Capel Farm

Physical Description

Fireplace bricks mark the site of the 1843 cottage. In close proximity, the timber framed slab and shingle building is derelict. Close by is the 1958 timber framed asbestos house, and several hundred metres to the south (southeast) is a timber framed and weatherboard clad home with surrounding verandahs.

History

Cornish farmer William Jenkin Roberts arrived on the Diadem with the WA Company in Leschenault. By 1842, he was looking elsewhere for land while he worked on George Eliot's property, before the opportunity arose to lease part of Stirling's Estate. Eliot was the principal sheepman in the district, and Roberts cared for his 6000 sheep between the Capel and Ludlow Rivers. In 1843, Roberts took up 215 acres (Loc 143) near 14 mile post on Bunbury Rd and moved in with his wife Isabella and 7 children. He was one of the first three settlers in the Capel region in the early 1840s. He built a wattle & daub and split post house, with the assistance of his sons William Jenkin junior, Fred and Thomas. His son Charles Fox was born there in 1844 making him the youngest and only Australian born Roberts child. WJ's son William Jenkin jnr leased Loc 69 on Gynudup Brook and married Elizabeth Hurst and they called their farm 'Tren Creek' in honour of their Cornish background, (see Ref No. 111) In 1850, John Scott jnr married Miss Catherine Roberts at 'North Capel Farm'. In 1851, North Capel Farm was one of the coastal farms where the shipping captains bought their provisions. Charles Fox Roberts remained on North Capel Farm. When cousin Hannah was orphaned in England, she joined the family and subsequently married Charles Fox in 1864, settling at the farm with Charles Fox Roberts. Charles and Hannah had 13 children, 5 boys and 8 girls. They developed the property including breeding race horses. In about 1870s, one of their children burnt the house down, and the remains of the brick fireplaces still mark the site. Another cottage was built by Charles Fox during the time that he had children, because Geoff Robert's grandfather (Frank Albert) was responsible for fire. Charles and Hannah also owned Stratham Park (Ref No.84) Frank Albert (Geoff's grandfather) married Mary Jane Higgins, and they lived in the second house, building a fireplace and adding to the house. The property was leased from Stirling until 1905, when the estate was subdivided, and part of the original lease was purchased by Roberts. Felix Guy Roberts and his wife Maisie built the third house on the site in c.1925, several hundred metres south of the original homestead. Maisie (Jennings) was a teacher from Stirling School. Aunt Mary lived in the second cottage until 1960, from which time it has been vacant. Geoff Roberts is the fifth generation Roberts on the farm, and his son Paul who also lives and works the farm, is the sixth generation continuous Roberts family on the property. Geoff Roberts descendants are; Great great grandfather William Jenkin Roberts Great grandfather Charles Fox Roberts Grandfather Frank Albert Roberts • Father Felix Guy Roberts Geoff Roberts now farms the property with his wife Eleanor, and live in their 1958 home, and their son Paul lives in Felix's former house.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: c.1925, 1958 Intact, c.1870 Irredeemable Authenticity: c.1925, 1958 High Degree, c.1870 Medium Degree

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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