Vergulde Draeck Wreck

Uses

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Villalta Shipwreck

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Bambun Lake

Condition

Not accessible to the public.

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Previously used for recreation.

Physical Description

There used to be a sandy beach and shady trees.

History

The first land surveyed near Gingin was SL 96 of 643 acres. This was a series of zigzagging blocks up along Lennard's Brook and was selected by E.B. Lennard in 1831, who never used the land. In 1853, 10 acres, being SL135 on the east side of Bambun Lake, was granted to Robert J. Brockman. He is believed to have built a mud bat house and lived there with his family. It was originally a beautiful lake with a little sandy beach and plenty of green grass and shady trees. It was a favourite place for picnics and sports meetings for Gingin people during the years 1900 to the 1950's. A boating accident occurred in January 1910 when a punt capsized and a young woman drowned. Efforts by the Local Authority to resume land on the eastern side of the Lake for public recreation have always failed. It is not accessible to the public. A reserve, R22831, does not reach the lakeside.

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Beermullah School Site (Bootine)

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History

The School was opened in 1906 and closed in December of 1908. It reopened (half time) with Biddaminna till 1909 In January of 1914 it reopened (again half time) with Spring Hill School and was closed again in 1918. It reopened again in 1920 for half time with Moore River School and closed again in 1925. A new building constructed on the same site was a standard Education Department one teacher design with wood frame and weatherboard, which ran from 1927 to 1962.

Condition

Site Only

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Beermullah Telephone Exchange

Uses

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Beermullah Airfield (Gingin North)

Physical Description

Beermullah Airfield is a 1500m wide airstrip constructed in January 1944 as an additional airstip to contribute to the World War Two effort.

Uses

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Beermullah

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Beermullah Race Course Site and Landmark Tree

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Creation Date

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Physical Description

This large Marri tree stands beside the Brand Highway at Beermullah, approximately 15km north of the Gingin Post Office.

History

The Beermullah Picnic Sports Club was formed in 1902 and by 1919 it had 47 members. The races were held on land just east of the present day Brand Highway. Besides horse races there were foot races, high jump, etc for both men and women. A large Marri tree still stands beside the Brand Highway. The tree provided shelter for spectators viewing the races. It was a great venue for Beermullah and Gingin residents.

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Max Harris' House

Condition

Very good.

Uses

Creation Date

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Physical Description

Solidly constructed from mud brick and roofed in corrugated iron, with large windows that look out onto the verandah.

History

The original house was built by Joseph Harris for himself and his wife, Jane Dewar, the land was taken up near Bootine Swamp in 1869. This house, one of three built on the property by the sons of Joseph Harris, has been lived in and cared for by members of the Harris family. At present, the home is occupied by Max Harris, (grandson of Joseph) and his wife Merle.

Condition

Very Good

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Breera

Condition

Reasonable. New owners are renovating the property.

Uses

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Statement of Significance

A farm residence built by the early settlers.

Physical Description

The c1865 consisted of three rooms in a row made of burnt clay bricks brought from a kiln situated on George Sadler's block (SL370). The original timber was pit sawn with a roof of shingles. In the 1960s, interior walls were moved and a modernised kitchen and bathroom installed, as well as a new ceiling and French windows. Many old fruit trees remain extant in the garden.

History

The house was built by the south side of Breera Brook by John York and Jerry G. Butler c1865. It was built for John York Jnr and his wife Maria McHard They raised 6 boys and 6 girls. The house consisted of three rooms in a row made of burnt clay bricks brought from a kiln situated on George Sadler's block SL 370. The original timber was pit-sawn with a roof of shingles. There was a front verandah facing north and a back verandah with a kitchen enclosed at the east end. In the 1960's, interior walls were moved and a modernised kitchen and bathroom installed. A new ceiling and French windows were put in and the floor of the main central room renewed. At on time water flooded under the house and the new floor swelled and buckled badly. It later dried out and subsided. An extensive garden existed near the Brook and many old fruit trees remain there (1994). The house has been unoccupied since the late 1980's. In 1882 John Dewar, brother in law of John York Jnr, bought Breera. John Dewar's daughter married A.G. Hewby and they lived there for five years. After John Dewars death in 1911, Breera was inherited by Andrew Frederick Dewar his son, and the family lived there from 1908. It was then sold to Frank Dewar and inherited by his son Charles and the next generation - John Dewar and his wife Diana. John and Diana built an asbestos home close by. Breera was sold and passed out of Dewar hands in 1998. It is now owned by Francene and Patrick Begley.

Condition

Reasonable. New owners are renovating the property.

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Creaton - Site

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

John York and family arrived in WA on the "Simon Taylor" in 1842. They were probably the first family to settle permanently in the Gingin District, certainly there by March 1845. Swan Location 115 of 30 acres was granted to J. York in 1849. As well as being a farmer and a builder. J. York was Gingin's first Postmaster and Registrar and mail was collected and dispatched from Creaton. They had eight children and their son, John York Jnr, was the first white child registered at Gingin.

Physical Description

This is the site of the original 'Creaton' Homestead on the north bank of the Nullilla brook. All that remains of the house and sheds are low mounds of earth from the mud bricks except for stone foundations of the kitchen and dairy which had a cellar underneath and the ironstone coach house and some large trees.

History

A mud bat home was built by John York who was a builder. It was in existence by 1850. The home was a colonial style with three rooms in a row with a verandah on the western side A detached kitchen and dairy was built on the north side with a cellar underneath. All that remains of the house and nearby stables are low mounds of clay. The coach house is the only standing relic, built of ironstone with an iron roof. Several large Cape Lilac trees have survived and also two Mulberry trees. Family tradition says that a child is buried beneath the Cape Lilacs. John York was appointed Gingin Postmaster in 1854 (volunteer) and mail was collected and dispatched from Creaton until 1864. His son-in-law, John Dewar, purchased Creaton in 1882. Circa 1912 it was inherited by his son Aubrey Newton Dewar (Tom) and passed onto his son Keith who built the present day home in 1934. The present owner Dr Tom Berrigan has fenced in the remains of the old Creaton house so they will be protected.

Condition

Site Only

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Breton Bay Squatter Shacks

Values

• The place is a representative example of Crown land used to construct private and informal holiday shacks, associated with the Australian tradition of recreational squatting in coastal areas and reserves.
• The place is a representative example of twentieth century recreation sites used for camping and fishing.
• The place is associated with the practice of providing or creating facilities for affordable sea-side holidays in Western Australia.

Physical Description

Breton Bay is located along the coast between Seabird and Ledge Point in the Shire of Gingin. Breton Bay beach is located on Unallocated Crown Land and is accessed from Indian Drive via unsealed roads through privately owned portions of farmland. Breton Bay Squatter Shacks comprises four discontiguous coastal sites located along Breton Bay. Although each site includes unauthorised structures established on what is now State Government land, they are not understood to be associated with one another.

History

The Yued region comprises an area of approximately 29, 254 square kilometres, including the towns of Leeman, Jurien Bay, Cervantes, Two Rocks, Gingin, Coorow and Moora. Nyoongar people speak of having lived on country since creation times, and lived virtually undisturbed until George Fletcher Moore, Advocate General, explored the region in 1836. Moore used Nyoongar names when renaming some features of the landscape. Subsequent establishment of agricultural and pastoral stations took advantage of Aboriginal people’s knowledge and relationship with the environment, their labour and caused their displacement from their traditional lands. The local Yued, or Yuet people united to lodge a Native Title claim in 1997. The Supreme Court supported the Nyoongar claim to Native Title in 2006. The Shire of Gingin encompasses approximately 3,211 square kilometres and takes in the towns of Ledge Point, Seabird, Gingin, Lancelin and Moora. The Breton Bay Squatters Shacks are located between the towns of Ledge Point and Seabird. Breton Bay is visited by locals and four-wheel drive enthusiasts for the purposes of fishing, swimming and camping. The Shire of Gingin does not allow camping on any private or government land without owner consent, including beach or reserve areas. The April 2011 document ‘Shack Sites in Western Australia’, prepared for the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, indicates that in the 1980s and 1990s the Shire of Gingin, along with Shires of Dandaragan, Coorow, Carnamah and Irwin, committed to the removal of squatters’ shacks from their local government areas within six years to allow public access to the sites for day and camping use. It appears that the shacks and structures located in Breton Bay were not included in this policy, possibly due to the inaccessibility of the beach other than by private road. Some of the shacks in Site 1 were reportedly constructed between the 1930s to the 1950s, possibly in association with the Greenwood Land Farm Management company. No other information is readily available regarding the shacks, which are still in use. The earliest aerial imagery for the area is from 1999 and the existing structures at Sites 1 to 3 appear to be present at that time. The Municipal Heritage Inventory Review 2017 notes that the Governor set aside land for the Roman Catholic community in 1891 in Gingin. St Catherine’s Church was constructed in 1931 at Gingin and a priest from New Norcia gave services until 1952. The Roman Catholic Church also owns a portion of land located in the vicinity of Breton Bay. The two railway carriages located at Site 4 were reportedly deposited on the site by the Roman Catholic church for the purpose of establishing a holiday camp for the children living at the Benedictine Monastery at New Norcia. Orphanages for Aboriginal children, not all of them orphans, were established at New Norcia from the early nineteenth century but it is likely that this period of holiday camps began in the 1950s, when a number of church and community groups operated budget campsites for group events, especially for teens. St Mary’s Orphanage for Aboriginal boys and St Joseph’s Orphanage for Aboriginal girls at Benedictine Monastery, New Norcia closed in the 1970s. The two railway structures are in very poor condition and have not been used for some time. The earliest adequate aerial imagery over Site 4 in which the existing structures are present was taken in 2000. It is understood the shacks that remain in a liveable condition are periodically occupied for recreational purposes.

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Gingin Race Course

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The land may one day be used again for sporting purposes.

Physical Description

It has recently had the racetrack resurfaced though no horse races have been held for many years.

History

Various places were used for horse racing pre 1890. A positive date was fixed for the present day racecourse in a newspaper report dated 11/5/1891 when 30 people travelled from Perth to attend the races. The railway runs right by the course. The Gingin Turf Club raised enough money to buy a piece of land from Sadler and Musk in 1912 by selling shares. Interest has been revived form time to time. After 1940, the second part was owned by A. Sadler and after a reasonable price was decided on, Fred Wedge paid Sadler half the value of the land and Sadler donated the other half. A newly formed club in 1944 decided that the land should be vested in the Gingin Shire Council (Roads Board). In 1976, Fred Wedge as the only surviving member of the Turf Club ensured that the Title Deeds are held by the Shire for use as a Sports Ground for the Gingin people. During the 1980's, cattle yards were built by Bob Wedge and Jack Dewar and used for Bull Sales for several years. The land is now leased to neighbouring farmers.

Condition

Site Only

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Walcotts' Well

Uses

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Army Camp - Cowalla Bridge

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The army camp was one of several in the Shire during World War Two. It forms an important part of the State and the Shire military history. The soldiers stationed in this camp were of NSW regiments, who had come to WA by ship to Fremantle. There were members of the 10th Light Horse Regiment among them.

Physical Description

Cowalla Bridge Reserve area

History

From 6/6/1942 to mid-late 1943 there was a Military Camp at the Cowalla Bridge. The main object was to guard the bridge as it was the only all weather crossing of the Moore River between Moora and the sea. The guard was attached to the regiments stationed at Gingin and was changed fairly frequently.

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Cowalla Homestead Group

Parent Place or Precinct

25092 North West Stock Route

Condition

Fair to good condition.

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Historic importance

Physical Description

Walls mud bat, floors pit sawn timber, roof now iron - originally thatch. House and 15 acres sold in 1858 to Robert de Burgh. 1903 present roof put on and jarrah matchboard ceilings run throughout. Additional rooms were added lengthwise. Old style kitchen separate from the ouse was built in 1862 - the coach house six years later. Since 1858 deBurghs have occupied the home. Now Max deBurgh and his wife live there, but W.J. deBurgh lived there till 1965. Mrs W.J. deBurgh is a descendant of Francis Whitfield (great granddaghter)

History

Assessment 1973 Construction 1852 (original 4 rooms) Builder: Francis Whitfield

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Statement of Significance

Cowalla Homestead Group is a rare intact collection of mid to late nineteenth century mud brick buildings. It was an important stopping place on the northern stock route in the nineteenth century, adjacent to a ford on the Moore River used by travellers on the route. It demonstrates the evolution of farming in the region from its initial opening up by European settlers in the 1850s to the present; and, was owned by prominent land owner Robert de Burgh who was Superintendent of the Convict Depot in Toodyay, Director of the Western Australian Bank, and employed 60 ticket of leave men from 1852 until 1873.

Physical Description

Located on the banks of the Moore River, the group comprises the homestead, kitchen and dairy and carriage house, and some distance toward the entry near the Cowalla Bridge, is a workers dwelling.

History

George and Edward Whitfield were granted 20,000 acres at Cowalla in 1850, building a 3-room mud brick house. In 1858 Robert de Burgh purchased the property and lived there. In 1863 he added to the house, and the detached kitchen and bakehouse was built. 1866, R de Burgh's son Walter took over, and after his death in 1873, his brother in­law Henry Brockman leased the property until 1878 when Walter's brother Henry took over, In 1904, Henry's son RSM (Sid) took over, and after his death in 1946. His sons RH & JW de Burgh took over. When RH de Burgh died his son RMH (Max) inherited the property, on-selling to Joseph Matthews, a Texan, who owned it until 2002 when the de Burgh family acquired ownership again.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity : High degree Authenticity : Moderate/High degree

Condition

Good

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Limestone Caves

Uses

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Statement of Significance

The caves have provided recreation for several generations at Cowalla and were the reason for the scientific research done in 1908. They are scientifically and aesthetically significant even though the immediate environment has been badly damaged by limestone extractions for road material.

Physical Description

The caves are situated in a limestone hill north of Baramba Road. There are two main caves, one is more accessible than the other, and contains stalactites and stalagmites. Excavating for limestone on the surrounding hill by the Shire of Gingin has degraded the area and rendered the less accessible cave unsafe and caused cracking in its walls.

History

n 1908, Stephen Goczel (Government Field Geologist) examined the caves with RSM deBurgh. They found petrified remains of an cycad along with bones and excreta of animals and amphibians. These were carefully parceled but unfortunately were transposed and lost to science. The soil samples were intended to be tested for phosphate to determine their worth as agricultural fertilizer. The caves were mined for guano during 1908/9 and the fertilizer used for growing crops at Cowalla

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Millbank House - Ruins

Parent Place or Precinct

11799 Horseworks Flour Mill - Site

Condition

Poor

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Millbank is significant in that it is the site of one of the very earliest properties on the river. It stayed in the Edwards family for 137 years.

Physical Description

Millbank was a substantial house built on the high ground above the river on SL 190. There were also a Horse Works Flour Mill and a Cottage (to the south-west of the house occupied by John and Catherine Theresa Christian).

History

The Edwards family was among the very first settlers on the Moore River. Joshua Edwards was issued with Lease Swan 91 at Millbank in January 1851 for 6,000 acres. Matthew and Ann Edwards went there to live in January 1853 and selected SL 190 and built the house. They had three sons and six daughters. In 1852 the lease increased to 12,000 acres. Another 17 acres was selected in the 1860's. The 1872 floods severely damaged the Flour Mill. About 1894 Millbank was leased to Thomas Darch of Wanneroo (son-in- law of Matthew Edwards) and Matthew returned to Perth and died in 1916. He was the first settler to still have connections in the Moore River district, having lived there as early as 1849 RMB Edwards took over Millbank from approximately 1924 but the house was not always occupied. The Edwards children camped there and went to school at Baramba in the mid 1930's.

Condition

Poor

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Bandy's Cottage Site & Swamp Garden

Condition

Very poor

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Bandy's Cottage and swamp garden were of much significance, supplying travellers on the Stock Route with fresh fruit and vegetables. It is probable it was the only market garden of significance for many miles. It was share-farmed (with the de Burgh family) by Tom and Martha Bandy, whose descendants are represented in the Gingin Shire today.

Physical Description

The swamp garden and the ruins of Bandy's Cottage are approximately two miles upstream from the Cowalla house on the north side of the Moore River. Fig trees still remain from the garden and a mound of earth exists where the mud batt cottage stood, high on the sand bank directly above the garden. The site is quite visible in a small clearing in the bush.

History

The swamp garden was a project started in 1855 by the de Burgh family on a permanently damp area, to supply travellers on the stock route with fruit and vegetables, and maize and sorghum. It was so successful that a cottage was built there and the Bandy family lived there and share-farmed the garden. It came to an end when the Midland Railway took the traffic away from the Stock Route. The cottage was demolished in 1907 and the materials used for renovations to the Cowalla house. Fig trees on the site still remain and are evidence of Bandy's Cottage.

Condition

Poor

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Bartletts Well Nature Reserve, Gingin

Uses

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