Historical Geography of Early Nineteenth Century Western Australia
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Edith Cowan University Research Online ECU Publications Pre. 2011 1976 Historical geography of early nineteenth century Western Australia D. Markey Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks Part of the History Commons Markey, D. (1976). Historical geography of early nineteenth century Western Australia. Mount Lawley, Australia: Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education. This Book is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks/6997 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. OEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Historical Geography of Early Nineteenth Century Western Australia 278 NOTES CONTENTS 6 I Unless indicated otherwise, the maps included in this book ! Title 3 7 have been reproduced by permission of the Battye Library. 0 1 Acknowledgements 5 II For purposes of authenticity and accuracy, the origina{1 Notes 6 currency (Sterling) has been retained. As a guide to the reader; 7 however, the following information may be of assistance. Contents Introduction 8 COMPARATIVE VALUES Chapter 1 9-15 COMMODITIES 1837 1975, The Nature of Historical Geography Labour: Unskilled per day 5s to 7s $25* Chapter 2 16-22 Skilled per day 10s $35* The First Occupance Food: Flour per pound 4d 30c Chapter 3 23-30 Meat (Mutton or Beef) per pound 1s 4d $1.00 The European Appraisal of New Holland Bacon per pound 2s $1.50 .· Butter per pound 3s 6d 75c Chapter 4 31-45 Fish per pound 3d $1.50 Stirling's visit : A Reappraisal Eggs per dozen 2s 6d $1.00 Chapter 5 46-56 IMPORTS: Beer (bottles) per dozen 18s $8.40 Proposals for a Settlement Coffee (beans) per pound 1s 6d $1.80 ': Tea per pound 7s 70c Chapter 6 57-70 Sugar per pound 8d 15c The First Town Sites : Locational Choices Chapter 7 71-95 * Averaged over a five day week throughout the year. Perth and Fremantle Chapter 8 97-119 The Early Problems Chapter 9 121-131 The Extension of Settlement Chapter 10 132-137 Transport and Communications , Chapter 11 138-162 Agriculture Chapter 12 163-171 The Accomplishment: "More a Symbol than a Success" References 171-176 NOTES CONTENTS 6 I Unless indicated otherwise, the maps included in this book ! Title 3 7 have been reproduced by permission of the Battye Library. 0 1 Acknowledgements 5 II For purposes of authenticity and accuracy, the origina{1 Notes 6 currency (Sterling) has been retained. As a guide to the reader; 7 however, the following information may be of assistance. Contents Introduction 8 COMPARATIVE VALUES Chapter 1 9-15 COMMODITIES 1837 1975, The Nature of Historical Geography Labour: Unskilled per day 5s to 7s $25* Chapter 2 16-22 Skilled per day 10s $35* The First Occupance Food: Flour per pound 4d 30c Chapter 3 23-30 Meat (Mutton or Beef) per pound 1s 4d $1.00 The European Appraisal of New Holland Bacon per pound 2s $1.50 .· Butter per pound 3s 6d 75c Chapter 4 31-45 Fish per pound 3d $1.50 Stirling's visit : A Reappraisal Eggs per dozen 2s 6d $1.00 Chapter 5 46-56 IMPORTS: Beer (bottles) per dozen 18s $8.40 Proposals for a Settlement Coffee (beans) per pound 1s 6d $1.80 ': Tea per pound 7s 70c Chapter 6 57-70 Sugar per pound 8d 15c The First Town Sites : Locational Choices Chapter 7 71-95 * Averaged over a five day week throughout the year. Perth and Fremantle Chapter 8 97-119 The Early Problems Chapter 9 121-131 The Extension of Settlement Chapter 10 132-137 Transport and Communications , Chapter 11 138-162 Agriculture Chapter 12 163-171 The Accomplishment: "More a Symbol than a Success" References 171-176 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION; I, THE NATURE OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY \ 9 i What is historical geography? 8 A new geography was made in the south west of Western Australi� during the nineteenth century. : :, To answer �his question, one must first be clear about the nature of . · graphy itself. onsult any number of reference works on the . dwelt t h ere in a co1 ds and self-sufficienti geo C Aboriginal tribes had � ,1 ject seeking a definition and you are likely to find quite a wide 0 000 year�. In the spac� 0 a f ew d ecad es �h ey· sub society for over 3 , . of views. This is due to various factors; primarily it's because by an immigrant society that was to continue. 1 range were virtually rE:placed . geography is both a relatively new academic discipline and also one to draw people, ideas and products from overseas. );i in which sweeping changes in approaches have been going on since Hard on the heels of the explorers went the pastorahsts, o�ce the the mid-1950's. So significant have been the changes - sometimes initial coastal outposts had been established. They created a different called the quantitative or theoretical revolution - that references habitat, a combination of the old and the new. What they valuedt printed before this date are often considered hopelessly old and, more importantly, what they could �se from the cultural;: fashioned by the new geographers. However, some geographers do equipment of their previous habitat, they retained. But the pro�lems; not see recent changes as being revolutionary. They prefer to see of this unfamiliar land caused them quickly to adop! new attitudes; the new developments as a logical evolutionary stage. as Englishmen then knew 1t could not be:, and methods. Agriculture Whatever stand is taken, geography has become far more explicit in River olony. achieved in the Swan C regard to methods and assumptions. This has been due partly to the Distance, isolation and an unfamiliar environment made it i�per�:. introduction of computers which have avoided the subjective factor tive that a new society and a new economy should be created in th,,,;; in the selection of facts. This more scientific approach by geo new habitat. What follows attempts to descri�e �nd explain th�f graphers has now led to a greater concern with the development of developments that occurred during the colo�y s first twenty one1 theories. In turn, this has meant that whereas geographers in the years of existence. However, before an analysis of those early years past were most concerned with what is, they can now, with some can commence it is important to understand the nature of the certainty talk about what ought to be. But, to return to the argu subject which we are studying. ment, what is geography itself? Any object we may consider - be it animal, vegetable or mineral - has a nature. It also has a position in time and a position in space. The Sciences study aspects of these characteristics. The Sciences may be divided into three groups: 1. Systematic - those that deal with particular kinds of objects, for example botany, mineralogy, biology. 2. Historical - those that deal with objects in the context of time, for example cosmology, palaeontology, history. 3. Geographical - those that deal with objects in the context of space, .. for example geography, ast,ronomy. Though this division may be disputed, it does at least stress what geography is primarily concerned with - objects in the context of space. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION; I, THE NATURE OF HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY \ 9 i What is historical geography? 8 A new geography was made in the south west of Western Australi� during the nineteenth century. : :, To answer �his question, one must first be clear about the nature of . · graphy itself. onsult any number of reference works on the . dwelt t h ere in a co1 ds and self-sufficienti geo C Aboriginal tribes had � ,1 ject seeking a definition and you are likely to find quite a wide 0 000 year�. In the spac� 0 a f ew d ecad es �h ey· sub society for over 3 , . of views. This is due to various factors; primarily it's because by an immigrant society that was to continue. 1 range were virtually rE:placed . geography is both a relatively new academic discipline and also one to draw people, ideas and products from overseas. );i in which sweeping changes in approaches have been going on since Hard on the heels of the explorers went the pastorahsts, o�ce the the mid-1950's. So significant have been the changes - sometimes initial coastal outposts had been established. They created a different called the quantitative or theoretical revolution - that references habitat, a combination of the old and the new. What they valuedt printed before this date are often considered hopelessly old and, more importantly, what they could �se from the cultural;: fashioned by the new geographers.