Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway. Tambellup Ongerup Railway.
Recounts of an inspection of the Gnowangerup District and Frederick John Cuneo (Broomehill Railway Station Master from 1905 takes on the Acting State Premier.
Submitted by Merilyn Stewart – Gnowangerup
EAST OF THE GREAT S0UTHERN RAILWAY PROPOSITIONS.
MINISTERIAL INSPECTION OF THE COUNTRY.
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
Friday 8 April 1910
No. 3.
The final stage of the journey undertaken by the Acting-Premier, Mr. Frank Wilson, and the Attorney-General, Mr. J. L. Nanson proved the most pleasant experience of the tour. Slight showers of rain fell, laying the dust, which had created such uncomfortable conditions in the drive from Wickepin to Katanning, and a fresh wind sharpened the appetites, while, when evening fell, the members of the party were only too glad to take advantage of the comforts of a roaring fire. Sunday afternoon was spent in a delightful drive behind four spanking horses, with Mr. Harold Piesse on the reins, from Katanning west of the line to Broomehill along a stretch of country, which included the properties of Messrs. Ross Anderson and T. Anderson, who extended hospitality to the visitors at their beautiful homes, “Illareen” and ‘Condeena.”
These properties formed part of the Goblup Estate, once held by Lord Brassey, and purchased by the Messrs. Anderson from him and cut up into six estates, now held by some of our best-known settlers.
Eticup was also passed through before Broomehill was reached. An early start was made from Broomehill on Monday morning towards the country which will be served by a railway east from Tambellup. Two large estates with extensive areas of fine sheep country well stocked, (Pallinup, recently disposed of by Mr. Hassell) and Woodyarrup, still held by that gentleman, were traversed before the smaller holdings which the line is to be constructed to serve were entered.
A dainty luncheon was served at the property of Mr. Mick Corbett, Telyarup, adjoining Pallinup. Only a few years ago, Mr. Corbett and many other well-known Nor’ Westers took up property in this, district, and they are now energetically carrying out improvements on an extensive scale. There are a remarkable number of bachelors among them and the other residents of these rich areas, and that fact probably caused the Acting-Premier to send the cable which Mr. Newton Moore read when addressing a meeting of emigrants in London on Thursday last. “Send us as many girls as possible; our farmers want wives.”
The visitors were quite unprepared for the magnificent country through which they were, driven right on to Gnowangerup, and the next morning to Chirelillup, Strathaven, Clear Hills, and Beeginup, until the inevitable sand plain skirting Tambellup was reached. They had been told that they were to see good country justifying railway communication, but they were delighted to find land unsurpassed by and even better than the richest agricultural areas with which they had previously become acquainted.
For 52 miles there was not a patch of inferior or even second-class country visible. Fat sheep lazily roamed over the well-grassed paddocks, and the stubble of the season’s crops gave some indication of the heavy yields of wheat the soil had furnished. A twenty-bushel average was the estimate the settlers gave of the district’s production. Optimistic it reads, but easily understood after seeing the country and meeting the untiring settlers, most of whom came to the State with many years of farming experience behind them.
A remarkable crop, startling in its results, was harvested by Mr. House, a young Englishman who battled for years with the North-West before selecting 30 miles from the Great Southern. From 70 acres he secured 33 bushels to the acre without fallowing and without the use of phosphates. It seemed to the visitors almost incredible that such land should have remained unselected until about four years ago, until farmers from the Wimmera, and other parts of Victoria, from South Australia, and the northwest of Western Australian pounced upon it.
Perhaps it was that the early searchers for land were frightened by the peculiarity that the stream which rushes through Gnowangerup and the surrounding country in winter contained salt water, but investigation would have shown them that plentiful supplies of fresh water could be obtained close by the banks of that stream, and by damming in any part of the country.
The principal timber in the district is morrell, York gum, jam and salmon gum, while even the white gum which in most parts of the State is found on the poorest land, here spreads its limbs over rich wheat growing and grassy areas. Thirty miles beyond Gnowangerup 70,000 acres of what is said to be similarly fertile country is at present in the hands of the surveyors.
The party drove into Gnowangerup as evening was approaching, and the settlers were waiting in large numbers on the site set apart for an agricultural hall, the Acting-Premier being called upon to lay the foundation-stone of the building, which is in the course of erection. It was a happy augury that a sharp shower of rain should have fallen as the ceremony was proceeding. Mr. Corbett, in introducing the Ministers, expressed regret at the absence of their old friend, Mr. F. H. Piesse. They had now, he said, a worthy successor to him in Mr. Arnold Piesse. (Applause.) The Acting-Premier, laid the foundation stone well and truly laid, said that he also regretted that Mr. F. H. Piesse was not with them that day. No man could have taken greater interest in the development of his country. They felt the loss of his wise counsel and assistance in the Legislature of the State. He (Mr. Wilson) endorsed what had been said about the present representative of the district. Mr. Arnold Piesse. No better man could one wish to meet, and these was not a more conscientious man, steadfast in his desire to do his duty to his country. He and the Attorney-General had been pleasantly surprised with the country they had passed through, and also with the great numbers of people they had met. He believed that Western Australia would lead the Commonwealth in wheat production, as she had done in gold production. However, they wanted hundreds of thousands of people in millions of capital. He believed they would get both (Cheers).
The Attorney-General also delivered a brief address as the rain pelted down upon him. The party were the guests for the night of Mr. Miles McDonald, who, with his ten sons, came from the Wimmera three years ago and selected land at Gnowangerup.
In the evening there was a gathering of over two hundred settlers at Mr. McDonald’s residence. Mr. Piesse introduced a deputation in support of the construction of the railway from Tambellup to the Gnowangerup agricultural area. He said that a deputation had already waited on Mr. Moore in regard to the matter, and as a result certain promises had been made by the Government in regard to the carrying out of the works, and on the Loan Estimates last year a sum of money was allocated ‘towards the construction of the line, although the amount provided was not a large one.
The settlers hoped that special efforts would be put forward to have the work completed for the harvest of 1912. He had been informed that over 30,000 bags of wheat had been carted in from the Gnowangerup agricultural area this year. He firmly believed that by 1912 they would have at least double that quantity of wheat ready for the railway. Postal and telephone facilities, and the extension of the school building were also asked for. It was only 18 months ago that the school was completed, and it was great evidence of the progress of the district that an extension of the building was already required.
The members of the deputation pointed out that the Government had already definitely promised that the railway would be built, and it was now simply a question of time. One reason they advanced for the railway was that Gnowangerup was a closely settled district. The conclusion arrived at by the settlers was that the route of the railway should run as directly as possible from Tambellup to the Gnowangerup townsite.
The population of the district totalled a little over 400. There were 110 settlers holding 192,000 acres, and since that census was taken, more land had been selected. The greater portion of the developmental work of the district had been accomplished within the last four years. There was an area of 6,698 acres under wheat last year and 2,000 acres under oats. The yield of wheat carted into Broomehill was 30,000 bags, which, of course, did not include the quantity kept back for seed. The yield of oats was 25,000 bushels. The area given over to hay totalled 1,800 acres, the yield being 2,074 tons. The figures showed that over 10,000 acres were cultivated. The acreage which would be ready for next season’s crop was between 14,000 and 15,000 acres within a radius of 15 miles of Gnowangerup: Considerable business was also being carried on in wool. If the line was extended on to Chirelillup it would. bring a much larger area of land within reasonable distance. There were 70,000 acres south-east which would be benefited by the construction of the line.
The Acting-Premier, in reply, said that he was well aware that some time back it was promised that an inspection would be made of that portion of the State, and that a flying survey would be made in order that the Government might come to some decision in regard to railway construction.: That survey had not been put in hand because he had rather a distaste for making flying surveys.
If there was sufficient evidence, as he believed there was in the district he was then in, of good settlement and good production, he was always prepared to make a permanent survey when he had come to the decision that a railway was required. The survey would be started almost immediately. He thought he could promise that the surveyors would be at Tambellup by the next week. (Cheers.)
He hoped that when he returned to Perth, he would be able to call tenders for rails and fastenings for this railway, together with many other railways which the Government expected to be able to construct within the next eighteen months. (Renewed cheers.)
He could not say exactly what route the line would take from Tambellup. The other local requirements would receive full consideration. He was amazed at the progress which that portion of Western Australia had made in such a short time. He had seen some of the finest land he had ever inspected in Western Australia. (Applause.)
The drive to Tambellup on Tuesday was made through Chirelillup, Strathaven, Clear Hills and Beeginup, and at its completion, the visitors were entertained at luncheon by the Tambellup Roads Board. The Acting-Premier, in acknowledging the toast of “The Moore Government,” again promised that he would endeavour to have the railway built from Tambellup to Gnowangerup within eighteen months.
The party afterwards entrained for Katanning, but a halt was made at Broomehill, where a deputation placed before the Acting-Premier their case for the construction of a line from Dumbleyung to a point on the Great Southern Railway near Mount Barker or Cranbrook.
Without furnishing reasons they opposed the construction of the line from Tambellup to Gnowangerup. In reply to a question by Mr. Wilson, it was ascertained that not one of the deputations was settled more than three miles from Broomehill.
The Acting-Premier, in replying to the deputation, said that he was not aware that any member of the deputation had a holding any distance from the Great Southern Railway. He could not see what interest they could have individually or collectively so far as Broomehill was concerned with the construction of a branch line some 40 or 50 miles east of the Great Southern unless they had land out there. The construction of a line out from Tambellup to tap the areas beyond Gnowangerup had been under consideration for some time, and the Premier had undertaken last year to construct the line. He had told the people that the surveyors would be out there in the next week.
Whether a trunk line would be constructed from Dumbleyung to junction with the Great Southern did not affect the question of building the spur railways which the Government proposed to carry out. The railway from Tambellup would be built as speedily as possible – as soon as it received the sanction of Parliament.
One of the first trains into Gnowangerup c1920
Typical grain train on the Tambellup Ongerup line
Broomehill was much too near Katanning for the commencement of the line, as a railway had been fixed to go from the latter place to Curran’s Soak.
Mr. Cuneo: We will remember that at the next election.
The Acting-Premier: I did not come here to be threatened by you or anyone else. I am here to hear what you have got to say and give my reply on behalf of the Government, and you must accept that reply in the spirit in which I accept your claims.
Mr. Cuneo: I beg your pardon. I was wrong.
Gnowangerup Station and yard c1955
(Lost Katanning’s Arthur Todd was Station Master here in the late 1970’s)
The Acting-Premier, continuing, said that they at Broomehill had no need to be jealous of Tambellup, Katanning, or any other place. Tuesday night was spent at Katanning, and on the following morning the visitors were driven by Mr. Arnold Piesse through the closely settled country lying between that place and Woodanilling. They were entertained at luncheon by the Woodanilling Roads Board, and afterwards took the train for Perth, thus concluding a strenuous but interesting tour.