Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Quarters

Parent Place or Precinct

08804 "The Arthur" Wool Shed Group

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The building is an important part of ‘The Arthur’ station precinct that dominated the Arhur River settlement between 1880 and 1920. The building is a good example of the building style of the period and is an important part of the district’s building stock.

Physical Description

Situated about 150 metres east of the Shearing Shed and constructed at about the same time. It is a stone and mortar dwelling, with brick corners and around the door and window frames. Corrugated iron roof, weather board enclosure on back verandah, timber floors and interior walls plastered. Windows are now louvres and there is no ceiling at present. Very large main living room, only one door to it, from outside- unusually large door. A large crack has developed in the interior wall, seperating the living room from the rest of the quarters. wooden battens at head height, with coat hooks, are on all 4 walls of the living room. In a 1913 publication the precinet was decribed- In addtion to the shearing shed there are other outbuildings, including excellent shearers’ quarters, which are new and in every respect up to date, being built in accordance with the latest designsin vogue for such structures. Stabling is proveded for 18 horses, the chaff-shed has accomodation for the storage of from 30 to 40 tons of chaff, and good machinery shed shelters various costly machines in use on the property.

History

At the height of the Piesse’s ‘empire’ they ran some 12000 sheep on the 20000 acres which comprised of four major land portions- Mount Pleasant, The Arthur, Marbling and Riverlea. Vernon and Charles (the second and third sons of C.A. Piessse) who had run ‘The Arthur’ Station as Piesse Brothers who both killed during World War I. Their brother, Austin began to sell the estate- Marbling (W Byron), Riverslea (Johnston family), The Arthur which included Mt Pleasant (W Nicholls and J Hatherly). During the 1930’s this latter partnership was dissolved with Nicholls taking over The Arthur section. During the late 1940’s Nicholls sold to the War Service Land Settlement Scheme with the property being divided into three sections- Tabelup (J Leggoe) Arthur Downs (J Ladyman) and H. Wheeler. Tabelup contained the Arthur homestead whilst on Arthur Downs was located The Shearing Shed and Quarters. During the setting up of the WSLS, the shearing shed was used jointly by the new settlers until sheds were built on the individual farms. To the south of the quarters was a cricket ground with a concrete pitch. This was used extensively during Piesse’s ownership and Christmas Sports and an annual RSL match held in the 1950’s and early 60’s. The first matches featured the home side ‘Blue Wood Cricket team’ against other teams which took the name of a strain of Merino eg Bungaree. An exerpt from the local newspaper reported that- ‘Genial’ Tom Tranter, who had recently taken over the Mount Pleasant Hotel from A.J. Wallace, came to light after the annual Wagin versus Arthur Shearer’ cricket match, with the provision of “some stimulants”. Most of the Arthur team were shearers from the Piesse Brothers’ station. The Shearer’ Ball, following the cricket match, was attended by the Premier, Jack Scaddan, and his wife, which was indicative of the importance of the occasion. The Piesse Brothers had just completed the shearing of their sheep, which numbered in excess of 20000. With some ewes, with lambs at foot, averaging over 7lbs of wool per head, without bellies, their wool clip was important not only to the district, but also to the State’s economy.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Few Extent of original fabric: All

Condition

Poor – crack repaired in wall. The building is generally sound. Doors, windows and internal part of building needs work.

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Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Shed

Parent Place or Precinct

08804 "The Arthur" Wool Shed Group

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The building is an important part of the Arthur River settlement that was linked to Perth and Albany. The building is a good example of the building style from the period. It is an important part of the district’s building stock and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape. Its association with the Piesse family who were prominent in the affairs of the Great Southern and the State in the period 1880 -1930, gives further significance.

Physical Description

Large weatherboard shed, with corrugated iron roof and timber floor; 34 bush timber posts for roof supports, roof-centre gable-skillions off it on three sides. Wooden wool press bolted to floor - roof has extra piece elevated above the press, to house the ram shaft for the press. Very large wide loose box type doors at South end of shed with a drop beneath - possibly where bales were loaded. Some original wooden pen divisions and gates. Old wooden wool table. Some small (four pane) original windows - colonial type - 20 small panes. Eight stands (outlets). Grating in very good condition. It was described in 1913 - The shearing shed commands the best position in the district, and is one of the most prominent landmarks of the pastoral industry on the Perth to Albany route. It is furnished with eight Wolseley shearing machines, recently installed, the driving power for which is provided by a 6.5-h.p. Tangye oil engine, and the general outfit and appointments are equal to any shearing shed in Western Australia. It may be mentioned in this connection that beside shearing its own flock the firm of Messrs. Piesse Brothers undertakes this work on contract terms for many of the larger sheep owners in the district. (1)

History

It was built just south of the Arthur homestead by Charles Piesse and prior to World War I was run by his sons. In 1913 it was reported - Piesse Brothers anticipate a great extension in the stock carrying power of the estate as clearing operations progress. Of the 20 000 acres fully three quarters are well adapted to agriculture. About 1500 are devoted annually to this purpose and a large amount of oats are cropped, the district being particularly favourable to the production of this cereal. The entire area is ring-barked and over 6000 acres, chiefly on the home property, [The Arthur] are completely cleared, thus giving scope for cultivation on a fairly large scale on the fallow system. Pride of place is given by Messrs. Piesse Brothers to pastoral operations, sheepraising being the chief branch of this department of their enterprise. About 12000 sheep are put to shears annually, and with a lambing average which is estimated at not less than 85 percent. The merino breed predominates in a marked degree and stud sheep are being imported from the Eastern States, by means of which introduction of superior blood manifest improvement in the flock has taken place. In 1910 1000 stud ewes were obtained from the famous “Booboorowie” flock of South Australia, and pedigreed rams from the same source have been introduced from time to time, while the renowned “Boonoke” strain has also been levied upon from New South Wales. There is little doubt that in the near future the “Arthur” sheep will be able to hold their own among any other flocks in Western Australia. The wool is despatched to London, and for some time past has commanded top prices for the State, the 1912 clip bringing 1s.2d. per lb. for over 100 bales, while the lambs’ wool brought over 1s. per lb.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Currently being restored Extent of original fabric: Most – new zinc alum roof, some weatherboard has been removed and reused on the walls where possible.

Condition

Good

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"The Arthur" Wool Shed Group

Parent Place or Precinct

09149 Tillellan

Child Places

• 23458 Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Shed
• 23459 Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Quarters

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Child Places

• 23458 Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Shed
• 23459 Old Tillellan (Piesse's) Shearing Quarters

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