DEE E of t e ealers
1862 to Crystal Springs. Their cattle track crossed Giblett settled in Manjimup area...Giblett Forest Frankland and Deep Rivers and Bell Brook... Block in forest later named after him. Camp at Crystal Springs still there (2013).
1868 Blechynden Lease was from Point Nuyts – Deep River – Mount Clare...held 1870-1890. West Australian convicts: 10 January – “Hou- goumont” was the last ship with 229 convicts aboard. Many freed men moved to farming 1871 country. Governor Weld went by horse from Albany – Busselton via Broke and Walpole on tour of 1869 inspection of Southern Districts...found stock Muirs et al already grazing cattle on coastal on coastal hills... accompanied by Andrew Muir, hills...ticket-of-leave men used as shepherds. Police Orderly and Aborigine. Weld named John Mottram, stockman/ticket-of-leave man Weld River...Andrew Muir named ‘My River’. settled at ‘Peppermint Grove’ on Warren River. Weld Forest Block is named after this Governor.
Weld was Governor between 1869-1875...Weld 1877 Forest Block named after him...he proposed Baron Von Mueller and Andrew Muir (Deeside) long-term leases (Concessions) for timber com- collected botanical specimens on coastal hills panies in order to attract investors...last con- (via Broke). cession expired in 1929. 1879 1870’s Baron Von Mueller’s “Report of the Forest William and Tom Moir settled at “Mannerup”. Resources of WA” published...warned about They used Landors’ slab hut south of Deep River wholesale clearing of land for agriculture in mouth when they brought cattle to the coast. the South West...Forest resources were not Their lease was from Long Point to Point Nuyts inexhaustible. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-1 1880’s 1898 Walpole, Rest Point: Timber cutting in area...4 saw- The Land Act (drastically altered 1896 Bill) was pits/ballast...shallowdraft vessels used to negotiate passed...allowed exploitation. Nornalup Inlet mouth...small scale operation. London based company given Special Timber Oysters bagged and shipped to Albany...ven- Licence over 300,000 acres...Broke Inlet – Hill- ture failed. top – Giants – Great Southern Railway (Albany).
1886 Millars Karri and Jarrah Forests Ltd...60,000 Chief Surveyor HF Johnston and police party acres...west of Deep River – Walpole Inlet area. left Vasse to examine timber country around Nornalup Inlet and Deep River...became Sur- In 1903 during a Timber industry recession veyor-General from 1896-1915. many leases were abolished including Walpole – Nornalup. 1887 1899 Bert Saw born in Albany...parents Thomas and Permanent Reserves Act designated A, B & C Eliza Saw (Later at Bow Bridge). Class Reserves...Walpole – Nornalup eventually given C Class Reserve status. 1890 Baron Von Mueller made a plea for flora and Crown Timber Act became law...Premier, John fauna reserves in the South West. Forrest.
1891 Timber licences (large scale) issued to Millars Two Houses of Parliament formed in Western Karri & Jarrah Forests Ltd ...conditions not Australia. met...eventually forfeited...milling had begun in Denmark area. 1892 Bayley and Ford pegged claim – Coolgardie... Pierre Bellanger landed at Fremantle...Married the need for timber in the gold fields was a Winifrede. boon to timber companies in the South West. The crew of the “Dunskey” helped rescue sur- vivors from the “City of York” in July, Rottnest. 1893 The “Dunskey” sailed between Albany and Hannan pegged claim – Kalgoorlie. Fremantle. After 1911 carried goods and pas- sengers to Nornalup Inlet...wrecked at mouth of Map of Pastoral Leases and Reserves on Western Wilson Inlet, 1917. Australia’s South-west coastal dunes produced. 1901 1895 Federation Agricultural Bank of Western Australia opened 1903 its doors. “Escort” (coastal shipping) wrecked at Rocky Point near Nornalup Inlet. 1896 Thomas and Edwin Hughes squatted at Broke Inlet...fishermen.
Premier John Forrest tabled Crown Lands Tim- ber Bill to restrict large scale exploitation of the State’s timber resources. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-2 1906 Publication) after he travelled 10 miles down Hounslows’ two leases; Knolls/Coalmine and Frankland River to the Nornalup Inlet...ex- Deep River mouth to coast lapsed...”Industrial pressed enthusiasm for agriculture in the rich Co-operative Farm Colony” to Nornalup failed... soil of the Karri forest...this appealed to the tree Settlers had trekked to within 7 miles of Walpole. fellers as well as the farmers.
FS Brockman (Chief Inspecting Surveyor) clas- Australia Post 100 years. sified land...Blackwood River – Wilsons Inlet in- cluding Nornalup for timber, dairy, fruit industries. Australian Treasury allowed to issue paper mon- ey...Australian Bank Notes Act. 1908 Bob Nockolds arrived in Denmark with wife Pierre and Andre Bellanger rode overland from Jessie...Bakery set up. Albany and stopped at Quarram shepherd’s hut...next day reached Frankland River and Mail from Denmark brought on pack horse to chose a farm site. Madame Bellanger (Winifre- Harry Parker’s at Kent River. de) in Toodyay with children...George (b 1902), Louise (b 1903), Muriel (b 1907). Bellanger family arrived from Albany on board the “Grace Darling”...Pierre, Winifrede and 4 First oil well in Western Australia...mouth of children...Maude (b 1910 Albany)...landed at Warren River...at “The Colonel’s”. Nornalup Inlet mouth and set up ‘Depot’ 100 metres north of Skippy Rock...accompanied by First T model Ford produced...several settlers in Charlie Benson (Carpenter) and Dorothy Reece the district owned these before WWII. (Governess). Andre Bellanger came overland with pack horse and cow. Family rowed upriver Thomas Saw investigated land at Bow River... to Nornalup...huts and tents. took up 4 blocks. James Mitchell and official party visited Nor- Harry Parker pegged his selection at Kent River. nalup...840 acres set aside as A-class Reserve on the Frankland River...Nornalup NP (declared Town of Manjimup surveyed. in 1921)...changes to status would require an Act of Parliament. 1909 January: Bert Saw & his uncle WJ Cooper First bush bridge built at Bow river (Bert Saw & made first camp at Bow River, built shingle WJ Cooper). huts...WJ Cooper brought first cows to the Bow...cows got ‘Coastie’ disease. Denmark – Nornalup Road construction began. Bert Saw and Harry Parker built first bush bridge at Kent River. Blocks available in Manjimup (Warren Rd Board...1924 changed to Manjimup Rd Board. Captain Douglas “Grace Darling” landed Pierre Bellanger and three men at Nornalup Inlet to Frank Skinner Thompson and Family arrived in prepare farm house site up the Frankland River Albany 24th December...Frank came on the “Grace near Freshwater Creek. Darling” to ‘Tinglewood’ for Christmas on Deep Riv- er...Willie Stewart (Denmark) came to help clear land. 1910 Frank Skinner Thompson sailed from England Halley’s Comet observed. to Western Australia...family followed later. “Dunskey”...Captain A Armstrong...steam tug Chief Surveyor Brockman’s Report (Annual on Albany – Fremantle run until 1917. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-3 1911 Pack track over coastal hills from Denmark January: Mrs Alice Thompson and 4 children closed...Bert Saw’s all-weather axe-cut track arrived on the “Dunskey” to live at ‘Tinglewood’ used by travellers. on Deep River...children: Dorothy (b 1895), Frank (b 1897), Phyllis (b 1900) and Nora (b 1912 – 1913 1901)...A party of cattlemen turned up at De- Survey party sounded Nornalup Inlet...put down pot...Muirs and Blechyndens. well at Nornaculup (Peppermints) near ‘the Depot’. Travellers from Manjimup stopped and camped at ‘Tinglewood’...the Thompsons had row boat 1913 access only to Bellangers...down the Deep First timber mills in Manjimup / Pemberton / River, across Nornalup Inlet and up the Frankla- Northcliffe: workers went to coast for holidays nd River...a long row to collect mail and small (including Nornalup Inlet and Tinglewood). parcels. Marie Bellanger born at Nornalup (no midwife “Mandalay” wrecked at Mandalay Beach...Cap- due to bad weather). tain Tonnesen and crew survived. Denmark-Kent River mail service run by JD New Bow River Bridge built...the 56 km track Smith for three families west of Bow River (Saw, from Denmark to Bow Bridge via the coastal Bellanger and Thompson). He used buckboard hills was inaccessible in winter. and 4 horses on the rough track. Charlie Benson stayed...worked for Saws, Bel- langers. Charles Magnus Benson Jnr born.
Ted Bellanger born at Nornalup...first birth in the Trans-Australian Railway completed 14th Sep- district...Mrs Thompson attended. tember 1913...opened 22nd October 1913.
1911 – 1914 Survey team for Nornalup Railway line began Bellangers’ house built, ‘Nornalup Park’. work.
1911 – 1920 1914 Both Inlets closed to netting. Transport ships left Albany for Egypt with 30,000 Australian and New Zealand troops. 1912 Gordon – Frankland Aborigines rounded up... “Dunskey” ferried soldiers ashore from assem- taken to Marribank Mission near Katanning. bled troopships bound for Gallipoli and Europe- an Western Front while in Albany. Sydney Jackson identified Red Tingle with Frank Thompson Jr as guide. Aborigines in Denmark area had disappeared... disease, flu / measles / TB. Burnside Forest Block was named after Judge Burnside, Perth. His son Dr Bruce Burnside 1915 settled at Nornalup in 1930. Anzac Cove...Gallipoli Campaign failed.
Charlie Benson married Dorothy Reece (Bel- Thompsons completed new house (Charlie langer employees)...First newly-weds in Nor- Benson assisted) at Tinglewood...grew onions nalup. and potatoes for Albany market.
Frank Skinner Thompson began building his Clarrie and Thomas (father) Saw arrived at Bow first house (used salvage from “Mandalay”). River – Charlie Benson built a house for them. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-4 1917 dedication of forests in perpetuity...Lane and Charlie and Dorothy Benson moved to Irwin Poole Forest Blocks near Pemberton were Inlet with 2 children. named after him.
Bert Saw’s axe-cut road upgraded...Passable 1919 all year round including creek crossings...Bert’s father Thomas and brother Clarrie went to the Gradual recovery from WWI. Bow and built the first ‘proper’ house. Supplies brought to Nornalup Inlet on the “Eucla”. Survey teams cleared road from Nornalup west to Walpole Inlet (Railway Siding site)...first Rail- Winter: Tom and Nell Swarbrick and sons Tom way survey teams arrived. and Terry came to Nornalup... lived in tents.
JD Smith purchased a Model T Ford truck for 1919-1921: Nornalup and Walpole Inlets his mail service (Denmark to Bow Bridge). opened to netting.
Bernard Bellanger born at Nornalup...no mid- Nornalup Fishing and Packing Company: Tom wife due to bad weather! Swarbrick worked fishing, rowing boat, canning and smoking fish for the owner, Alex Trouchet “Dunskey” took stores and surveyors to Nor- (Perth Chemist). nalup...wrecked at Wilson Inlet on return to Albany...Thompson family lost 12 months of James Mitchell became Premier (previously supplies and all their potatoes and onions for Minister for Agriculture 1906-1911). Group Set- Albany markets. tlement was ‘his baby’. Bellangers opened “Nornalup Park Guest Small camp set up in Railway Reserve on track House” for guests and paying visitors. from Nornalup for surveyors...Site now Pioneer Daylight saving introduced in Australia. Park.
1917-1923: Frank Thompson Jnr worked to 1920 earn money...road and bridge building, survey- ing and farm jobs. Newdegate appointed Governor...he support- ed James Mitchell’s Group Settlement plans... 1918 Newdegate Island (known as Snake Island) in Surveying for the Denmark – Nornalup – Pem- Nornalup Inlet was named after him. berton Railway continued. Bert Saw returned from England. Operated Eliza Saw arrived in Bow River...Clarrie, Bert Telephone Exchange / Mail depot / sold milk. and Nellie Saw had all enlisted earlier. Captain Tom Price arrived at Nornalup. 11th November: Armistice Day Tom Swarbrick built small hut at Nornalup. 1918-1920 Bert Saw completed Forestry Course in England before returning to Bow Surveyors for railway were working at Owingup Bridge. Swamp.
Forests Act of 1918 drafted by C Lane-Poole... Nornalup Bridge built (humped)...also Walpole Conservator of Western Australia Forests River & Deep River bridges then Manjimup 1917-1921...basis for sound forest policy and Road cleared. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-5 Broke Inlet area became a “C” Class Reserve... store at Nornalup...stores arrived on the “Euc- remained open to grazing cattle. la”...set up an asparagus cannery.
Crystal Springs and Nornalup log cabins built 1924 for Prince of Wales (Edward VII) visit but not Group Settlement: Group 116 Tingledale and used. 105 Kentdale settlers arrived.
Women granted right to be elected to Parlia- Warren Road Board renamed Manjimup Road ment. Board... many complaints about the Manjimup – Nornalup track. 1920’s Arthur Haynes arrived in Nornalup...Plozza fami- Louise Bellanger married Captain Tom Price... ly cleared his land...the Bellangers grew aspara- Nornalup’s first wedding ceremony. gus – fresh for Albany market. Thompsons: Tinglewood extended mostly by Tom Swarbrick Jnr and Frank Thompson Jnr Frank Jnr...Garage and two-storey Guest House worked on local roads, bridges and survey line for future railway to earn money for their fami- started...used materials from “Dunskey” wreck lies. (1917)...bought motor launch.
1921 Alf Jones’ one ton truck for passengers and goods ran from Manjimup to Nornalup. Nornalup National Park (12,000 hectares) was ‘Peppermints’ preferred site for town...Survey- declared. ors built road to Rocky Point near mouth of Nornalup Inlet. First motor cars in good weather (Manjimup – Nornalup). Harry North’s Store on Valley of the Giants Road built to supply settlers. Northcliffe group settlement began and railway from Pemberton to Northcliffe constructed. Mrs Ebbett (Snr) went to Bow River with sons Alf Randall arrived at Nornalup (fishing and tour George and Ernie. boat). Tingledale settlers found giant Tingle trees in Nornalup Packing & Fishing Company closed. Valley of the Giants.
1922 Harry Parker built a shop at Kent River for con- struction workers. He distilled whisky from the Perth General Post Office officially opened. green centres of grass trees, illegally. Tinglewood: First paying guests...slept in tents Bob Nockolds set up a small store in Nornalup, and barn. put in a Manager. Broke Inlet: Herb Clarke fish canning...built huts on south side. Railway one mile from Frankland River where Nornalup Station would be. Bellangers: 30 cars in 9 months reached Nor- nalup. Bernard Bellanger aged 6 began corre- 1929 spondence lessons. Mr Redwood appointed Officer in Charge of drawing up plans for town site (Walpole)...he Perth Chemist Alex Trouchet built small general later came to live in Walpole. Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-6 1929
December1929 : Railway officially opened. Mrs Thompson and Mrs Bellanger held the ribbon. Captain Tom Price was station caretaker until 1957.
Surveyors prepared for (Walpole) Land Settle- building. Settlement Road (now North Walpole ment Scheme. A camp on Railway Reserve, Road) cleared and the 8 miles of track to Nor- ‘Main Camp’, set up – tents and a Depot. nalup improved. Eventually 83 miles of tracks altogether were cleared in the district, included Harley Swarbrick born in Albany. Frank Thomp- Valley of the Giants Road (previously a rough son brought the news to Rest Point on his track built 1924). return from Nornalup. Dairy farmers took cream cans to Marks Sid- The Swarbrick raised a small income from their ing and later to Hazelvale Cream Depot (near guesthouse, ferrying campers to the Pepper- Frankland River bridge) on G Road, Hazelvale. mints and organising fishing outings. Cream went to Great Southern Butter Factory in Denmark.
Winter rainfall 61 inches.
James Mitchell visited Group 116, Tingledale (cuppa at Ravenhills).
Earliest photo in WNDHS collection Bob Nockolds’ first store (tin shed) set up; Man- of ‘Cars in Tingle agers Monty Thurston and Jim Rickey. Trees’. 11th June: First train to Nornalup. 34 miles of track cost £367,000. October: Dr Bruce Burnside purchased Pierre Bellanger’s property at Nornalup by auction. Depression Years – Sustenance Scheme: Out- of-work, married men arrived for road/bridge Return to main page Walpole Nornalup and District Histrical Society Inc Event Timeline: 2) 1862-1929 Page 2-7