Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News. Eticup News.
Eticup was one of the earliest settled towns in the area and, during the late 1880’s and 90’s, someone from the community was an avid writer providing news about Eticup to the West Australian and Western Mail newspapers. These reports have provided a wealth of historical information about the tiny town before its eventual closure due to the Great Southern Railway being routed via what is now Broomehill instead of Eticup.
I will be adding news items as I find them so, if your interested in the history of Eticup,
please do come back to this page regularly.
ETICUP NOTES.
West Australian
5 September 1885
WE have had some very rough weather this last three weeks till Tuesday, when the wind rose to a hurricane which continued all night with an occasional shower now and then, and on Wednesday morning it commenced raining and rained all day. The place was flooded for a time and the rivers ran very high, in fact, higher than they have been for some time.
Though it has made the young crops and grass look yellow, it will do good for next summer, and will enable sheep owners to keep their stock at home instead of having to send them from 40 to 50 miles away. A few weeks fine weather with sun-shiny days will alter the appearance of the crops and grass no doubt. Since the rain there have been a few sunshiny days with light frosts in the mornings which, however, have not injured anything so far.
Mr. H. Wilson and his party have been and gone and are now camped about 30 miles from here on the Beverley side of this place. The railway line has been run through here, but leaving all the farms and homesteads on the westward side and I believe it runs within two or three chains to the eastward side of Mr. Thomas Norrish’s new homestead. Mr. Wilson said he had more difficulty in going through here than any other part of the line as yet. I hear that it is 1,170 feet (357m) above the sea level. One and all regret the short stay of the party as both Mr. Wilson and his assistants were well liked.
On Wednesday the 5th inst. the Martinup cricketers played an eleven of the Kojonup cricketers on the Kojonup ground, but the day being a miserably wet one no stand was made by either side, and the Kojonup men being better up to the game came off victorious with 9 wickets to fall in the second innings. Their supper was a grand affair, in fact too good if anything, for such an occasion. This I must say for the Kojonupites; whenever they do anything of the kind, they always do it well. I believe that the return match is to be played at Martinup next month if it can be so arranged.
Mr. John Dearle, the contractor for the Mail from here round by Moojeebup has got himself into trouble, by leaving a small parcel at the Kojonup post office, instead of bringing it to the Eticup Post Office. The parcel belonged to a man named Richards, a boot and shoemaker and its non-arrival at the proper time put him to great inconvenience. No doubt this will be a caution to the contractor of whose irregularity there are many complaints. On more than one occasion the mail has been more than one or two days behind time. I have known the mail to arrive in Kojonup on Wednesday while the mail for this place did not reach us till Friday afternoon, which I think is too much of a good thing.
The School-Church is now completed, and I expect the Rev. Joseph Withers will hold service in it next Sunday. It will, no doubt, be a good thing for the place should we get an efficient teacher. On Mr Withers’ last visit, he went round to all the settlers and took all the names of the children that were fit for school. How many he got I do not know. By the number of children about here he must have got a good many.
All the farmers about are either grubbing and clearing their land for fallowing, or fencing, and buildings are also going up. The place is evidently advancing.
Colds have been prevalent of late, on account of the unsettled state of the weather.
Eticup, 24 August.
The West Australian
30 March 1886
I wonder if the Kojonup Roads Board have forgotten us altogether, or do they wish us to continue travelling on our bush tracks up to our knees in slush in winter and without a drink for a twenty mile stretch for man or beast in the summer.
One half of the teams which pay cart licenses to the Board from here do not travel more than 15 miles on the main road and others not more than 5 miles, so that some local return for our money is certainly due to us. We have to travel 30 miles over a bush track before we can reach the Albany road at Gordon bridge. This track was cleared in 1869 by a few of the settlers, among whom were Mr. Graham and Mr. P. Garrett, at their own expense and a few pounds were subscribed for a well about 10 miles from the Gordon.
This was sufficient accommodation for the few teams which travelled the road in those days, but now that there is a large increase, of traffic it is useless except for a month or two in the earlier part of summer. Were £20 spent on a tank at this place it would be sufficient for some time to come, while £40 to make a crossing over a creek twelve miles from here and impassable in winter, and likewise in summer after a thunder storm, is also urgently required, as there is no means of avoiding it, and getting bogged in it is a frequent occurrence.
I notice by the Government Gazette that the Kojonup Board has laid certain roads in its neighbourhood declared ‘minor roads’ while this road which is in constant use has been overlooked. It is to be hoped the Board will turn their attention our way and have the following road declared:
Starting from the South West corner of S.O.L. 7- 31; from thence in a straight line to Cooranup, Mr. John Annice’s place; and thence along the present track to the Gordon Bridge, passing the three-mile pool and Graham’s well. To this and to the £60 expenditure I have mentioned we are justly entitled.
We seem to have been asleep in this part of W.A. Every other part is going ahead with railways and telegraphs, but here we never bestir ourselves and let our wants be known.
Firstly, a telegraph line from here to Kojonup is badly wanted. If we wish to send a telegram we have a 20 mile ride; and as the population is increasing this inconvenience is greatly felt. The line would undoubtedly pay as the Albany-Beverley line passes right through the settlement which is centrally situated, surrounded by beautiful land and bound to become a flourishing town shortly.
Then we want a medical officer within a reasonable distance, the nearest being at the Williams 80 miles off. In case of sickness would have to ride to Kojonup and send a telegram, and the chance is the doctor may be 50 or 60 miles away and not likely to return and reach us for days within which time our sick may be dead for want of attention. If there were a medical officer and doctor combined stationed at Kojonup, who could hold a consultation at Eticup occasionally it would exactly suit our requirements.
It is to be hoped the settlers here will bestir themselves and make known their wants to their member in sufficient time for him to obtain the necessary information before the session. A police station is much wanted here; now that the place is growing in importance we cannot we do without it.
We have a mistress at last for our school, which was opened on Monday February 15, when only 12 scholars mustered. Today I am glad to see the scholars number 17. The scholars seem to be progressing favourably under the care of Miss Mary E. Gegg. We are very short of school furniture, however, clock, etc., which we hope will be soon provided.
Mr. Cheesewright and Mr. H. Angove passed through here last week on their way to Albany, inspecting the line and taking a series of sketches. They took several scenes of homesteads and buildings here. Mr. Angove’s party are boring for water on the line and are expected to reach this in five or six weeks.
We have had a few thunderstorms which have not put much water in the pools but have stopped some troublesome bushfires. The weather is very changeable; excessive heat and coolness alternating.
In sporting there is, I hear, a cricket match with Kojonup in prospect. We have two horses also in training for the Albany races, Mr. Lott’s Bello Mahone and Mr. A. Nelson’s Fanny but as for their prospects of winning, I cannot say anything certain.
Eticup, March 15.
The West Australian
8 May, 1886
As you will have seen by the Albany Mail our horses carried off four of the events at the races, Mr. A. Nelson’s ‘Little King’ winning the Maiden and the Ladies’ Bracelet, and Mr. T. Lott’s ‘Belle Mahone’ the Settler’s Stakes and the Handicap. Both horses are local bred and their success will encourage others to train next season. I am sorry to say that Belle Mahone was taken ill and died shortly after the races. She is a great loss to her owner.
Mr. Henry Quartermaine’s draught stallion ‘Bismarck’, imported by the late Mr Edward Treasure some three years ago, has also died from some complaint unknown. It is a pity that so valuable an animal should have lived so short a time.
A cricket match was played at Martinup lately, between a local eleven and an eleven from Kojonup, the Kojonup men being the winners in one innings with several runs to spare.
The match here on Easter Monday between the local team and All Comers passed off very well. The day was rather windy for onlookers; this did not, however, keep them within doors for there was a large attendance of lads and lasses on the ground. In the evening a dance was held in Messrs. Garrity’s new building which was kept up till day dawn, when all wended their way home after a night of thorough enjoyment.
Rain is much wanted, the country being in a very dried up state, no rain having fallen for some months past, except a shower yesterday morning which was of little use. The prospects of lambing are bad this season as the sheep are poor and feed scarce. Bush fires were still raging on Saturday last.
Western Mail
13 February, 1886
Our Eticup correspondent, under date February 2nd, writes: – “I regret having to record the death of two very old settlers of this neighbourhood, where they were well respected by all who knew them. One is Mr. Edward Treasure, landlord of the “Semblance of Old England Hotel,” Kojonup (The first hotel license was granted in 1868 to the Elverd’s Hotel, which then became Semblance of Old England, “The Commonwealth” and is now known as “The Commercial” or “The Bottom Pub”. An abandoned underground cellar still exists from the drive-through and into the shop next door. This hotel was granted a liquor licence in 1868 which has been held continuously ever since. ) who died at his residence on Wednesday, the 7th of January, at a good old age. He leaves a large family and circle of friends to mourn his loss.
The other is Mr. Richard Norrish, who died at his brother’s residence, Albany, yesterday morning, from the effects of a chill he caught at a bush fire. He, also, leaves wife and a large family to mourn his loss. He was brother in law to the late Mr. Edward Treasure.
A man named Butcher was lately lost in the bush for four days without any food. It appears he had been drinking rather freely for some time past at Gillam’s “Round Swamp Hotel,” and about a fortnight ago he went home to his hut at Pootenup. On Monday night week last he came to a shepherd’s hut at the Gordon, and sometime during the night strayed away, taking with him a horse, saddle, and bridle. The horse he subsequently let go after taking the saddle and bridle off and rambled about the bush on foot for two or three days. On the morning of the fifth day he made his way in here, looking rather the worse for his experience. On the same evening the trackers who had been sent after him came in, close upon his tracks.
Harvesting is not quite completed yet. Mr. G. Whitton has got two or three days’ stripping yet to do, and that will about wind it up for this year. The average is: wheat 25 bushels, barley 20 bushels, and hay about one ton, or a little more in some places.
Bush fires are still raging in and about here, and if not soon put out there will be very little feed for stock, the fires having been very destructive. The weather is very changeable, one day, threatening rain and the next so hot as to be almost unbearable.
Sporting; there is none at present. I hear that a cricket match is to be played at Martinup about the latter end of this month or the beginning of next with an eleven from here.”
Eticup Cemetery
From: Lonely Graves of Western Australia
The West Australian
27 June, 1927
IN MEMORIAM
BETTRIDGE. – In loving memory of our dear mother and grandmother Ann, who passed away at Glen Iris on June 26, 1916, aged 78; also our dear father and grandfather Joseph, who passed away at Eticup, on December 4, 1904, aged 74.
Love’s greatest gift, remembrance.
Inserted by their loving daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren,
W. M. Garrity and family, Eticup, Broome Hill.
THE JOHN & ALEXANDER FORREST CONNECTION
John Forrest set out from Perth on 30 March 1870, accompanied by P.C. McLarty, two Aborigines Billy Noongale and Tommy Windich as well as W.Osborne (a farrier) to explore across the centre of Australia. The group spent the night at Martinup on 10 April 1870, after travelling to Kojonup and Eticup. Nigalup, Camballup and Kybelup were next, then on to Jerramungup, Twertup. (Merilyn Stewart – Gnowangerup)
How WA’s first premier Sir John Forrest and his brother Alexander Forrest built this State
Andrew Forrest with a portrait of John Forrest,
first premier of Western Australia. Credit: Nic Ellis
West Australian
24 August 2021
For decades, two leather-bound diaries containing detailed graphite-penned notes, etchings and astronomical algorithms have been hidden away on a private floor of WA’s State Library. One was written by Sir John Forrest – explorer, surveyor and WA’s first premier – and the other by his brother, Alexander, during their epic 1874 horseback expedition from Geraldton to Adelaide.
Their great-great nephew, mining magnate Andrew Forrest, and Mr Forrest’s family have long known the story and admired the bravery behind the trek, which was the first west-to-east expedition through the centre of Australia.
But what they didn’t know was that the two diaries offering a whole new insight into this mission had not, as they suspected, disappeared into the annals of history. They had in fact been in the State Library’s possession since the 1960s — but had not been catalogued until their discovery in a larger collection of Forrest documents two years ago. Continue reading
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