Quartermaine Family
Elijah Quartermaine
Elijah Quartermaine arrived in the colony with his wife Elizabeth in 1838 as servants to the Viveash family. Elijah is considered to be the first settler in the district of Katanning.
In 1851 he was grazing 1,900 sheep and, finding abundant water and feed for his sheep in the area, Quartermaine permanently settled and was the first to secure land (1852). Descendants of Quartermaine still own and manage the property, which also has his grave on it.
Yowangup Homestead was constructed by Elijah c.1860-62, with assistance of builder John Cronin, as his primary residence and, with the exception of 1906 to 1914, has been owned and mostly occupied by his direct descendants from the 1860s to around 2017. It was built on land purchased in 1855 and used for seasonal grazing of sheep from at least 1852 and probably the 1840s.
Yowangup was the first homestead established in the Katanning region, and represents the arrival of European settlement in the area. Prior to Katanning town-site being declared in 1890, Yowangup Homestead was an important regional landmark and stopping place for travellers through the area.
The family burial ground at Yowangup Homestead is believed to hold the remains of Elijah Quartermaine, a shepherd named Walker, and the burials of at least five of Elijah’s grandchildren.
Descendants of Elijah and Eliza Quartermaine have continued to have an impact on the fabric that makes up the Katanning community to this day. Many descendants have moved to all parts of the world and have had a positive impact wherever they have gone. Although the family tree is far too big to show on a website such as this, you simply have to ‘Google’ the name to understand the sheer size of descendants emanating from that pioneering couple.
ELIZABETH QUARTERMAINE (nee Dickenson)
Since beginning to research the Quartermaine family, I have been told on several occasions that Elizabeth never moved to, or lived in, Katanning. In fact, Elizabeth died in Beverley, Western Australia, on 23 November, 1873, aged 54 years.
Elizabeth Quartermaine
Find out why she never moved to Katanning HERE
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FURTHER READING
Elijah Quartermaine (31.07.1814 – 14.08.1888
Elizabeth Quartermaine nee Dickenson ( 9.5.1819 – 23.11.1873)
Charles Quartermaine
Yowangup Homestead (1860-62)
Elijah Nigel Quartermaine (15.09.1842 – 07.09.1916)
Eli Quartermaine (20.11.1852 – 27.08.1936)
Bevan Samson Joseph Quartermaine (1881 – 10.10.1947)
The Noongah Connection
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FROM NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
PEARL GILBERT (nee QUARTERMAINE)
Social and Personal.
Great Southern Herald
8 December, 1928
The wedding of Pearl, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Quartermaine, with Arthur, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. E Gilbert, was quietly celebrated at the Methodist Church last Tuesday morning, December 4th, the Rev. J. Albert Andrews officiating. The bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, Mr. L. Bolt, wore a pretty travelling frock in white crepe-de-chine and a large Bangkok hat. Her posy was composed of dainty white rosebuds and fern. After partaking of morning tea, at which only immediate relatives were present, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gilbert left by car for a short honeymoon tour.
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HISTORIC OBITUARIES
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ELIZABETH QUARTERMAINE (nee SMITH)
LINK WITH FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN W.A.
Albany Advertiser
23 May, 1940
Yet another link in the pioneers of Albany and the Great Southern was severed with the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Quartermaine, in the Albany Hospital, after a long illness.
Mrs. Quartermaine was a granddaughter of Edward and Jane Barron. Jane was the first white woman to land in Western Australia. Mrs. Barron arrived in this State on H.M.S. “Sulphur” on June 8, 1829 – a hundred and eleven years ago (191 years ago in 2021 – ed.).
Mrs. Elizabeth Quartermaine came to Albany with her husband, the late William C. A. Quartermaine, and their family in May1906. She was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of Wedgeraccup, and was born at Beauford on January 21, 1862.
Her husband’s family, the Quartermaines, were among the oldest pioneers of the Katanning district, and owned the property known as “Yowangup.”
The deceased leaves a family, the most of whom are well-known residents of the Albany district. She was survived by three sons and five daughters, and also 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
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DOROTHY ELIZABETH QUARTERMAINE
(nee MEADOWS)
Mrs Quartermaine suffered indifferent health during the past twelve months and her passing is mourned by her husband and family Betty (Mrs Stan Filmer, Katanning), Fred, Mavis (Mrs H. Bolt, Katanning) and Gweneth.
Her remains were laid to rest in the Anglican portion of the Katanning cemetery on February 17, the last rites being performed by the Rev. C. G. Tiller. Funeral arrangements were in the hands of C. E. Courtis and Sons, and the duties of pallbearers were carried out by Messrs Eric Thomas, Cliff Johns, Harry Justins, Norman Meyn, Chris McMahon and Frank Keirle.
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BEVAN S. J. QUARTERMAINE
OBITUARY
LATE BEVAN QUARTERMAINE
The death occurred on October 10 at the Katanning District Hospital of Bevan S. J. Quartermaine, aged 66 years, after a long period of failing health. Bevan was a son of Alfred Quartermaine and grandson of Elijah Quartermaine, one of the first, if not the first, white man to explore the possibilities of the Great Southern area.
Born at Marracoonda, on his father’s property, Bevan lived his whole life in the district and as a youth took a leading part in sport of all kinds. He was of retiring disposition, but was greatly respected by all with whom he came in contact. He leaves a widow, daughter and son to mourn his death.
The funeral took place on October 11, the remains being buried in the Anglican portion of the Katanning Cemetery, Mr Jenner officiating in the absence of the Rector (Rev Arrantash); funeral arrangements being in the hands of Messrs C. E. Courtis and Sons. Pall bearers were Messrs C. Worsley, D. Walters, W. Fleay and W. Mathews. Chief mourners at the graveside were wife, daughter and son; Bert and Nessie (brother and sister-in-law, Nyabing); Mrs J. Sullivan (mother-in-law, Perth); J.M. Sullivan (brother-in-law, Perth); Mr and Mrs F. May (brother-in-law and sister, Collie); Ethel (sister-in-law, York).
Others present included Dorothy Quartermaine; L. F. W. Quartermaine; Mr and Mrs K. Quartermaine; N. R. Quartermaine; Mr and Mrs Don Quartermaine; Dave Quartermaine; E. and I. Quartermaine; Rube, Daisy, Esme and Bill Quartermaine.
Read more
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MAVIS DOROTHY QUARTERMAINE (nee WILLIAMS)
West Australian
1 June, 2016
QUARTERMAINE
(Mavis Dorothy):
08.07.1915 – 30.05.2016
Beloved Wife of Lloyd (dec). Loved Mother of Jill (dec), Cheryl, Robyn and Ian. Mother-in-Law of Dominic and Gaetano. Grandmother of Brad and Chris, Darren and Vicki, Shane and Kristy, Melissa and Nathan, Ryan and Danielle, Chenoa and Natika. Great Grandmother of 19. Passed peacefully away to spend eternity with Jesus. Dearly loved by all her family.
Drakesbook Despatch
July 2015
Mavis Quartermaine was born in Katanning on 8 July, 1915 to parents Wallace and Susan Kate (Williams.) She is the eldest of their five children. She married Lloyd Quartermaine who was also born in Katanning, in April 1939.
Jill was their first born in April 1942 but sadly died in December of the same year. Second daughter, Cheryl was born in April 1949, followed by the adoption of eight-month old Ian in 1955. Daughter Robyn was a ‘surprise packet’ being born in 1959.
After Lloyd left the RAAF, he started a business as a watchmaker and jeweller in Katanning and Mavis was his ‘right hand woman.’ She ran the gift shop, managed the staff and did all the book-work in addition to caring for aging parents and her own family.
The business was successful for around three decades when they finally sold out and retired to Busselton. They enjoyed life in Busselton for around 10 years, moving to Mandurah in 1986 to be closer to family after Lloyd had a massive heart attack.
They were involved with the Leslie Street Leisure Centre in Mandurah, with Lloyd being president and Mavis being secretary for many years. After Lloyd’s death in 1995, Mavis remained in her own home for the next 18 years, being fiercely independent, doing all her own housework and gardening, (which was her passion), right up until she had the misfortune to fall and break a hip just a few weeks before her 98th birthday. Mavis was in hospital for three months doing rehab on the broken hip.
This robbed her of her independence and resulted in her having to go into care in Mandurah initially (where she broke her other hip!), before transferring to Quambie Park nearer to family.
Mavis has an ever increasing number of grandchildren and great grandchildren with twin great grand-daughters due about the same time as her 100th birthday celebrations. During Mavis’s long life she has faced many challenges and hardships along the way; like many of her generation but she has met them head-on and become stronger because of them. Her family is very proud of her.
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