Illawarra Orchard Pty Ltd

Statement of Significance

The place is associated with Thomas Price, a nurseryman and active member of the Executive Council of the Western Australian Fruit- growers Association, who originally partnered with Charles Harper at ‘‘Woodbridge Nurseries’’, and then went on to run Illawarra Orchard.
The place is integral to the development of agriculture in the wider Armadale district, being the place where Price experimented with various fruit species to determine their suitability for the area, and also implemented new practices and technology to improve the cold storage of the fruit, the control of pests, and the irrigation of the orchard.

Physical Description

The place comprises the orchard established in the hilly country of Karragullen, on a property that extends along a length of Pickering Brook, with a backdrop of native jarrah bushland. The orchard is located at the end of Illawarra Road and, is clearly signposted with a recent timber sign, as well as an early steel-framed agricultural gate bearing its namesake. Along with the groves of fruit trees and vineyards, the place also comprises a number of timber-framed packing sheds and old houses, most with weatherboard cladding and corrugated iron roofs. Two irrigation dams are located at the site, on both sides of the brook that runs through the property.

History

The land on which this orchard was established was selected by Edward Keane in 1891, and sold shortly afterward to Edward Wharton White and Lionel White (the manager of the Canning Mills), and E.H. Dean Smith (a well-known Perth architect). Situated at about 1,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the most elevated orchards in the State. In 1893, clearing and planting began, Lionel White laying out the initial 12 acres of ‘‘Illawarra’’ (named after the White’’s family home at Kapunda, South Australia) with a theodolite, supervising extensive underground drainage, and preparing the ground with a team of bullocks and a railway formation plough. An orchardist from Mundaring, Mr. Laufer, planted the first trees.
In 1899, Thomas Price moved with his wife Emily Claudia Price (nee Rogers) to Karragullen to become manager/partner of the ‘‘Illawarra’’ Orchard, relocating from the fruit tree nursery and orchard he managed at Guildford for Charles Harper. Price had been born (in 1864) and educated in Shropshire, after which he studied horticulture with a large firm of London nurserymen. In 1891, he migrated to Western Australia, and settled in Guildford.
Around 1900, there were 32 varieties of apples planted at ‘‘Illawarra’’, as well as many varieties of pears. The five main varieties of apples were Dohert’’s (or Improved Yates), Jonathons, Cleopatras, Dunn’’s Seedlings, and Rokewoods, while in pears, the Bartlett was the most important, followed by Gansel’’s Bergamot. In addition, there were numerous varieties of stone and citrus fruits, quinces and persimmons. By 1902, there were 44 acres of fruit trees at ‘‘Illawarra’’, the majority apples. By 1912, the property comprised 228 acres, of which 50 acres had been brought under cultivation. The annual output in that year had reached 10,000 cases of apples and pears.
‘‘Granny Smith’’ apples were planted in trial plots in 1911-12, with the area under planting (eventually) the largest in the State. The first shipment of these apples was exported in 1922. There had been earlier exports of ‘‘Illawarra’’ fruit, with the first trial shipment to London in 1907.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate
Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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