Agricultural beginnings. Agricultural beginnings. Agricultural beginnings. Agricultural beginnings. Agricultural beginnings. Agricultural beginnings.
With the construction of the Great Southern Railway by the WA Land Company and the Premier Roller Flour Mill by Frederick and Charles Piesse land became available for the development of agriculture in the Great Southern region. Although some small holdings had been claimed around Katanning, the majority of arable land was granted to the WA Land Company as payment to build the railway. The company commenced selling that land to settlers wishing to establish agricultural pursuits.
The news story from a New South Wales newspaper of the time gives a good insight into how the land in the region was opened up.
Western Australia.
The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser – NSW
Tuesday 30 August 1892
By H.S. Hawkins
Land speculation is very safe in West Australia, either in Albany or Perth, provided one knows the locality of the land. Of the two places, Perth undoubtedly has the superior claim as that place must be the capital and centre to which the population will flock; the fortifications at Albany will send that town along, and the contemplated railway from Adelaide to Albany, if ever completed, will certainly assist to make Albany a fine town. These are matters in the far future, although an English company is now endeavouring to get concessions granted for the forming of the line, provided the necessary capital can be raised.
Having visited Western Australia to look at land previously purchased, I made it my business to obtain plans of all land on the market. I visited the localities and acquired a local knowledge of the value. Should any of our readers feel inclined to invest in lots I shall be happy to afford them any information as regards position and value. In support of my statement that land buying is safe, I may state the fact that influential moneyed men in Perth and Albany are buying up all the lots in good positions, or in localities that will in time become of importance; and there is no reason why land in and around Perth should not become almost as valuable in time as the land round the cities in the sister colonies is at the present time.
The area of the colony is 160,000 square miles (257,495 km), and this must command a large centre which undoubtedly is Perth. The completion of the Great Southern Railway, which was opened in 1889, has greatly improved Albany, and up to the present time nine new townships are in existence along the line. By the terms of their contract with the Government, the company have a subsidy of 12,000 acres (4856 ha) per mile (1.6 km) selected east and west of their line within a belt of 40 mile(65 km) on each side of it; consequently, the distance between Albany and Beverley (the company’s railway terminus) being 242 miles (390 km), they have nearly 8,000,000 acres (3237485 ha) of land, which is for sale on easy terms, from 10s per acre (.40 ha). During the last two years a good deal of this land has been bought for agricultural purposes.
For a distance of about 90 miles (145 km) the land is very patchy, being mostly stunted mallee, grass trees, ti-tree, but small areas here and there are suitable for small farms; in fact the whole of the southern part of the colony is purely an agricultural district.
Lord Thomas Brassey
At Broomehill, 140 miles (225 km) on the line from Albany, Lord Brassey [2] has an area of 10,000 acres (4047 ha) to, be cultivated. The land here is very good indeed, being of a chocolate colour and well situated for wheat or corn crops. A rather curious affair happened at this township last year. Fitzgerald’s circus was advertised to show on a certain night, and people flocked from all parts of the locality to witness it, but at the time of opening, 7 o’clock p.m., it was discovered that a great number of the articles required for the performance had been left at Albany. A special tram was dispatched, the people in the meantime making a shift the best way they could. Finally, the performance started at a 1/4 to 3 a.m., finishing at 7 a.m.
At Katanning, 116 miles (187 km) from Albany, there is some splendid land for wheat and a great deal of it is now under crop. A first-class roller mill has been erected by Mr. Piesse, who is the owner of a large area suitable for crops, which he is anxious to dispose of by lease or sale on very easy terms. The Government has a very large area set apart and surveyed in blocks from 1000 acres (405 ha) upwards as an agricultural area, taking in a large belt of country from Katanning to Yarrabin, a distance of 15 miles (24 km) each side of the line, the greater part of which is very fair land.
The country is rather heavily timbered and consisting of white gum, stinkwood. The country is highly adapted for crops, being of an undulating nature and having a good rainfall. This land can be selected on the following conditions – the price is not less than 10s ($1.00) per acre (.40 ha), to be fixed by the Government, payable by yearly installments extending for 20 years; the maximum area held by one person not to exceed 1000 acres (405 ha), nor less than 100 acres (40 ha). Upon approval by the Commissioners, a license shall issue for five years, to be exchanged for a lease for 15 years if the improvements and conditions are performed as required by the Act.
The conditions are, that within six months after approval the selector shall reside on the land for the period of his license, viz., five years, the land to be wholly fenced on the outside boundaries, with a substantial fence, not being a brush fence, sufficient to resist trespass of large stock. An exemption can be obtained from fencing natural boundaries or permanent rivers, (similar to our own Crown Land regulations). One tenth of the land has to be fenced within two years; upon expiration of the lease, if the fence is in good order and purchase money has been all paid, a Crown grant will be issued. A second and third application may be made in the same area, if the selector is unable to get the desired amount adjoining his former purchase.
These conditions are attached to all land in agricultural areas which are set apart, the land can also be selected under the non-residential clause, the deposit and installments being double that of residential selections, or by direct payment, without residence, by lodging ten per cent of the purchase money and balance within one month; fencing the boundary within three years, and within seven years putting five shillings (.50c) per acre (.40 ha) on the land in improvements. There are a number of agricultural areas set apart in the southern part of the colony, all measured and subdivided, with a description of the country on each block, and the areas have been chosen in the best localities suitable for agriculture.
Areas outside agricultural areas can be selected on the same conditions as above; or leased at a rate to be fixed – in most of the districts – at 10s ($1.00) for each 1000 acres (405 ha) for the first seven years; 12s ($1.20) for the second seven years, and 15s ($1.50) for the third seven years. The lessee of land (south-western district excepted) has to satisfy the commissioner that within seven years from the date of lease, he possesses stock at the rate of ten head of sheep, or one head of large stock, per 1000 acres (405 ha), or that he has expended a sum equal to £5 ($10.00), per 1000 acres (405 ha); failing these conditions the lessee has to pay double rent for the remainder of his lease,
Poisoned land can be leased on the following terms :- For 21 years, one pound ($2.00) for each 1000 acres(405 ha) per annum, the lessee to pay the survey fee, and fence with a substantial fence within three years, and eradicate all poisonous plants, when at end of a term a Crown grant will issue. These terms appear very low, but it must be remembered that the poisonous plant is fatal to stock, and very hard to eradicate. Certain areas can be set apart for operations of a timber license, at the rate of £20 ($40) per annum for 640 acres (259 ha). Nearly all the land in the south-western districts within an easy access to shipping ports or railway, is already monopolised.
The export of the famous “Jarrah” timber is the mainstay of Western Australia. This timber grows to a great height; it is somewhat similar to our stringy bark, only of a harder nature, and it is impervious to all the insect tribes on land or in salt water; a great deal is being shipped to London and the southern cities of Australia, for wood paving.
The Sandalwood Cutters
A number of these timber areas are also set apart for Sandalwood, which creates a good export with China. Along the railway line from Albany to Katanning there are immense stacks of this wood waiting export, to the value of £20,000 ($40,000.00). Western Australia is the only place where this timber can now be obtained in any quantity. The Chinese use it chiefly for religious offerings; the value is £10 ($20.00) per ton. The timber trade finds employment for a great number of men, and it is usual for a party to lease 640 acres and dispose of the sandalwood to exporters.