Chandlers Boys Settlement (Roelands Village)

Statement of Significance

• The place has historic value as a demonstration of the approach to education of boys in the early 20th century and the role of philanthropists in the community. • The place has historic value for its association with local settlers Benjamin Piggott and W Castieau; businessmen Peter Albany Bell and Thomas Chandler; educators R Ladyman and Thomas Price; and the United Aborigines Mission. • The placed has social value as a demonstration of the growth in self-determination by the Indigenous community from a controlled mission to self-administered premises. • The place has research value as the remnant mud brick cottages built during the period of the Chandler Boy’s Settlement provide evidence of past techniques of education and construction techniques. • The place has aesthetic value as a collection of simple buildings in a rural setting.

Physical Description

Complex of buildings of various styles and construction methods arranged around a central green oval and located on a remote hillside with a rural setting. The buildings are generally of conventional construction methods being brick or timber framed. There is one mud brick cottage which is in poor condition.

History

The "Seven Hills" property in Roelands was once owned by Benjamin Piggott of "Springhill" on the Coast Road. The property was transferred to W. B. Castieau for the first few decades of the century who ran sheep there and on leased land in the Worsley - Ferguson area. The property was transferred to Mr Albany Bell, a well-known Perth businessman, who, with Thomas Charles Chandler, promoted it as a haven for unemployed boys in the Depression years of the 1930's. They wanted to help these boys to maintain themselves, and to learn farming skills, which would be useful, and help them obtain work. Mr Bell approached many of his business friends in Perth to develop this idea. On 15th November, 1932, an advance party of seven boys, under the manager R. M. Ladyman, set up camp on the property. Over the next six years, from 16 to 20 boys were in residence, developing the orchard and farm, and achieving Messrs Bell and Chandler's aim of learning new skills, growing food to support themselves, and enough to sell as well. The mud brick cottages still remaining on the site were constructed under the "Chandler Boys' Scheme" as the initiative was sometimes known. In October 1938, the United Aborigines Mission was given permission by Mr Bell to use his property to establish "The Native Mission Farm, Roelands". The mission was partly self-supporting from the orchard, with a garden producing more than sufficient for their domestic needs by the end of the year. Mr Thomas Price, who had been on the Committee of Management of the Chandler Boys' Settlement, continued his interest in the Native Farm, and gave valuable advice on the establishment of "the fruit grove". This became a real "back stop" to the farms' finances. Gradually, the Mission expanded and at times had as many as 100 children, and 25 missionaries and their children living there. Irrigation and domestic water was drawn from the Collie River where a dam was constructed. With the fertile river flats, the orchards of grapefruit and stone fruit were very productive. The Mission closed in 1975 and the property was subsequently purchased by the Indigenous Land Corporation. The complex now houses and provides training for Indigenous families.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/ Moderate

Condition

Poor to good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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