Mt Erin Estate and Outbuildings

Statement of Significance

The three remaining original outbuildings of the Mt Erin Estate have considerable local historic significance as remnants of one of the five original pastoral leases in the district. The stone buildings are representative of the scale, form and construction materials of buildings of that era and use. Despite their deteriorating condition, together the three buildings present as a relatively intact pastoral grouping.

Physical Description

This group of three stone outbuildings are all that remain of the original Mt Erin Estate buildings, with the homestead having been demolished. All the buildings have corrugated iron gable roofs. The shearing shed, located to the east of the group, has a large corrugated iron lean to structure to the west side. The central building, which may have been a barn or stables, has sheets of corrugated iron missing from the roof while some sections of the stone walls are partly collapsed. Some of the stone from the Mt Erin Homestead was used for additions to a residence immediately south of Nanson owned by Mr and Mrs Booth at the time of the compilation of the Municipal Inventory in 1993.

History

The Mt Erin Homestead, situated on the original Mt Erin pastoral property, was built by Michael Morrissey. Morrissey arrived at Fremantle on the `Ganges' in 1842 from Waterford in Ireland. He initially worked as a shepherd near York; receiving sheep in lieu of wages. In 1851, with financial assistance from George Shenton, a prominent Methodist from Perth, Morrissey took up the first freehold pastoral lease of 64,000 acres in the Chapman Valley district, in what was then known as `Paradise Valley'. The popular story of `Cooper's Ride' is associated with Michael Morrissey. Morrissey and William Burges had both expressed interest in the same area of land. When the land became available for lease Joseph Cooper, who worked on Morrissey’s Murchison property, rode from there to Geraldton to register claim for his employer - a 100 mile journey. Joseph Cooper went on to become the General Manager of Morrissey's estates. The Cooper family eventually took up land in the area. On a small tributary of the Chapman River, about 7 Kms south of a huge flat-topped hill which he called Mt Erin, Morrissey constructed outbuildings of stone and pise (rammed earth) and a home of brickbats. Mt Erin also included a private chapel and cemetery in what was known as `Cemetery Paddock'. [Mt Erin Loc 4047, Reserve 71]. In 1852 Morrissey's wife and family came out from Ireland to live at the homestead. The Mt Erin property was stocked with sheep, cattle and horses. Shepherds and workers in the area often gathered at the homestead to drink, sing and play cards. Morrissey expanded his holdings with leases on the Murchison, and beyond Tallering Peak to Yalgoo. Due to his regular pleas to the Governor, Morrissey earnt three years remission on rent: "on account of trouble with the natives, having at least 5,000 acres of useless land, stock losses from poison plant, lack of survey to properly determine boundaries, and the expense of bringing out his family from Ireland". [Chapman Valley Heritage Trail Brochure] Within 10 years of taking up Mt Erin, Morrissey had invited his brother William, nephew Patrick and various members of his wife's family, the Ryans of Waterford, to join him. Initially they worked for him as shepherds and herdsmen, but later launched out on their own. Morrissey also employed ticket-of-leave men from Lynton. In 1877 builders Jesse Hammond and C. Buggins carried out alterations for Morrissey. Hammond wrote: "homestead had an impressive kitchen 30ft x 20ft, with a huge fireplace and a table large enough to seat all hands at shearing time." [Palmer, E.S., 1986, "Mt Erin Homestead - notes", held by Mr Cooper]. When Morrissey died in the 1890s, Mt Erin was inherited by his two sons, John and Morris. Later the property was purchased by Forrest Emanuel and finally, in 1900, by Hubert Lee Steere who was the third son of Sir James Lee Steere, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia for many years. In 1904 the Government repurchased 56,840 acres of the station for the cost of 9,185 pounds with the intention of subdividing the land. Of this land 2,069 acres were set aside for a native reserve and roads. By 1909 all the remainder had been taken up as small farms of 7-800 acres. These lots were sold for 2/9 d per acres on condition that the owner settled and worked their farm. Homestead blocks were granted free provided a dwelling was built on it. In 1905, the property containing the Mt Erin Homestead was taken over by James Meehan from Victoria, who carried out a good deal of contract chaff-cutting for the new settlers. In 1912 the property was taken over by Messrs Ronald Owen and Leonard Beit from New South Wales. After their partnership dissolved the Gould family went to live at Mt Erin. A widow, Mrs A E Thomas of Moonyoonooka bought the property in 1925 and later sold to Mick Gannon, a dairyman of Geraldton, in 1946. William Scott lived at Mt Erin from 1951 to 1964 before selling to Clem and Pat Stokes of Durawah.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Medium

Condition

Poor-Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update