Preface
My aim in writing this compilation is to preserve the memory of the men and women and their children who came from all over Australia and in some cases overseas to become the Pioneer Community of Munglinup Western Australia.
Jack Compagnoni, somewhat modestly, always resisted the tag "Pioneer" as there were earlier settlers in the area such as Charles Edward Dempster who first had a Pastoral Lease at Stokes Inlet in 1863 and Andrew, James and William Dempster who ran sheep on Munglinup Station and Nairnup in the early 1900s. Also Alex, John and William Moir from around 1873 were running Pastoral Leases at Fanny Cove. Another very early Pioneer was Campbell Taylor who took over the Cowerup lease from the Moirs around 1867 and built a house on the Oldfield River near what is now Springdale Road. In 1950 Noel White began Young River Station and Bill Dunn and Robert Blake and then Charlie Gibson were at Nairnup early on. However, what I have set out to record is the detail of the people who came after and took up land for Farming mainly west of Young River and in particular Conditional Purchase Blocks that were offered up in the late 1950's to encourage settlement in the area. The original Location numbers that were allocated are included based on Lands Department Maps from 1964 and 1966 that my late father Geoff Jamieson kept.
I have also used Jack Compagnoni's Recollections of Early Munglinup which provides much information about the early development of Munglinup as reference material.
These people became the Community of Munglinup and they and their descendants should be proud of what they achieved in difficult circumstances. The wonderful Ada Silburn provided me with this quote from the late Grace Cowell which pretty much sums up the spirit of the community. "Never had so much been achieved by those who had so little".
They were the Pioneers of Munglinup and I dedicate this site to them.
Please feel free to contribute your stories and photos from those early days bearing in mind the time frame 1957 - 1972. I would love to able to include a Family Photo for each Family. Please contact me via email at daryljamo@gmail.com
The records are in no particular order and I would appreciate correction if any of the information I provide is inaccurate, incomplete or offensive.
There is also a Facebook Page which can be found here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1725776651050486 where contributions, news and stories can be found.
If you would like to Download a Hard Copy of the Website click on the button below.
Enjoy
Daryl Jamieson
Opening up the Land in the 1950s
South Coast Highway
Locations 1478, 623, 624 and 625 Young River Station
Noel Francis William White (1893-1960) and his wife Eveline Jane nee Allen (1896-1978) from Mt Sir Samuel near Leinster ran Leinster Downs and Yarrabubba Station and established the Young River Station at the head of the Stokes inlet in 1950. They converted 25000 Acres of Moirs Fanny Cove Station to Conditional Purchase after it was surveyed into 5 roughly 5000 acre Lots by Ross White of the Lands and Surveys Department in 1954. Noel sold 5000 acres north of the Highway to James Samson in late 1950s and this became Beltana.
Children Allen Noel (1916-1954), Marjorie Jean (1919-1962) , Charles Thomas (Tom) (1921-1989) and Peter. One of his son's Allen Noel died in an accident in 1954. Allen's son Barry Noel White was uninjured in the accident but also died in a later accident when aged 2 years in 1955. Allan Noel Whites other children with Sheila were Graham and Brian. Allen's wife Sheila Emily nee Greenham (1922-2009) later remarried Roland Oakover (Roley) Fleay (1918-1984). Roley's first wife Marjorie Jean White was the daughter of Noel Francis White. Children Edward Noel "Kelly" (1943-1984) and Keith. Roley managed Young river until 1971 when Tom White became the last family Manager of Young River Station before it was sold to Robert Holmes a Court.
Location 1477 Beltana
James (Jim) Samuel Samson OBE (1920-1999). Jim was from NSW and owned the Radio Relay Boat the "Lauriana" which was used in 1950s Sydney Hobart races. Jim was also an Esperance councillor for a number of years. James bought the 5000 acre property from Noel White of Young River in the late 1950s. Fergus and Jean Smart nee Kinch from South Australia with their children Bill and Christine (other older children were John, Margaret, Malcolm and David) were early Managers. Fergus was born in Narridy SA. Brian Eisenhuth managed the property at one stage in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Location 1482
William and Judy West
Locations 1483 and 1484 Erinair
William Lillyco Moncrieffe (1911-1971) born in Carnarvon WA and Margot Ernestine Scott (1914-1967).
Children Robin and his wife Jenny nee Lefroy, Kingsley and wife Barbara nee Skinner and Ian.
You can read more about the Scotts HERE thanks to Jenny Scott.
Locations 725, 726, 727, 728 and 729 Torradup
John Tyrrell Kelman (dec) with his wife Florence nee McClymont and brother Bruce Tyrrell Kelman (dec) arrived 1957 from the Richmond area of Queensland. John and Bruce were the brothers of Helen Compagnoni. John's son Thomas John Kelman helped construct the first School in 1960. Locations 727,728 and 729 were later sold on as Conditional Purchase Blocks. John Kelman was a Esperance Councillor for a number of years.
John Kelman employed and encouraged many of the early settlers and made a big contribution to the district. He even employed me as a 10 year old Shed Hand back in 1966 for £1 per day and paid me in $$$'s on the 14th February. I still have the Readers Digest Encyclopedia I bought with my pay check.
Between 1968 and 1973 Torradup was managed by Clive Napier with his wife Wendy and children Ann and Brian. Clive was very active in the development of the Golf Club.
Telephone: Munglinup 8 D, K and U and Out Station 7
J.T. Kelman
Location 729 Newleigh
William John (Jack) Compagnoni was born May 23 1909 in Roma Queensland and died in Esperance Aug 24 2000. His Remains were scattered on Newleigh. His wife was Helen Tyrrell Compagnoni nee Kelman. Children were Joan, Tom and Tim. They came to Munglinup from Queensland buying the land from Bruce Tyrrell Kelman arriving on 5 December 1957.
Jack and Helen were great contributors to the district and were loved by all. Jack helped build the first School in 1960. Helen was the main advocate for a school being established at Munglinup in early 1960.
Telephone: Munglinup 5
Tim, Helen, Joan, Tom and Jack Compagnoni "The Comps"
Location 728 Stuart Downs
Originally part of Torradup and owned by PP Thring of South Australia and managed by Reginald Phillip Brooks who was born in Denial Bay South Australia (1922-1990). His wife was Lorna Brooks nee Coad and their children were William Rodney aka Bill (1947-1999), Sharon and Kempley. The family was from Keith in South Australia and arrived around 1964.
Reg was a great community man and helped establish both the Football and Cricket clubs at Munglinup.
Later managed 1971-1973 by Warren and Gaynor Ingerson from South Australia. Children Tania and Kelly.
Telephone: Munglinup 9
The Conditional Purchase Blocks
The first allocation of Conditional Purchase blocks was September 1958 and was for blocks east of the Munglinup River. In October 1959 the blocks to the west were released. All of this land to the west had been handed back to the State Government by the Chase Syndicate as it wasn't land they wanted included in their option of 1.5million acres in the Esperance region.
Conditional Purchase (CP) Scheme – a WA state program that allocated bush blocks to established and prospective farmers under specific terms of purchase and time-tables of development. The Munglinup blocks were allocated for about seven and a half Shillings per acre and you had 20 years to pay the land off. Freehold could be obtained by clearing 10% of the land per year until it was half cleared and boundary fenced.The Land Act 1933 scheme for conditional purchase leases over agricultural land has been discontinued. There have been no releases under this scheme since the 1970s, when stocks of Crown land suitable for farming were exhausted.
Many blocks were allocated and never taken up so were handed in and reallocated to Munglinup Pioneers.
Below are some of the original information papers issued to selectors by the Lands Department.
Norm Allen's Price List c1960
Springdale Road
Location 720 Minnikin
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Richard Goodwin Keats and Flora McClymont Keats of Julia Creek, North Queensland. Flora was John Kelman’s daughter and her husband Richard decided to sell the property Minnikin to Richard Ainsworth (Dick) Kitchen (dec 1979) and his wife Elizabeth from NSW. Children were Anne and Tom and step daughters Sue and Anne.
Location 721
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Malcolm Stirling Hosier and Margaret Mary Hosier of Cathedral, Winton, Queensland. Margaret was also John Kelman’s daughter and the block was sold on to Syd Miller a Vet from Queensland. Kelman worked the block for him in partnership.
Location 717 Blue Waters
Allocated 16 September 1958 to James Samuel (Jim) Samson of Turramurra, NSW. Later became part of Blue Waters. Fergie and Jean Smart nee Kinch from South Australia with their children Bill and Christine were early Managers. Later Arlie and Robyn Carter nee Samson managed this property.
Telephone: Munglinup 23D
Location 716 Nerida
Allocated 16 September 1958 to John Charles Moor and Betty Moor c/- Post Office Esperance, WA. They sold what is now Blue Waters to James Samuel (Jim) Samson who had been allocated the block next door Location 717. John along with Jack Compagnoni, Phil Doyle, Peter Standish, Mike Spencer, Charlie Dunn and Tom Kelman built the first School.
Telephone: Munglinup 19D
Location 710
Allocated 16 September 1958 to John Colin Vagg of Oxley, NSW.
Re-Allocated in May 1961 to George Rowland Allison and his wife Violet May.
Children June, Roslyn, Stephen, Ian, Dianne and David.
George was a farmer and builder and built part of the school extensions.
Telephone: Munglinup 28
Location 715 Nangarup Farm
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Kenneth Richard Fuss and Kenneth Albert Fuss of York, WA. Old Ken was born Moonta SA 1906 and died 1988. They arrived in 1959 and were one of the earliest settlers. Ken is buried at Munglinup with his son Kenneth Albert (1936-2009) and daughter Cheryl Ann (1957-2005) and his wife Elsie Ivy nee Sprigg (1916 - 2012). Their daughter Margaret Pickersgill survives them.
Old Ken always had a "Rolly" hanging from his lip. After his father died the farm was run by Albert until his death in 2009. My favourite memory of Albert was playing football with him on one occasion at Jerdacuttup, he was playing fullback, and the umpire yelling out to him during the game "Put that cigarette out!".
Telephone: Munglinup 19U
Location 719 Strandheim
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Reidar Erling (Ray) Floan (1932-1996) and wife Patricia Ruth Floan of Lauriana, Esperance, WA. They had three children Astrid, Konrad and Karla. They arrived April 1962. Ray was an ex Norwegian Merchant sailor and earlier in 1957 he managed Lauriana for Jim Samson. Pat was from Walgett in Northern NSW. His property held the first game of golf played at Munglinup organised by Geoff Jamieson.
Telephone: Munglinup 17
Location 714
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Robert Vincent Gillett (1910 - 1959) and Margaret Jane nee Shaw (1914-1993) of York, WA and originally from Victoria. Their children were Douglas Russell Gillett (1945 - 2012) and Joan Gillett (now Gillette). Later on Doug owned another farm on River Road north of Munglinup and a house on the townsite at 34 Manjart Street. A recollection from Joan Gillett of her family's early days in Munglinup can be found HERE.
Telephone: Munglinup 15U
The 3 photos below are of Robert Vincent and Margaret Jane Gillett, Joan with Doug Gillett at Munglinup 1959 and Location 714 c1959.
The property was sold in 1970 to Robert William Meredith (Bob) Gilmore (1920-1999) and wife Beryl Lily nee Howard (1926 - 2012) children John, Doug, Ross, Coral, Denise and Heather. John was seriously wounded in Vietnam serving his country but went on to play footy and basketball for Munglinup. Doug was a Football Umpire for the Ravensthorpe Association. Arrived February 1970.
Location 713 Emref Downs
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Duncan Laurence (Laurie) and Malcolm George Ferme of Netherton via Peake in South Australia.
Malcolm left the property early on to drive a truck and delivered the bricks for the Munglinup Church. Arrived in 1960.
Telephone: Munglinup 15D
Location 727 Loughrea
Dr Michael (Mick) Connaughton AM. Managed by 1968 by Barry Martin and wife Lorraine. Was originally part of Torradup but commenced operation in the Mid 60’s.
Telephone: Munglinup 23U
Fuss Road
Location 705 Singing Winds
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Marsey Charles Hunter of Montacute, SA.
Later sold to Don and Henrietta MacKenzie from Kenya. Children Duncan, Graham and Sheila.
Location 707
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Gerhard Anton Frey (1931 - 2014) of Normanville , SA and Heinz Egeler (1929 - ?) of Unley, SA. Ger arrived in Melbourne on the SS Anna Salen on 18 April 1953 from Germany. Heinz born 11 November 1929 was a Toolmaker and arrived in Fremantle 20 March 1953 on the SS Roma from Stuttgart Germany. They arrived at Munglinup around 1960. Heinz left Munglinup and returned to Germany and married later returning to live in South Australia. Ger employed many of the local youth on weekends and during school breaks.
Telephone: Munglinup 10
Gerhard Frey 2008
Josephine Graham has contributed the following story about Ger's early life in Australia.
"Gerhard lived with my family at Normanville SA when I was a child, this was just before he went to Munglinup. Gerhard was like a father to us (I am 65) and like you used to work for him, turning the handle of the concrete mixer etc. He also loved fishing and playing tennis in those days. He worked for a builder . He boarded with my mother, two brothers and I. Mum was widowed very young and was happy for the extra money having a boarder. Gerhard built a canvas canoe once and we used to go there paddling .....Mum always thought he would drown us !!!!
I visited him twice at Munglinup .......never surprised at the state of the place, he was very proud of his achievements, and rightly so."
Location 708 Waverley
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Herbert James Cannard of Elingamite North, via Cobden, Victoria.
Re-Allocated in May 1961 to Ronald Bernard and Lillian Nora Brindley of Esperance , WA.
Children Darlene, Megan and Sharon.
Ron loved skin diving and owned one of the first Leyland P76’s. Along with Geoff Jamieson and Clive Napier was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Munglinup Golf Club.
Telephone: Munglinup 16
Location 709 Allora
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Leonard Percival Briggs of East Malvern, Victoria.
Re-allocated to Phil Graham and Arthur Graham c1962.
Phil and his wife Cherie's children are David, Vanessa and Ross and Arthur and his wife Barbara's children are Joanne and Alan.
They arrived in 1964 and were from Foster North, Gippsland in Victoria.
Telephone: Munglinup 20
Doyle Road
Location 712
Allocated 16 September 1958 to Laurence William Berquist and Elizabeth Berquist of Condobolin, NSW.
Re-Allocated in May 1961 to Phillip Charles Giles who was born in Fremantle WA (1927-2007) and wife Muriel Mabel Giles.
The were from Balkuling, WA. Children Sue, Peter, Les, Kathy, Andy and Jenny.
Phil drove the School bus for the Western side of Munglinup.
Arrived before 1963.
Location 741 Baroona
Allocated in October 1959 to Wallace Salkeld (1927-1991) and Norma Joan Deane (1932-2012 ) with sons Wally and James. They arrived 20 January 1964 from Axedale near Bendigo Victoria. Great community members being involved in Football, Golf and Cricket as well as the P&C and CWA.
Young Wally Deane has written a Tribute to his parents and provided photos HERE
Telephone: Munglinup 1
Heading West 1964 James, Norma, Wal and Wally.
Location 749 Ivanhoe Farm
Allocated in October 1959 to Philip Francis (31 May 1926 - 1 Nov 2012) and Marie Lorraine Doyle (c1933 - 21 June 2013) of Ivanhoe, NSW. Children Phil, Stephanie, Louise, Rod and Jane. Phil was born in Quambatook Victoria. He originally worked as a Shearer before serving in the Navy 1945 - 1947 and after this was a Water Boring Contractor prior to becoming a Farmer at Munglinup. Phil arrived in 1960 and was one of the men to build the first School.
Telephone: Munglinup 12D
Location 748 Elimatta
Allocated in October 1959 to Edward McLaughlin of Griffith, NSW.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to Hermann Albert and Gertrud Maria Meyer nee Meissner of Nowra, NSW. They arrived from Germany 3 July 1955 on the M.S. Skaubryn.
Later Hermann married his second wife Christa.
Telephone: Munglinup 21U
Hermann and Gertrude Meyer c1965
Location 746 Wesgrove
Allocated in October 1959 to Charles Henry Beddoes of Gosford, NSW.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to Arvon Eric and June Margaret Cunningham who arrived 1961. Both were very involved in Community activities. Arvon attended pretty much every working bee at Munglinup and along with Jack Collins, Jack Compagnoni and Geoff Jamieson planted the magnificent eucalyptus trees opposite the Roadhouse. I remember playing cricket with Arvon. He always fielded at Point smoking a "rolly" and was the worlds best late cutter.
Telephone: Munglinup 22
Location 742
Allocated in October 1959 to John Herman Baensch of Bentleigh, Victoria.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to Edgar William Cunningham of Esperance, WA.
Robert Clive Cunningham and wife Janice Betty nee Barrett. Bob was Captain of the Cricket Team for a few years.
Location 745
Robert Lyall Lawrance (1934-1973) and wife Avril Lawrance of Lucindale, SA. They arrived 1962.
Avril continued to run the property with her young children after Bob died in 1973.
Children Rosalie, Bill, Scott, Mandy and Robert.
Telephone: Munglinup 2
Location 739 and 740 Green Valley
739 was allocated in October 1959 to Ernest Lynch of Dulwich Hill, Sydney, NSW.
Re-allocated in 1962 to Maurice Arthur (Morrie) Cowell (1906-1991) and Grace Mary Cowell nee Skinner (1908-1992). Their son was Tim Ernest Cowell (1945-2010). Grace was the Church Organist. Arrived from Camden NSW 1964.
740 was allocated to Richard Campbell Barber of Berremangna, NSW and re-allocated in May 1961 to William Charles Watts of Grose Vale, NSW. Sometime later allocated to the Cowells.
Telephone: Munglinup 13
Maurice and Grace Cowell with Jean Murison
Location 750 Merri Merri
Allocated in October 1959 to Peter Miles and Mardi Louise Standish. Peter arrived 1957 and Lu in 1963.
Children Russell, Mark and Tony. Peter helped build the first School in 1960 and Lu was a Teacher later on. Lu has compiled Pete's Munglinup Story which can be read by clicking on the following link. Early Munglinup - Pete Standish
Click on the following link for a wonderful story written in 1965 by Lu on what it was like to be a young bride at early Munglinup. Lu Standish the Bush Bus Bride
Telephone: Munglinup 12K
Location 747
Allocated in October 1959 to James Neville Fitzpatrick of Ivanhoe, NSW the brother of Lorraine Doyle.
Lester Stephen Cotton and his wife Barbara Ann bought this property when it was sold early on. Children Elizabeth, Catherine and Patricia.
Telephone: Munglinup 21D
South Coast Highway
Location 743 Korchula
Allocated in October 1959 to Jim (1931-2016) and Waltraud (Vera) Segedin (1926-2005) and their son James. In Jim's own words "I took up the block in 1959 and had the first 500 acres developed in absentia by contract. My father Ivan and I came over to build the original shearing shed and living quarters the following year in 1960 and in 1963 we moved to the farm permanently as a family. I named our farm "Korchula" in recognition of the island in Croatia that my father came from."
They came from Broken Hill in NSW and Vera was born in Germany. Jim was a Bookkeeper/Accountant and was one of very few who were allocated a block without some farming experience. Jim was also member of the Hugh Robinson Farm Management Group. Jim was an excellent Baseballer, Cricketer and also was a registered Actor. Vera was a Nurse in Broken Hill when she married Jim in 1960.
Telephone: Munglinup 3
Jim Segedin, Unknown and Vera Segedin
Location 738 Barwidgee
Allocated in October 1959 to David Leslie Horton of Condobolin, NSW.
Later re-allocated to Nels (Neil) and Dawn Catherine Peterson nee Potter. Children Chris and Jeni.
Arrived from Victoria in July 1963.
Dawn has made the following contribution and submitted many photos that can be seen here Neil and Dawn Peterson's Photos from Munglinup.
"You wanted to know how we found Munglinup. We saw an ad in the Country paper and Neil said “I think I have some cousins in the Esperance area” so rang his Uncle in Denliquin to ask and as it turned out John Brown of Neridup was there on Holidays and of course said to Neil come on over. At the time we had a dairy farm at Myrtleford so got someone to milk for a couple of weeks and off we took. We were impressed with the country so put in for the block 738 and were lucky enough to draw it in the ballot. We arrived at Neridup in July 1963 (I think) after the Cunningham brothers had burnt 600 acres for us. We bought a Chamberlain 9G which Neil drove home from Perth picking up a big long trailer at Lake Grace on his way. We developed the whole block and by 1988 Neils health wasn’t the best so sold out to Fox Slaters. We spent 5 years in Perth where he had a car trailer business. We got itchy feet so moved back east to Kyogle NSW and started farming again on 300 acres breeding cattle. Neil retired once again and leased the farm and built a house at Alstonville NSW (Near Ballina). Then moved to Twin waters, Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. Then to a acre at Mooloolah Queensland. Finally in 2013 we moved to a retirement village at Rosemount Queensland near Nambour. Poor health caught up with him and he died after getting everything done for me at the village on the 28th August, 2014. I am fortunate in having Chris just living 15 minutes or so from me. We travelled a bit in between times and went to Singapore, New Zealand and Canada and twice around Australia so we had a wonderful life and will always remember Munglinup with great joy. We went to Comps 50th anniversary and met up with all old friends and neighbours which was wonderful.
I only wish we knew of your Munglinup Pioneers before Neil died for he would have enjoyed it to no end."
Telephone: Munglinup 4
Neil, Dawn, Chris and Jeni Peterson
Neil Peterson
Location 735 Wyreema
Allocated in October 1959 to Geoffrey Robert Jamieson (1931-2007) and wife Gwenda May Jamieson nee Conway of Munro, Victoria.
Children Dianne, Daryl, Ken, Ian, Colin and Bruce. Geoff arrived on his block in 1960 and worked in the area on and off until his family arrived May 1965. Following the unexpected death of Geoff's mother in November 1965, who was his guarantor, the Block was sold to Phillip John Young from Bordertown South Australia on the 18 April 1966. The Bank showing great compassion insisted on the full repayment of the loan balance within 3 months of Geoff's mothers death. Similarly the Lands Department failed to distinguish themselves initially refusing permission to sell the property and by putting a limit on how much the block could be sold for. The Property was occupied for many years by Hugh Robinson and Co Pastoral Consultants and Managers who managed many properties in the area for absentee owners. Phil Young was a director of Hugh Robinson & Co along with Hugh W Robinson, Newton S Tiver and Christopher K Shearer.
The original School building is still located on this block having served as a bedroom for Daryl, Ken and Ian Jamieson.
The property is now known as "Kyby Downs".
Telephone: Munglinup 6U
The Jamieson's first camp on "Wyreema" 1960
The Jamieson's heading West by Train 10 May 1965
Location 734
Allocated in October 1959 to Peter and Joyce Jamieson (1937-2009) of Blackburn, Victoria. Children Graeme, Neil, Brian and Carolyn. They arrived 28th Dec 1964 and left in 1966.
Richard Gordon Field from Tasmania bought the farm in 1967 and called it "Bustmegutup." It was featured in the Australian Post Magazine and most tourist and rail buses stopped to take photos of the sign for many years. The property is now known as "Richfields".
Telephone: Munglinup 6K
Location 736
Allocated in October 1959 to George Burnett Murison of Nanneella, Victoria. John Murison who later married Helen Gay Hyland ran the farm.
Children Robert, Penny and David. John arrived in the early 1960s.
Telephone: Munglinup 6D
Location 733 Dunromin
Allocated in October 1959 to Kevin Roy Jenkins (1928-2007) and June Jenkins of Willaura, Victoria.
Children Kelvin, Jennifer Anne (1951- 2009) and Ian.
Telephone: Munglinup 6R
Location 761, 762 and 763 Nairnup
Charles Ross (Charlie) Gibson (1913-1970) and his wife Elsie Vera Smith (1912 -1995) . One of the very early settlers in the area arrived 1956 after taking over the lease from Blake and Dunn. Charlie set up OD Transport with Bob Walker, John Christoff, John Langer, Ross Sinagra, Doug Parsons and Keith Hawkins and OD began the Perth Esperance Perth daily service from 15 January 1968. It ran 6 days per week leaving each end at 10pm and arriving at 8am daily. A truly remarkable and valuable service that change the community dramatically.
John (Jack) Robert George Pettigrew (1924 -1978) and his wife Una Olive nee Rosewarne (1920 -1998) were caretakers of this property in the late 1950s and 1960 and their daughter Julie Pettigrew was a founding student at Munglinup Primary School.
Ronald Charles and Gwen Gibson. Children Ross, Craig, Gavin and Kylie arrived 1966 from Ravensthorpe.
Robert Murray Gibson (1947 - 1990) wife Patsy. Children Rob Tamika and Mandy
Allan and Maxine Gibson. Children Colin and Suzanne. Early on Allan drove a truck from Ravensthorpe to Esperance every day.
Telephone: Munglinup 6S
Coxall Road
Location 752 Wilga Bank
Allocated in October 1959 to Ronald Gerald Casey of Oberon, NSW.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to Ralph Henry (1926-2014) and Ada Ellen Silburn of Ivanhoe, NSW. Children Katherine, Janet and Robyn. Arrived 1961. Ralph and Ada were pioneers of tree planting to limit wind erosion and provide shelter belts for stock. They later won the AFG WA Tree Farmer of the Year Award in 2008.
Telephone: Munglinup 18D
Jack Compagnoni, Ralph Silburn, Jim Segedin and Phil Doyle
Location 751
Allocated in October 1959 to Anthony Mitchell Tonkin of Manilla, NSW.
Re-allocated to Douglas and Ruth Edith Grace nee Elliott Coxall Children Colin, Annette, Glenda and Darryl.
They arrived by 1961.
Telephone: Munglinup 18K
Location 753 Edinglassie
Allocated in October 1959 to Kenneth William Clancy of Gunning, NSW.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to John Russell (Jack) (1915-1993) and Stella Blanche Collins nee Gibbons (1917-2005) of Merriwa NSW.
Children Gloria, Ivan, Richard and Fay. Gloria Collins married Tim Cowell and were the second couple married in the St Pauls Munglinup. They arrived 1965.
Telephone: Munglinup 18U
Jack and Stella Collins
Location 737
Allocated in October 1959 to Phillip Edward Michael Bourke of Koroit, Victoria.
Re-allocated in May 1961 to Henry Thomas Stanley of Harrow, Victoria.
Re-allocated in March 1966 to Phillip Louis (1939-1985) and Elizabeth Jean Lawrance of Munglinup, WA. Children Ben, Glenn, Suzanne and Tony. Lou also drove a Stock truck.
Location 755
Allocated in October 1959 to Walter Charles Allan (Charlie) Scadding (1934-1999) and Elvie May Scadding. Children Frank, Gary, Ralph and Karen. Charlie arrived from Kulin in 1959 with the family coming in 1962.
Telephone: Munglinup 14K
Location 757 Buninyong
Allocated in October 1959 to Alexander Cedric Coxall (1927-1981) and Lilian Jean Coxall nee Sutherland.
Children Robert, Denis, Ian, Jeanette and Russell. They arrived February 1963 from Buninyong Victoria.
Alex designed and built the first "Dunny" for the first school.
Telephone: Munglinup 14D
Location 756 Shirilee
Allocated in October 1959 to Donald Balfour Grigg of Mosman Park, WA. This farm was later owned by Paul Sachse.
Peter Muir who married Don Grigg's daughter Leslie managed this property for a time. Later Dave Burton and his wife Sue were on the property.
Ron and Lorraine Davis and their children Michelle, Caron, Lisa and Sydney leased this property from 1976 for a number of years.
Telephone: Munglinup 14U
Location 754 Shaster Downs
Allocated in October 1959 to Clement Heinrich of Yarwun, Queensland.
Later sold on to Noel William Sharp before 1968
Location 938 and Others Fielder Downs
To the west of Coxall Road at the intersection of Middle Road and Bedford Harbour Road Fielder Downs was a large property of some 17778 acres consisting of 8 contiguous blocks established by the George Fielder Group in 1966. Initially established to grow a newly developed type of subterranean clover known as ``Uniwager'', which could reduce clover infertility disease in ewes. Eric Turner and his wife Pam with their sons Peter, Gary and Wayne were there from 1966. William Crossley and his wife Winifred was a Manager there from around 1968. Children Charles and Susan.
North of the Highway
According to Jack Compagnoni these blocks were surveyed in 1964 and were originally part of Esperance Plains Pty Ltd (The Chase Syndicate) and later run by the Esperance Land and Development Company (ELD) which commenced operation in 1960. So in 1960 for about 18 miles (29 km) north of the highway from the Young River to the Rabbit Proof fence became ELD optioned land with the exception of Nairnup. Blake Senior (c1936-2011) was Manager of ELD 1965-1991 and he wrote in "Faith Hope and Reality" Published by the Esperance Shire Council 1995. "The agreement stated in broad outline that ELD had to apply for and receive a Permit to Occupy for 100,000 acres each year until all the land had been taken up. These 100,000 acre parcels would be subdivided by the Lands Department into viable farm units according to rainfall and soil type. ELD was then responsible for developing one third of each farm through to pasture, building sheds, dams and fences where necessary. ELD had the right to retain half of each area taken up and run its own farming enterprise. It had to offer the other half for sale within 10 years of a Permit to Occupy being granted."
Munglinup Farmers managed by Bruce Hutchinson, Soothsay, Ned's Corner and Eric Howells block where early developments to the east of the Munglinup River. To the west the Reynolds and Rawlinsons where in the area in the mid to late 1960s.
Location 857
George Charles Henry Reynolds (1912-1982) and wife Doreen Heather Reynolds.
Children John, Greg, Stephen, Chris, Andy and Debbie.
Arrived by 1966. Originally from Metung Victoria
Telephone: Munglinup 26
Location 1001 Lambrigg Downs
Brian and Joyce Rawlinson nee Pooley from Kendal England migrated to WA on the Fairstar from Southampton in 1967. Children Stephen, Clive and Pat. Their property was on Rockhole Road at the junction with Rawlinson Road. They arrived April 1968. They purchased Location 1134 in 1972 from the original owner Peter Leech from South Australia which is located at the junction of Rawlinson Road and Melaleuca Road.
Location 858 Munji Downs
Originally owned by Reece Price and later Managed by Hugh Robinson and CO for Dr JC Bremner.
Locations 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 870 and 911 Munglinup Farmers
Bruce Hutchinson and his wife Judy were in the district around 1966. Bruce was Manager of Munglinup Farmers. Children Lisa and Tracey.
Telephone: Munglinup 7D
Note these were the original allocations and later 865 and 870 were allocated to others.
Locations 865, 867 and 868 Soothsay
Managed by Peter and Valda Gratton. Children Jennifer, Jane, Robert and Richard
Telephone: Munglinup 7K
Location 869
Eric Clifford and Beverley Maureen Howell nee Brennan from Werneth Victoria arrived late 1960s. Child Reginald Scott Howell.
Ned’s Corner
Managed by Bruce Douglas Barron (1925 - 2007) and his wife Marjorie. Children Sue, Jenny, Heather and Rosalind. Bruce came to Esperance in 1963 and then became the manager of Ned's Corner in late 1966 for the Kidman Family from South Australia.
Telephone: Munglinup 29
Yerritup Creek Station
Managed for ELD by Richard and Nancy Verco. Children Simon and Jamie. Arrived before 1968.
Telephone: Munglinup 24
Location 870
Christopher John Sibree arrived from England 1969.
Location 878 Jonegatup
Charles Ralph Hyland (1911- 2000) and wife Ruth Agnes nee Kelman (1919 - 2016). Children John, Gay, Richard and Trish (Kim). Charles and Ruth also built a house on the townsite at 26 Manjart Street and had a School Bus run for many years.
Location 866
John Robert (Ned) Wallace (1944 - 2006 ) from Wagin was in the area c1968. John and his father and his father John William (Jock) Wallace owned the block immediately East of the Munglinup River on the north of the Highway. Later sold to Soothsay. Played in a Band called the "Remnants" and Performed at various Dances and Balls.
Lindsey Garvey, Leigh Kelly and John Wallace far right with The Remnants P&C Ball 1972
Location 1008
Bill Muntz had the farm on the north side of the highway from Murisons and next to Gibsons was later purchased by Gibsons. At various times Allan and Bob Gibson lived on the property.
Location 1009 and 1011
Ian Thomas Harvey (dec) and his wife Joan (dec) managed the property belonging to Dr Neil Beck and ? Neaves. Children were Doug, Anne and Linda. Arrived 1970 and left around 1973. Location 1009 later leased by Syd Hanna and Avril Lawrence.
Location 1014 Nick and Heather Laycock
Arrived 1971. They were from South Australia.
Joyce Rawlinson prepared the following list of Locations and their owners in 1968 for the Dallinup Sub Division along Rawlinson Road from West Point Road, down Rockhole Road, then along Rawlinson Road again and down Melaleuca Road. "During the period 1968-1972 that most of the blocks owned by absentee owners in the northern area were managed by Hugh Robinson & Co who opened their first office on Phil Young's and later moved to the townsite to the house which was orginally owned by Barlow's. By 1974 the Munglinup office was closed as most of the farms had managers by then and only the Esperance office remained open for a few more years to oversee the managers. So there was a great deal of contract work to be had in the area in the sixties and early seventies."
Location 1128 Martin Van Leeuwin
Location 996 Hugh Rennie
Location 997 Maxwell Szulc
Location 998 Dr Dorrington
Location 999 Richard Field and Tom Walker
Location 1000 Murray Haddrick from Williams
Location 1002 R Mills and D Hines from Quirindi NSW
Locations 1003, 1004 and 1133 Oldfield Pastoral Company Bob Walker and John Cristoff.
Location 986 - 995 West Point Pastoral Company
Location 1013 Warren Rigney
Location 1005 Angus Munro from Coonamble NSW
Location 1012 Melaleuca Pastoral Company managed by Roger McCallum
Location 1006 Orandeen Pastoral Company D H Alltree and Warren Rigney
Location 1007 RG Mathews a Vet from South Australia
Location 1009 and 1011 Beck and Neaves
Location 858 and 1010 Dr JC Bremner
Location 1135 Munglinup Station
Munglinup Townsite Pioneers and Others
Latitude 33° 43' S Longitude 120° 52' E
The townsite of Munglinup is located in the south coastal region, 622 km south east of Perth between Ravensthorpe and Esperance. When the district was being opened up for farming in the late 1950s/early 1960s the local community sought the declaration of a townsite between Esperance and Ravensthorpe. The survey of Locations was carried out in 1961, and the townsite gazetted in 1962. Munglinup is a local Aboriginal word, first shown on plans in 1868, and was believed to have been recorded by the Dempster Brothers who were the first settlers in the area.
Original Plan 1960 of the Munglinup Townsite Location 744 Drawn by Richard Gilchrist. Thanks to The State records Office
George Burnett Murison (1909-1991) and his wife Jean Isobel (1912- 2006) built the Mobil Roadhouse and provided Mobil fuels to the district and were the agents for Elders GM. Everyone will remember the iconic Mobil sign with the red Pegasus. They provided the first Power Supply on the Townsite. George also drove a school bus for the eastern side of Munglinup. They provided School lunches and from 30 March 1965 also had the inaugural Telephone Exchange which was the old plug board system until the automatic exchange was installed near the Golf Course in 1970. They arrived from Victoria in 1963. George was born in Aberdeenshire Scotland.
Telephone: Munglinup 31
Jean and George Murison
Magneto Telephone c1965
Jaffle Irons
Russell Burnett and Rosemary Paula Murison nee Sterne. Children Paula and Candice. Russell was the Mobil Fuel agent and had a Depot at Lot 9 Poot St Munglinup. In the early days he delivered fuel on a Bedford 8 ton Cab Over, then a Ford D Line Cab over then he went to a Scania. Russell loved his fast cars and owned many classics including a Cortina GT and a Candy Apple Red GT Falcon XT. It was in the GT that I first travelled at 120mph! I remember on one occasion c1968 Russell and Joe Riggs decided they would take my brother Ken and me to the "Drives" in Esperance to see the Hitchcock classic Psycho. Russell always thinking, had Joe drive us all in his Hillman Hunter instead of the new XT. It turned out to be a very good call as Joe had a fairly big cleaning job to do on the backseat of his car the next day. I'm not sure if it's true but Ken told me both front seats needed attention too! Scared the crap out of us!
Russell Murison inducted into the National Road Transport Hall Of Fame 2010. Link to Road Transport Hall of Fame
Geoffrey Robert (1931-2007) and Gwenda May Jamieson (1932-2017) set up a Wesfarmers, BP and Kleenheat Gas agency with depot and shopfront in Hall St in 1969. He also provided cartage services for the district. Beginning on the 8th May 1970 their daughter Dianne was responsible for taking the Munglinup weather readings 3 times daily for the Bureau of Meteorology. Apart from the School House, in 1968 they built the first actual house on the Townsite at 28 Manjart St. Gwen was the School Cleaner early on and both were very active in the community. Click here for a Tribute to Geoffrey Robert Jamieson written by Munglinup Community members.
Telephone: Munglinup 36
Geoff and Gwen Jamieson c1972
Don and Henrietta MacKenzie set up a House and shed and were the Shell agent. Children Duncan, Graham and Sheila. Don was a mechanic and School Bus Driver. Arrived 1967 from Kenya. Took over Phil Giles School Bus Run in 1968 operating for the next 32 years.
George Mervyn (Merv) Doak Bulldozer operator and was responsible for many of the dams in the district. Lived in Katanning but had Lot 10 on the Townsite by 1968.
Ian Ross worked with Merv Doak.
Geoffrey Donald and Margaret Jean Pickersgill nee Fuss. Children Greg, Allan, Wayne, Mal and Nita. Geoff worked with Ken Fuss and provided mechanical services to the district.
Geoff and Margaret Pickersgill
John and Edna Beatrice Barlow provided mechanical services. Children Michelle, David, Nicole and Ian.
William James (Bill) Vogan and wife Elizabeth nee Morgan and daughter Katherine Jane (dec). Bill worked for Hugh Robinson.
Neville Coxall worked as a fencing and farm contractor and by 1968 had a shed on the Townsite in Manjart St. Neville's wife was Alexandria Hazel nee Sellers and they had two girls Jane and Leanne.
Jon Leon and Maria Diane nee Brotherson (dec) Tytherleigh. Jon was the Elders Agent and Maria was a Schoolteacher.
Roger Deland and Ronda Nancy Fountain. Roger ran the Munglinup Seed Shed.
Others
Charlie and Doris Murray arrived at Young River from Kalgoorlie on Boxing Day 1960 with their children Karen, Elizabeth, Alex, Helen, Gillian and Keith who all attended Munglinup School 1961 to 1962 and as such were very early students. Their mother Doris "Dorrie" was the P&C Treasurer at this early time. Later the Murray's were at ELD Lort River. Karen married John Hyland and they were the first couple married in St Pauls Munglinup.
Joe Riggs worked for many years on Newleigh and married a nurse Carol who was from Marvel Loch. He later Managed Munglinup Farmers and Torradup.
Barry "Plover" King managed ELD interests in the area and also umpired football in the Ravensthorpe Association. Wife Margaret King and children Colleen, Deanne Susan (dec), Rodney and Sonia.
Allen Ernest and Esther Joyce Edmunds from South Australia lived up on the Munglinup River Reserve on Mills Road from 14 February 1966 until 1970 in a Nissen Hut. Allen worked on the Wharf in Esperance.The children were Bill, Peter, Andrew, Lucille, Roy, Gail and Tim.
The Unsung Heroes
Lu Standish provided me with the following transcription of an article written in 1965 and published in the West Australian Newspaper.
Modern Pioneers - The Women of Esperance
Much has been said of the new settlers at Esperance-the men, many of whom crossed the Nullarbor in trucks to take up their virgin scrubland, and are now developing it into rich pasture. Little however has been said of the women, who with stoicism and tenacity are living in conditions that the ordinary city girl would not tolerate.
Some are newlyweds having their first babies. Others brought their young families with them. Like many of the husbands, few have previous farm experience. The wives of architects, doctors and businessmen turned farmers, before marriage they were secretaries, pharmacists, teachers and girls in business completely unrelated to anything rural.
Many farmers are living on their capital, sweating out for the first five years till they can hope that their farms will become productive. Any money made from the first crops is ploughed back into the land. Stock, farm machinery and buildings must, of necessity, come before the homestead. Families are living in partitioned off portions of the woolshed or other farm buildings till a start can be made on the family home. Others have put up one or two rooms of what will ultimately be their permanent home and are living there. They have learnt to depend on their own resources, and without sacrificing any of their femininity, have developed a self reliance that is to be admired.
Forty miles out of Esperance near Grass Patch, English born Mrs Ernest Wiltshire and her children were unable to leave their home for nearly three months recently when rain made it impossible to get out. When supplies started to run out, Mr Wiltshire drove his tractor due east for 20 miles through the bush to stock up.
Mrs Wallace Deane, former textile examiner, drove with her husband and two boys, now aged two and six, in a truck from Bendigo last January. They drove straight into the scrubland in the Munglinup district, making the first road on their property, parked the truck on a knoll, pitched a tarpaulin over their truck, unloaded beds and a table and chairs- and they were in residence. They lived this way for two months till the couple, who had never built anything in their lives before, put up the corrugated iron shed in which they are now living.
Mrs Peter Standish, a former school teacher, came from Victoria, two years ago. She lives in a converted bus, and has a baby less than one year old, three dogs, five cats and a horse. “It’s an exciting and a healthy life. We would not think of quitting” she said.
One of the few West Australians, Mrs Charles Scadding, who has four children, set up house in a shed three years ago. Within the first twelve months she had killed about 50 snakes. “I had never used a gun before, I think I was more scared of that than I was of the snakes. It was an old fashioned shotgun- the barrel went one way and I went the other”
Mrs David Steer started housekeeping with two trams “stuck in the middle of nowhere” near Gibson’s Soak. “The shortage of water was our biggest problem. It’s amazing what you can do with your bathwater” she said, “we started our lawn growing with it. Three times within half an hour I put up a line to dry the washing, and three times it blew down. If my husband had come home at that moment I would have quit. Fortunately, he didn’t”.
This is typical of the feeling throughout the district- if the women can stay, the men will stay, too.
(by Catherine Martin and pulished in the West Australia, Saturday, January 30th, 1965)
A picture tells a thousand words! The Munglinup CWA ladies 1966.
L-R Rear Lorna Brooks, June Jenkins, Henrietta MacKenzie, Jean Coxall, Alexandria Coxall, Gwen Jamieson, Stella Collins, Lesley Muir, Helen Compagnoni, June Cunningham, Ada Silburn, Ruth Hyland, Violet Johnson, Jean Smart, Grace Cowell, Lu Standish obscured behind, Fe Kelman with white Headband, Meredith Angus and Heather Reynolds.
Front Norma Deane, Muriel Giles , Phil and Arthur Grahams Mother, Ruth Coxall, Jean Murison, Elvie Scadding, Gwen Gibson, Arvon Cunningham's sister Helen and seated behind her Lana Handly.
Phil Doyle built this Memorial in 1999 at the entry of his farm "Ivanhoe" (Thanks to Jim Segedin)
MAPS
Below are two of the original Maps of the Munglinup area used as Reference for this Compilation.
Larger versions are available Here
Munglinup East
Munglinup West
Esperance Plains Pty Ltd (The Chase Syndicate) and Esperance Land and Development Company. Thanks to Blake Senior.