Stock Route Well No. 19

Statement of Significance

The Stock Route Well No.19 has considerable historic significance as evidence of earlier pastoral activity in the Murchison District, when water supply along the stock accessways were paramount. The significance of the well is enhanced by it's good condition and high authenticity, with the use of local bush timber evidence of the utilisation of locally found materials.

Physical Description

Located to the north of the Byro Station entrance and approximately 7 metres to the east side of the Carnarvon-Mullewa Road, the historic stock route is set amongst low scrubby vegetation. The earth and stone lined well measures approximately 2.5 metres in diameter and is covered by timber planking. The well mouth is situated on the mound of earth taken from the well, to give height for the bucket of water, pulled up the well by a horse or camel, to be manually poured down the launder to the trough. The pair of well covers is in place. The windlass stands over the well with its rope attached. No bucket is extant. The laundry chute is in place to the trough. A gin pole is situated on the eastern side of the fenced area and the swivel post has gone down. The wire rope is missing. A sign post with a fork at the top stands outside the fence on the southern side of the fenced area. The tin sign showing distances to watering points in either direction, in punch-hole lettering, has falled to the ground. The original semi-circular galvanised iron trough extends for 60 feet (18.30 metres) to the north. A bush timber fence of posts laced with wire surrounds the well, the construction is called picketing. Both the fence & trough bracing are in good order. At the time of construction the well was 33 feet deep, with the water level at 21 feet. The well, which had a diameter was 8 feet 6 inches, cost 90 pounds to construct. Construction materials: Local timber - Mulga (Acacia aneura) for trough bracing & fence posts & sign post. Blackheart (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) for gin pole & swivel Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) for windlass barrel Imported manufactured iron well convers with hinges & handles (pair) Pulley wheels for gin pole & swivel Wire rope for gin pole & windless 8 gallon bucket for drawing water Flat iron curved into a drain for directing water to trough (launder) Troughing, windlass frame and assorted bolts, wire & accessories.

History

By the 1870's 'runs' or pastoral stations had been taken up in the Murchison area and sheep and cattle, to stock them, were brought from established runs in the Geraldton and Irwin districts, from the south west and also from Victoria and South Australia. Sheep were originally droved back tothe parent runs for annual shearing and fat stock continued to be droved souht to market, necessitating the use of a regular stock route with watering points. many of the early wells were sunk along creeks in the hope of obtaining water at shallow depths. Frank Wittenoom wrote in his memoirs that: "It must not be thought this well sinking was an easy or soft job. A spot would be chosen, often by certain plants that grew around, trees, ants and other infallible signs... Dynamite was not known, so until water was struck, loose blasting powder was alright. When water was reached, the powder had to be encased in paper or a piece of moleskin trousers, well buttered with fat and formed into a cartridge to fit the hole... many of these wells were sunk to about 10ft without water, when we would leave them then and try another place..." The main route followed the Murchison River as far as possible, where water could also be obtained in rock holes. As stock numbers increased, both from the local district and from new runs further north, government well-sinkers and construction gangs established watering points approximately 10 miles (16kms) apart ( a recognised days march for travelling stock who grazed along the way). Gradually three trunkroutes leading north - south from the Kimberley to Perth, were gazetted as unfenced reserves 80 chains (1.6 kms) wide for travelling stock and the public. The De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route No.9701 was gazetted in 1893. well No. 19 was constructed in May 1896 by Charles Mitchinson Straker, who was born in 1857 in England and arrived in Western Australia in 1882 from the eastern colonies, was a jackaroo, overseer and manager of stations in the Pilbara. He subsequently became an inspector of Aborigines. he was responsible for operating the stock route from Mullewa to Roebourne following which he returned to pastoral management in the Pilbara, where he also sat on the local Roads Board. At the time of construction, Well No.19 was equipped with a windlass only. It was 33ft deep, with the water level at 21ft. The well, which had a diametre of 8ft 6 inches, cost 90 pounds o construct, equating to a cost of pounds2/14/0 per foot. Specifications on a subsequent Water Supply map state that the depth of the well was 36 ft with the water level at 13 ft. The map indicates that the well could provide for 125 gallons per hour, with an overall 4,500 gallons of fresh water. In the 1920's Public Works gangs erected and installed ginpoles and swivels to whip water. The stock routes were used until the 1940's and 1950's after which motor vehicles became available to transport stock on the road networks. (sources: De Grey-Mullewa Stock Route, Bicentennial heritage Trail Brochure, 1988; NM Broad,"The Overland Movement of Stock in the Pastoral Zone of Western Australia, 1850-1960", PHD Thesis in preparation, 2003; Historic File, Public Works, 277/900, Northern Stock Route Westward, Gascoyne River o Roebourne held by NM Broad; Map, North West Division, 73/300 chain, Public Works dept Water Supply, held by NM Broad.)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Modifications: Nil

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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