KATANNING ROAD BOARD

Katanning Road Board

The first roads in Western Australia were built during the settlement of the Swan River Colony in the late 1820s. Prior to this, narrow bush tracks had been used by the local Aboriginal people. In 1871, local governments were established, often called Road Boards in rural areas. Their primary function was to create and maintain the roads network in their local areas. Most of these rural roads, especially in the Wheatbelt, connected farms to the state government’s extensive rail network, usually covering a distance of less than 20 miles (32 km). (Source: Wikipedia)

The Katanning Road Board was gazetted in 1892. On 1 July 1961, it became a Shire following changes to the Local Government Act.

Historically, two types of local government existed – municipalities, which represented towns or condensed urban areas, and road districts, which represented all other regions. For instance, the Perth Road District was the precursor to the City of Stirling. Only a few cities – Perth, Fremantle, Subiaco, South Perth and Nedlands – existed prior to 1961. On 1 July 1961, all road districts became shires, and all municipalities became towns.

The first official local government in Australia was the Perth Town Trust, established in 1838, only three years after British settlement. The Adelaide Corporation followed, created by the province of South Australia in October 1840. The City of Melbourne and the Sydney Corporation followed, both in 1842.  All of these early forms failed; it was not until the 1860s and 1870s that the various colonies established widespread stable forms of local government, mainly for the purpose of raising money to build roads in rural and outer-urban regions. Council representatives attended conventions before Federation, however local government was unquestionably regarded as outside the Constitutional realm. (Wikipedia)

1896 KATANNING ROAD BOARD MEMBERS:
Front: Michael Cronin, Tom Haddleton, F.T. Fisher-Crosby (chairman), R.S. Taylor, Tom Garstone.
Back: Elijah Bell, L.D. Hart (pressman), T.H. Stansbury (secretary), Pat Cuneen.

1929 KATANNING ROAD BOARD MEMBERS:
Front: C.R. Harris, A.F. Watts (deputy chairman), Alex Prosser (chairman), W.J Rogers,and J.F. Haddleton.
Back: I. Synnott, F.J.P. Noonan, H.V. Buckley (secretary), D. B. Burnside, C. Garstone, A.E. Piesse, S. Kemble, F.M Bowden, and A.V. McDougall.

The Katanning Road Board holds a remarkable record in respect to membership. Mr. Tom Garstone, prior to his resignation in 1924, was a member of the Board continuously for 30 years. Mr. George McLeod, who died in office in 1929, had been a member for 21 years, of which period he was chairman for ten years, and Mr. Alex. Prosser served for 30 years. Other members with lengthy periods on the Board to their credit are Messrs. A. E. Piesse, C. F. Wanke, R. L. Richardson, W. H. Forbes, F. H. Flugge and R. G. Tree.

Members of the Board who have filled the position of chairman during its 37 years of operation are Messrs. F. H. Piesse, Wm. Andrews, F. T. Fisher Crosby, A. E. Piesse, C. F. Wanke, Geo. McLeod, A. Thomson, M.L.A., W. J. Rogers and R. L. Richardson, the present chairman (1929) being Mr. Alex. Prosser.

The Katanning Road Board had an enviable reputation for good roads, of which more than 700 miles, representing an expenditure of £100,000, traverse its territory. It comprised 13 members, namely six representing the Central or Town Ward, two the West Ward, three the Moojebing Ward, and two the East Ward.

The executive staff included the Secretary and Engineer, Mr. H. V. Buckley; Health Officer and Building Surveyor, Mr. S. R. Evans; Country Supervisor, Mr. J. E. Coate; and Town Foreman, Mr. W. Collingwood. The-Office staff comprising Miss E. Mitchell, assistant secretary, and Mr. T. Hogan, clerk.

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AN ACTIVE ROAD BOARD

Western Mail
8 May 1930

THE progress of Katanning since its establishment 40 odd years ago is illustrative of the development that has taken place concurrently in the productive surrounding areas and the sterling qualities of its residents, past and present. In writing of surrounding areas, I mean the lower Great Southern generally.

Miss E. Mitchell is the capable acting secretary, and her services are highly commended, the affairs of such an important body requiring considerable attention.

Because of the huge amount of business affecting the town and requiring consideration the board has adopted a system to meet the circumstances. The six members representing the central ward meet fortnightly, while the country members meet monthly. A combined meeting is held monthly, when the decisions made in the interim are ratified.

The board had its origin in 1892 and was constituted to administer territory excised from the original Kojonup Road District. It possessed no power to rate or collect revenue, its only source of income being from Government grants until 1898, when the enactment of the Road Districts Act 1919 provided it with authority to levy rates and raise loans.

The first chairman was the late Mr. F. H. Piesse, who later became Commissioner for Railways and Public Works in the Forrest Administration. He was one of the first to engage in business in Katanning and left behind a fine record of public service to the State. The striking memorial to his memory in Austral Terrace was erected in 1914.

The present area of the road board district could not be ascertained, but the board’s neighbours are the Kojonup Road Board on the west, the Broomehill Board on the south, the Dumbleyung Board on the north and the Woodanilling Board on the north-west. On the latest estimate (1928-29) the unimproved capital value of the road board district is £354,584 ($709,168), while that of the town is £94,376 ($188,752), an amount which reveals big strides since its village days, comparatively few years ago.

Statistics kindly supplied by Miss Mitchell indicate the progress of both town and district during recent years:

N.B.-Revenue is inclusive of that derived by the Health, Vermin and Water Boards. Values are arrived at on an improved capital basis. The town was re-valued in June, 1929.

A record in building activity was experienced during the year ended June, 30, 1928, during which the substantial sum of £45,000 ($90,000) was spent in the erection of new buildings and in additions or alterations to existing premises. The revaluation last year placed improvements in the form of buildings at £400,000 ($800,000) while the total capital value of town property was assessed at £500,000 ($1 million) and the annual rateable value, on which water charges are based, at £30,000 ($60,000).

Turning the first sod for the Katanning Agricultural Hall
(later Mechanic’s Institute Hall)

The first hall built in Katanning was the old Mechanics’ Institute, which was erected in 1898, and served for some years. In 1905, a public committee took steps to obtain a building more in keeping with the needs of the day and in 1927 the road board, which had taken over the liability on these premises had plans prepared for alterations and additions to the hall which cost £8,000 ($16,000) to carry out. The Town Hall to-day is an imposing building, the capacious main hall, with seating accommodation for 700 persons being strikingly decorated and most comfortably appointed. The building also includes the extensive offices of the board, a subsidiary hall, library, and reading, card and billiard rooms.

The educational institutions of the town include the Church of England Girls’ School, which occupies “Kobeelya”, the striking two-storey residence originally the home of Mr. F. H. Piesse; the Katanning Grammar School, which was established last year following the purchase of “The Bungalow” from Dr. F. M. House; and St. Rita’s Convent, an imposing two-storey building erected at a cost of about £8,350 ($16,700) and opened this year. With the Government School the capital expenditure of the four schools represents about £50.000 ($100,000).

The town has a reticulated water supply from a reservoir three miles north of the town, which was constructed by the Government and taken over by the board in 1918. The scheme cost £25,000 $50,000), but the supply has become inadequate, and is not sufficiently clear for consumption. The board submitted to the former Minister for Country Water Supply, Mr. Cunningham, a proposal entailing the provision of another reservoir with a capacity of 30 million gallons (approximately the same as that of the existing one), and the installation of a clarification plant. The water would be pumped to a site near the town, whence it would gravitate to consumers. The scheme, which is estimated to cost between £15,000 ($30,000) and £18,000 ($36,000) was approved by the Minister, but endorsement by a Government engineer is still required.

Opening of the Katanning Town Dam

An interesting activity of the board, showing commendable enterprise, is the manufacture of reinforced concrete pipes. concrete slabs for paving, and concrete kerbing. The board find that it can perform the work for less money titan it would cost to purchase its requirements in Perth.

Katanning Road Board gang – 1920

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ELECTORS MEETINGS

The annual electors meeting has been a part of local government since its inception in this state. It is the one meeting where ratepayers could find out what was happening through the road board (later shire council). It was also an opportunity for people to have their say about what they wanted to see happen within their community or to ask questions about what was happening.

Today, the importance of the Electors Meeting (or Ratepayers Meeting) has lessened somewhat as all Council meetings are open to the public with time allowed for public question time.

Click here to read > Katanning Road Board 1925 Electors Meeting

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

EARLY 1900’S MACHINERY IN THE DISTRICT

From Merilyn Stewart’s Gnowangerup Facebook Page

I.H.C. Titan Type DA DIESEL ENGINE 1911-14

Glen Oliver: “I have just had this engine identified. It is a I.H.C. Titan Type D, built between 1911-14. Thanks Brett Green from Tambellup. Steere or Steer in Broomehill had one.The big box on the front of this engine is a cooling tower (a primitive form of radiator) that kept the oil engine cool.

E.W. Steere was taking his engine to Ongerup for scrub rolling. Two others, Inspector Connell and Andrew McDonald, both purchased I.H.C. 25 hp oil engines in 1911 for scrub rolling. Connell taking his to Ongerup also, and A.McDonald’s was used on his own farm and some contract work at Carpenter’s. He was injured when repairing the engine there, in a acetylene explosion.

”Note: Within a few hours of requesting information on this Tractor, I have a whole story! Glen Oliver made the connection to

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Katanning Roads Board’s first truck

This diesel driven tractor was owned by the Katanning Roads Board during the 1920’s. It was sold to Pocock’s of Needilup to be used for scrub clearing.

Luke Pocock. Luke contacted me and gave me some great information (Merilyn Stewart):

Luke Pocock: “My great grandfather purchased it second hand from Katanning Roads Board in the mid 1920s (?). My pop started driving it home and, after an 8hr drive just to get to Broomehill, it was decided it was too slow so it was loaded on a train to Ongerup and then driven to Needilup. It was used to roll down scrub. Then it was parked up for around 80 years until I restored it. It’s still here on family farm at Needilup”.

Katanning Roads Board’s first grader

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ROAD BOARD NEWS

As the representative local government for the Katanning community, the Katanning Road Board often appeared in both local newspapers, the Great Southern Herald and the Southern Districts Advocate.

Reports of interest from over the years will be posted HERE

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MORE READING

Katanning Road Board Meeting – 1892
Local Government – Katanning
Local Government in Australia (Wikipedia)
Local Government Areas of Western Australia (Wikipedia)

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ROAD BOARD MEMBERS

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Following changes to the Local Government Act, Katanning became a shire on 1 July 1961.

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