TIME LINE

Time Line

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  • 1835
    • John Septimus Roe explored the area.
  • 1840’s
    • Sheep farmers from York and Beverley began to move flocks toward the region including Elijah Quartermaine and Thomas Haddleton.
    • Sandalwood cutters were also operating in area.
  • 1845
    • Sandalwood exported to China and Singapore.
  • 1847
    • System of grazing leases introduced. Licenses for sandalwood introduced.
  • 1848
    • Perth to Albany road surveyed through Kojonup to the west of Katanning area.
  • 1852
    • Thomas Haddleton leased land in region. Elijah Quartermaine purchased four hectares naming it “Yowanup” (or “Yowangup”). It was the first land purchased in Katanning, still owned and farmed by family in 2015. He built a house built in 1860.
  • 1864
    • Thomas Haddleton (a former Parkhurst boy) purchased land and named it “Coompatine”. It is still owned by family in 2015.
  • 1865
    • Terrance McKenna, a member of the Pensioner Guard, appointed as Police Officer at Twonkwillingup, later to be known as the Police Pools. He left after two years and purchased farming land at Arthur River. His daughter Alice, married Thomas Haddleton.
  • 1867
    • William Grover was the second policeman to be stationed at Police Pools.
  • 1868
    • Grover left the police to purchase land known as “Springfield” which he renamed “Indinup”, and this property is still owned by family in 2016.
  • 1870
    • Elijah Quartermaine built brick and iron home at “Yowanup”.
    • Mallet bark was being exported to Germany. This year also saw an influx of new settlers which included Michael Cronin at “Glencoe”.
    • In this decade Haddleton expanded his holding “Coompatine” to approx. 31,000 acres whilst Quartermaine held leases of over 113,000 acres.
    • Kojonup and Eticup, west of Broomehill, were still the main trading centres (no Katanning at this point).
  • 1873
    • Last policeman was permanently stationed at Kojonup and Police Pools was deserted.
  • 1879
    • Haddleton family home built at “Coompatine”.
  • 1880
    • The settlement of Katanning came into being.
  • 1888
  • 1889
    • Katanning & Broomehill were designated town-sites with Katanning as a company town.
    • The railway was completed from Beverley to Albany. Construction started at both ends and joined about 3 kms north of Katanning town-site. First passenger train ran from Perth to Albany and the Railway station was built (architect George Temple Pool).
    • WA Land Company resumed land which had been leased for many years to local sheep farmers. Land was given to the WA Land Co for the construction of the Great Southern Railway. All pastoral leases were cancelled in order for the Company to take up its land.
    • Piesse Bros decided to build the flour mill in Katanning.
    • Katanning Hotel in Austral Terrace, also built by the Piesse Bros, opened.
    • Bob and Elijah Bell along with Thomas Haddleton were carting sandalwood.
    • The first cricket club was formed in town.
    • First clearing sale of plant, horses and equipment from the building of Piesse’s dam, which was originally built for railway engines but the water was unsatisfactory, was held.
    • Condensers were installed in the dam and the water was used in the flour mill.
  • 1890
    • The first school commenced in Katanning with Miss Mary Bell the first teacher. Classes were held in the kitchen of the railway station with 16 children in attendance.
    • Families in district at this time included, Bell, Noonan, Beeck, Cronin, Quartermaine, Grover and Haddleton.
    • Katanning and Broomehill designated town-sites. Piesse Cordial Factory opened. F.H. Piesse elected to Parliament, soon to be Minister for Railways.
    • The years 1890/1891 were considered drought years.
  • 1891
    • The local agricultural district was surveyed by J. H. Lefroy.
    • The Piesse Bros. Flour Mill was completed and began operation. They purchased 8,000 bags of wheat, 1,500 of which were locally grown.
    • Electricity supplied to all Piesse buildings from the Mill’s power plant.  Katanning had electric street lights, claimed to be the first in Western Australia.
    • The Union Bank connected to power and the first Bank in Western Australia to use electricity.
    • An aerated water factory was built by Piesse in Austral Terrace.
    • H & C Severin purchased land from WA Land Co.
    • The Royal Exchange Hotel was built and was known as the Railway for a short time.
    • Alex Thomson started his building company in Katanning.
    • Police quarters were built with G.T. Pool the architect.
    • First Broomehill Agricultural Show was held but was later moved to Katanning.
  • 1892
    • Katanning Brickwork’s were established.
    • Katanning’s first medical doctor, Dr. House, commenced practice. The car purchased by Dr House was one of only three cars in the State of W.A. at that time.
    • Construction on the first Government Hospital commenced in Amherst St (unit accommodation in 2016) and was built by architects Poole & Beasley.
    • The first Katanning horse race meeting was held.
    • Katanning and Broomehill were excised from the Kojonup district and local government commenced in Katanning.
  • 1893
    • The first St Patrick’s Catholic Church was built in Britannia St.
    • The first election was held for the Katanning Road Board.
    • The Great Southern Vine and Fruit Growing Association was formed in Katanning.
    • The first stump jump plow was introduced in the area.
    • The Holland Track, from Broomehill to Coolgardie, was created for gold prospectors (including Michael Cronin) and as a shorter freight route from Albany to the goldfields.
  • 1894
  • 1896
  • 1897
  • 1898
    • Katanning officially gazetted as a town of the State of Western Australia.
    • Construction of the Katanning Hotel was completed (called the Unit Hotel from 1970 to 2006).
    • Warren Bros settled at Badgebup and the Anglican Church was completed.
  • 1899
  • 1901
    • Katanning’s population was between 200 and 300.
    • Katanning newspaper, the “Great Southern Herald“, printed for the first time – 5th October.
    • The first football was played – called Victorian Rules – with two teams playing in the Albany competition.
    • The first members of the Kowald family settled in the district
    • The first Post Office opened.
  • 1902
    • Kobeelya“, the home of F.H. Piesse was constructed. “Kobeelya” means place of peace and was suggested by Sir John Forrest.
    • The Katanning Football Association began with colours red and blue.
    • The National Bank opened in its present location on the corner of Clive Street and Austral Terrace.
    • Pioneer Thomas Haddleton died.
  • 1903
    • The Baptist Church at Marracoonda, the Katanning Masonic Lodge, and the Moojebing store were built. Moojebing Estate built by Wesley Maley (2016 home and farm of Stade family).
    • The Moojebing store and residence were built by John Day and plans are currently being made for restoration of old home at Moojebing Estate.
    • The Katanning Golf Club opened.
  • 1904
    • The second Rabbit Proof Fence erected.
    • The sale of mallet bark was the main product from district which was used in the tanning industry. Bark was still being stripped in 1950.
    • A Bill was passed in State Parliament to allow F. H. Piesse to supply electricity to the town from the Flour Mill’s power station.
    • Piesse erected winery (the ruins are still in situ).
    • R.L. Richardson took over the Piesse store, alongside the mill in Katanning, and at Woodanilling.
    • The two-storey Federal Hotel was built in Clive St.
    • Anderson Bros came to “Goblup” and renamed it “Condeena”.
  • 1905
    • The Lutheran and Methodist churches were constructed (in 2006 the Methodist Church was used as Autumn Club seniors centre, and is now part of the Katanning Museum in Richardson St.).
    • Another Piesse home, “Kulal”, was built in Clive St while the Anderson family built at “Illareen” (in 2016 the family is still farming).
    • The “White House” in Clive St built by Alex Thomson (2016 Kimberly Lodge and Reception Centre).
    • Arnold Piesse started A.E Piesse and Company [2] on the corner of Austral Terrace and Albion Street.
  • 1906
    • The Woodanilling Road Board was formed.
    • The Presbyterian Church was built (now the Uniting Church).
    • Fire destroyed buildings in Austral Terrace, including the Great Southern Herald’, which continued to operate in a shed in the back of the Flour Mill before moving back to rebuilt premises.
  • 1907
    • The railway from Katanning to Kojonup was commenced – 32.9 miles at 1707 Pounds per mile.
    • Katanning Stock & Trading Co. was formed from A. E. Piesse and Co and commenced operations in the same premises. It is Katanning’s oldest still operating business on its original site.
  • 1908
    • Daisy Bates (born O’Dwyer Hunt in Ireland in 1861, died 1951) was working in the district with aboriginals out of Police Pools.
  • 1909
    • The “Bank Building” in Clive St was built by Harris but was never used as a bank.
    • W. P. Bird settled here – father of C. P. Bird who started C. P. Bird & Associates in Perth in 1922. It was later to become Bird Cameron, RSM Bird Cameron, and now RSM Accountancy Firm, with a branch in Katanning.
  • 1910
    • A distillery was built in the Piesse vineyard.
    • Construction of King George Hostel (originally named St George Hostel), designed by Summerhayes & Boas, was commenced in Austral Terrace.
    • A homestead built on “Indinup” by the Grover’s, and the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) started in Albion St. It was subsequently moved to dedicated premises in Clive St.
  • 1911
    • Brockhurst” hospital was built in Amherst St with Dr House in charge.
    • The ANZ Bank (built as Union Bank) was built in Clive St. The bank has now moved to modern premises further along Clive Street.
  • 1912
  • 1913
  • 1914
    • Italian sculptor Pietro Giacoma PORCELLI was contracted to make a brass statue of F. H. Piesse, although it was not erected until after WWI, in Austral Terrace.
    • The Katanning Club building was completed (the club amalgamated with the Marloo Club in 1985).
    • Carrolup was being used as an Aboriginal Reserve under the Kojonup Road Board.
    • The Southern Districts Advocate newspaper was started by George Doak Snr. in Albion Street.
    • WW1 – 1500 enlisted from Katanning districts – 150 died.
  • 1916
    • Katanning Farmers Co-op was established (this was not the BKW Co-op).
    • The local water supply opened supplying the town from a purpose built dam.
    • A butter factory opened in the vicinity of the distillery.
  • 1919
    • The Great Southern Sheep Breeders Association was formed
    • The Woodanilling Co-op was founded.
  • 1920
    • In the early 20’s the first agricultural tractors appeared. Among the many brands were Rumley, McCormack Deering, Cletrac, 2Ton Holt, Case, Hart Parr and Fordson. The latter two would possibly have been among the most used. Prior to this, steam traction engines were used to cut chaff and down trees in the bush for clearing.
    • In the early 20’s Wilbur Furphy established a foundry which, in time, was taken over by Les Radford and closed in the late 30’s.
  • 1921
    • Katanning Flour Mill ceased under Piesse family and a new company formed of local business men to re-open the mill.
    • The Broomehill Co-op was formed.
  • 1922
  • 1923
    • The new St Patrick’s Church was built in Amherst St. and the old one in Britannia Street was demolished.
    • Crouch’s Public Accountant opened in Albion St.
    • Kent (Nyabing) Road Board formed after being excised from Katanning.
  • 1925
  • 1926
    • The Hospital Comforts Fund started to raise money for furniture and fittings for the hospital.
    • “Our Lady of the Missions” nuns arrive in Katanning.
    • The Silver Band Hall was built in Amherst St, and was later moved to the Historical Society site in 1986.
    • A second storey was built on the front of the Mechanics Institute/ Town Hall.
  • 1927
    • Roley (Nugget) Coombes, ultimately to become Chairman of the Reserve Bank Board, was a teacher in Katanning.
  • 1929
    • Approx. 1,500 cars, trucks and motor bikes were registered in the Katanning Road Board area.
  • 1930
  • 1933
    • Radio Station 6WB started to broadcast, and is one of the oldest country stations in WA. It is currently owned by the Radio West network.
    • The Marloo Club was formed at King George Hostel.
  • 1936
    • The Southern Districts Advocate Newspaper was sold to the Great Southern Herald.
  • 1937
  • 1938
    • Wakes Garage opened. Wake Bros., John and Len, designed the original invention work on the Orbital Motor. This idea was subsequently taken by an employee and developed by others.
  • 1939
    • In 1939 the population of Katanning numbered 2,300.
    • In this, the jubilee year of Katanning, the Police Pools and Railway memorials were built.
    • The trotting club had electric lighting installed to its race track.
    • A second butter factory was formed on Broomehill Road (the building is still in situ).
    • The town’s swimming pool was built. This was the first the first chlorinated pool in WA.
    • World War 2 was declared.
  • 1940
    • The town’s population had risen to 3,400 and Wake’s tyre retreading commenced operating.
  • 1942
    • Filmer’s Store and workshop was built on the corner of Clive and Daping Streets. Currently used as a hardware store.
    • City war evacuees were housed at St Rita’s Convent.
  • 1943
  • 1944
    • A library was added to the Town Hall and was operated by the Mechanics Institute.
  • 1945
    • Eleanor Roberts Youth Library for children opened; the first free lending library in WA.
  • 1946
    • Broomehill & Katanning District Co-op amalgamated with Woodanilling Co-op to become the BKW Co-op.
  • 1949
    • The Katanning Flour Mill built a power house in Albion St, powered by diesel engines to generate DC power for the mill and the town’s power supply. Previously all power was generated by steam engine at the mill itself.
  • 1950
    • Carrolup Reserve closed to become Marribank Native Mission under the leadership of the Baptist Church.
    • Post War migrants began arriving in the area.
  • 1951
    • Katanning Arts and Crafts Club was formed.
  • 1955
    • The town clock was erected on the corner of Austral Terrace and Clive St to commemorate the pioneer women of the district.
    • Bethshan Home for the Aged established.
  • 1957
    • Rotary Club of Katanning was chartered.
  • 1958
    • Opening of the Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme –  water piped from Wellington Dam near Collie.
    • The Rotary Club erected a wishing well adjacent to the Clive St rail crossing to commemorate opening of the water scheme.
  • 1960
    • State electricity came to the area, with AC power generated from at the Collie coalfields.
    • Co-operative Bulk Handling expanded its grain bins to handle bulk grain.
    • Strathfield Drive-in theatre was built.
    • A purpose built Katanning Senior High School came into operation.
  • 1961
  • 1962
    • Katanning went on to a deep sewage system.
    • The Museum was opened in Taylor St by the Katanning Historical Society.
    • First “Caboodle” public Christmas party held on Prosser Oval, a Katanning Rotary Club project.
    • The “silent policeman” (a traffic directing device) was removed from the centre of the intersection of Austral Terrace & Clive St (replaced by a “round-a-about” in 1988).
    • Pig sale yards opened at the Katanning sale yard complex and subsequently closed in 1994.
    • Apex Club of Katanning was chartered.
  • 1969
    • Over 1969/70 steam locomotion was phased out to diesel locomotives.
  • 1973
    • The abattoir opened in Katanning as Southern Meat Packers. This saw the arrival of the first families from Cocos and Christmas Island to work at the abattoir.
    • The Katanning Lions Club was chartered.
  • 1975
    • The Katanning telephone exchange became automatic.
  • 1977
  • The Katanning Flour Mill ceased operations and closed.
  • 1978
    • Cyclone “Alby” caused wide spread damage and massive fires in the Great Southern, including Katanning.
    • Sir Marcus Beeck was knighted for services to agriculture. He was born on “Gannawarra” farm just north of Katanning.
    • The last passenger train between Perth and Albany ran. The line now used only for hauling grain on a seasonal basis.
  • 1980
    • The WA Department of Agriculture bought Don Hoare’s farm as an experimental farm. This is situated to the east of town adjacent to the airport.
    • The Mosque was built in Katanning by the local Malay Islamic people.
    • The WA Department of Agriculture staff commenced operations at the farm.
  • 1982
    • Last train (XA class diesel) ran on the Kojonup line – driver Max Bailey.
  • 1983
    • First inland country Triathlon held in Katanning.
  • 1986
    • “Kobeelya” closed as a boarding school and was purchased by the local Baptist Community.
  • 1987
    • WA Department of Agriculture bought Peter Balston’s farm, also on Nyabing Rd, to add to its research operations.
  • 1988
  • 1989
    • Marribank (at Carrolup) handed over to Aboriginal community.
  • 1995
    • Gold mining commenced at Badgebup and closed in 1997 after recovering 22,000 oz of gold.
  • 1997
    • The Katanning Recreation and Leisure Centre opened – a major community project. It was the largest single undercover sporting facility in rural Australia at the time.
    • The Noongar Aboriginal centre opened.
    • The Ladyman family celebrated 100 years in area – they settled around Carrolup.
  • 1998
    • Katanning won the National Landcare Award.
    • The Evans family purchased Wakes Garage for historical purposes.
    • The Heritage Gardens and Beeck Gazebo opened opposite the Town Hall.
  • 1999
    • A new Library and Art Gallery opened in Austral Terrace, adjacent to the Shire Office. This was another major community project.
    • Operators of the abattoir, Metro Meat (owned by CITIC International) ceased and re-opened as WAMMCO (Western Australian Meat Marketing Corp.).
    • Opening of Lion’s Aberdeen Village, a joint venture between the Katanning Shire, Homeswest and the Lions Club of Katanning.
  • 2000
    • Opening of the second WA Department of Agriculture offices in town.
    • Refurbished railway carriages were placed adjacent to the railway station platform by Kanwork Work Options Centre.
  • 2001
    • A campus of Great Southern College of TAFE opened.
    • The Harris rotunda was erected at the cemetery.
    • The Great Southern Herald celebrated 100 years of continuous publication. The business is Katanning’s oldest continuous business.
    • The Fritz family (descendants of F. H. Piesse) purchased the winery ruins for restoration.
  • 2002
    • The Great Southern Advocate was started as a community newspaper by local woman, Shirley Brokenshire.
  • 2004
    • The Salvation Army closed after 111 yrs of service to the community and the Citadel was sold to a private owner.
  • 2005
    • The Shire of Katanning removed old railway carriages from near station, citing vandalism.
  • 2006
    • Carrolup (Aboriginal) Art exhibition, was returned for display from the Colgate University in the US. The artworks were pained by aboriginal children housed at Carrolup many years earlier. They were taken to the US for a display and never returned.
    • The local Scout Association goes into recess and the Scout Hall is now used by local RSL
    • Reclaimed and restored Dongolocking School was transported to the museum site to be a dedicated School Museum.
    • In the financial year to 30-6-06 there were 990,386 sheep through the Katanning sale yards.
    • The Presbyterian Church celebrated 100 yrs.
  • 2007
    • Katanning Stock & Trading Co. celebrated 100 years in December (the oldest firm still operating from its original position). It is currently owned by the van Koldenhoven family.
  • 2008
    • Fairways on Katanning Country Club (Katanning Golf Club) were reticulated and grassed, using grey water from sewerage system.
    • The Katanning Miniature Railway celebrated 20 years.
  • 2009
    • The ANZ Bank relocated to new premises near the Woolworths complex.
    • The local abattoir, now trading as WAMMCO, processed 1,000,000 sheep, exported to 55 countries.  It employs people of 22 different nationalities who all work in harmony.
  • 2010
    • February 11 – official opening of the upgraded and revamped swimming pool on its original site.
    • The Page family commenced updating and upgrading its brickwork’s. It will be opened again early in the year by the third generation of the family.
    • November – The Great Southern Residential College (St Andrews) closed for student boarders, and was subsequently used as commercial boarding house.
  • 2012
    • Shirley Brokenshire ceased publishing GSA, but continued with GSA Town Crier from Jan 2013.
  • 2013
    • Shire confers Freeman of the Town on Brien Taylor, a local solicitor of long standing, among other achievements.
  • 2014
    • May 28 – The new sheep sale yards were opened on Nyabing Road east of the town.  At 44,000 sq m under cover, with capacity for 45.000 sheep is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Costing $25,000,000 dollars, it was built by Shire employees.

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