Grainger's Home Site, Carter's Crossing

Statement of Significance

Site of the homestead of pioneer and battler, Henry Grainger.

Physical Description

Located south of the Bannister townsite and Kondenning Katta Hill and is accessed from the
Narrogin Road. Fitt's Creek, named after an early selector is in the vicinity.

History

Heeding the advice of his brothers, David and John who a few years previously had arrived in the
Colony, Henry decided to migrate. The three brothers had fought together at the Crimean War and
the Indian Mutiny. After Henry's arrival by ship in 1858 he quickly made his way to his brother
David who had previously selected land near the Williams River. Liking the locality, he also
secured a tillage lease, No. 2378, containing 100 acres situated south of Kondenning Hill.
This lonely life very soon caused his thoughts to turn towards marriage. Hearing of the intended
arrival at Fremantle of a migrant ship on which there were many Irish colleens, he quickly packed
his bag and went to meet the ship. The woman of his choice was Mary Ann Longbottom. After a
lightning courtship of three days, they were married. Catching the mail coach they made their
departure for Williams where they took up residence on their holding. While there three children
were born; the births taking place in the home where the only assistance available was that of a
loyal native woman who acted under the advice of the mother herself. (1)
Tragedy occurred with first the death of his daughter and two years later that of his wife. (2) This
old former yeoman, hunter, and farmer bravely carried on, doing his best to provide for his young
son five years of age. The on 10 September 1876, after a brief illness he died at his residence near
Bannister townsite.
His remains are buried in the old Williams cemetery. His son Joe was placed under the care of a
Church home. Upon reaching maturity, he again returned to Williams where he later married a
daughter of George Dyson who lived at Rocky Crossing, in an old Church of England at Williams in
1888. About the turn of the century he shifted to Narrogin (3)

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