Farrs Half Way House - site

Statement of Significance

The site represents a way of life no longer practised. It demonstrates an association with the early settlers.

History

With the construction of the second rabbit proof fence in 1905, men came into the area to work. East of the rabbit proof fence was considered to be very remote. Farr was one of the pioneers of the district, he worked for the Mullans family as a boundary rider, travelling along the fence in a spring cart, mending the fence and trapping rabbits. Farr patrolled the fence from Wogolin north to Cunderdin. he also has a valuable team of bullocks he acquired from a north west station, which proved a valuable asset in clearing the virgin land, which he contracted to do for the settlers. In 1908 he selected land, and subsequently built a dwelling. All the traffic eastwards to Kulin and Kondinin areas passed through the gate at Wogolin Wogolin was one days travel distance to Wickepin, and Farrs place became known as the halfway house. Mr W Downs carried the mail from Wickepin east to Healey's corner (Ref No. 178), where every Saturday morning at 11 he dropped a chaff bag of mail. The Farr family picked up the mail, delivering Mclnnes's on the way home, and sorted the rest ready for the community members to pick it up on Sundays. It was a social event on Sunday's with the Farrs providing a meal, and a dance was enjoyed before the settlers returned to their homes. Some of the other settlers in the area were; Archibalds, Torrens, and two men from Birdwhistle Soak, Clarrie and Arthur Russell. In 1913, Wogolin was one of the few settlements east of Wickepin, but the railway through Dudinin, east of the fence in 1914, resulted in the development of the areas east of Wogolin. Farr left Wogolin when the railway went to Dudinin, and ran the Dudinin tearooms.

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.