same builders were the stone cottage .called Wittenoom house after Mr. F. Wittenoom and a new cement brick store , office and bookkeepers room. The windmill man’s house, of timber and asbestos was built in 1964 with timber pre-cut in Geraldton. Just prior to .this a cool room was in installed and extensive reorganisation of the power house carried out. The jackeroos quarters date from early in the century and the cook’s house was put up about 1940. The various outbuildings were also erected over a log period, from the small stone hut of the 1880’s to the comparatively recent iron hangar for the plane. The older group, which includes the stone hut, consists in addition to the blacksmiths shop, of the carriage house with harness room at one side and chaff room at the other and at the back, stallion 's yard and stable. Two old iron buildings used for quarters are now linked with a modern machinery shed. At some distance are quarters for·the aboriginal staff.

History

Assessment 1985 Construction 1880's onward

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