The Scotts

From the Chapman Valley to Esperance (Looking to the Future) submitted by Jenny Scott

Towards the end of 1962 Colin Wishart the manager of Elders Geraldton suggested to Bill Scott he should take the spare seat available on a DC 3 flight from Perth to Esperance. He did so and while in Esperance took the opportunity to look at blocks for sale in the Dalyup district. However it was Len Briggs’s property of Location 1483 and 1484 with a total of 5700 acres and with only 1300 cleared that appealed to Bill. He could see the potential ahead for his 3 sons. Robin was assisting in the running of Mt Erin, Erinair and de Boulaux’s in the Chapman Valley. Kingsley was soon to leave Christchurch Grammar School while Ian remained at boarding school until December 1966. Shortly after Bill’s initial trip and after a second visit by Bill and Robin the decision was made by the family to buy Len Brigg’s blocks. The 3 Geraldton properties were listed for sale with 2 being sold almost immediately and the 3rd some 8 months later.

The take over of Esperance Location 1483 and 1484 and named “Erinair”was in May of 1964

Established in the 1950 ‘s the Poll Dorset Stud was moved to Esperance.

Bill and Kingsley drove a new short wheel base Land Rover to the Esperance property and set up home in what was known as a “hacienda” (home in the end of a shed) Rural Homes built a new home in 1965. The family moved into this in January of 1966. Sadly Margot Scott passed away in March of 1967.

One of the first jobs was to lay a cement pad for the construction of a shearing shed and yards.

Machinery used to develop land.

American LA Case tractor ( which was started by petrol then switched over to “Blackjack”fuel) Massey 4 cylinder 65 tractor, Sunshine Sunder Seeder which initially was used as a plough, Massey Culti- trash Seeder, 3 to 4 ton Thames truck, Claas Super 500 pull type header, a German Hanomag 80 HP Diesel tractor which was bought from John Dickerson and delivered by Malcolm Ferme. Horwood Bagshaw 12 bag super spreader, Horwood Bagshaw clover harvester . The Thames was traded on a 6 ton Austin which was used to cart stock to Perth and back load with posts, mainly from Crossman’s and Ravensthorpe. The Hanomag was traded on a Massey 175 tractor. A new 14 disc Chamberlain plough and a Wake rake added to the list of machinery.

The slow and dirty job of harvesting of clovers began on the 1300 acres of developed land. The new country was double chained by Doak Contracting with dozer drivers Alan Ross and Alec the Russian. A fire break around the area was made by Robin on the Massey 65 with pusher blade attachment. It was then burnt, ploughed and raked, re ploughed and raked once more. The area was then seeded with a 24 run Massey drill sowing Veldt, Rye grass, Serradella and clover seed, along with a cover crop of oats sown with 170 lbs of super copper zinc. Initially lime pelleting was applied to the clover. Super cost $11 a ton.

Slowly fences and windmills were erected and some dams bulldozed by Alan Ross. Each year more land was cleared and developed. Bernie Farrell owned “Fairfield” Location 1590 on the Eastern side of the Lort River. He mostly lived in Perth so his farm comprising of Shorthorn cattle and Merino sheep were looked after by the Scott family. The sheep were driven to “Erinair” for shearing and crutching. TB testing of his cattle was undertaken at Fairfield and repeated many times until a negative result. Later Brucellosis testing was conducted on both properties as Kingsley increased the “Erinair” herd. By 1971 8900 Merinos were run and 313 Poll Dorset ewes. Harold Cronin was our shearing contractor until John Peckham took over in 1968. Charlie Keenan better known as “Charlie the dipper man” dipped all sheep off shears.

Robin and Jenny Lefroy announced their engagement in January of 1968 and were married in September of that year. The following September Sally-Anne Margot was born. (Tim born January 1973)

Kingsley met Barbara Skinner at a function in Perth 1968.They were married in England in April of 1970. They lived at “Fairfield” which was leased from Bernie in 1972 with an option to purchase the following year. Jeremy was born in January of 1972. ( Mark born in August 1973 and Damian in September of 1978)

In 1969 Ian began National Service at Puckapunyal in Victoria and later was moved to Townsville where he trained in signals. He was discharged in 1971 and returned to the farm.

Bill was elected to the Esperance Shire Council (West Ward) in 1968 and remained a councillor until his death in 1971.

After the passing of their father Robin took over the responsibility of running the office and sheep husbandry aided by Jenny, Kingsley was in charge of the harvest and cattle aided by Barbara and Ian took over the responsibility of the mechanics and seeding.

Our family motto was: Dedication, family communication, an equitable share of the workload and care and respect for each other.