Dart Club

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Condition

Good

Uses

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Donnelly River Mouth - Hut Precinct

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Values

The huts are highly valued by the community who utilise them

The huts are representative of patterns of coastal recreation in Western Australia from the 1930s onward

Donnelly River Mouth – Hut Precinct is different from similar squatter's precincts through its restricted access (by boat only) and lack of recent development

Squatters’ sites are becoming rarer due to Government policy to remove squatters from State land

The huts are constructed in such a way that their impact on the aesthetics of the natural environment appears minimised

There is evidence of huts being ‘inherited’, with some being occupied by third and fourth generation holidaymakers

Donnelly River Huts represent an era of vernacular innovation, from cheap or easily obtainable materials

Physical Description

The precinct consists of 43 huts, constructed on both sides of the Donnelly River between 300m and 1.3km upstream of the mouth. Huts are located within natural surrounds and access to the precinct is by boat from landing 12km upstream. Squatters’ huts are small, rudimentary structures best described as ‘vernacular’. Some are constructed from bush timber, some from corrugated iron, and some from a mixture of the two. Most have timber or concrete floors, but one or two have dirt floors only. While construction of coastal shacks intensified from the 1950s, there is evidence of shacks being built earlier than this. Although over time the shacks became more permanent in nature as holidaymakers wanted comfortable and structurally sound accommodation, the shacks still only provide very basic lodgings. For most, they were an affordable holiday for families who could not afford more conventional vacations.

History

The lower Donnelly River area represents early European use of southern coastal areas in Western Australia, for both pastoral leases and coastal recreation. Leases for cattle grazing were granted to European settlers, including the Bussells (from Vasse) and Scotts (from Nannup). Cattle were moved to coastal areas for summer grazing before returning to their inland properties. Bolangup Hut, 6km south of Donnelly River Mouth boat landing area, is one of the last remaining pastoral lease camps in the area. It was associated with the Giblett family (from Manjimup) and CALM is currently being negotiated with to preserve this structure. Families from the surrounding area, mostly from Pemberton and Manjimup, have used the mouth of the Donnelly River as a holiday destination for nearly 100 years. Its history as a camping area has links to the group settlement scheme (1920s) and to the Depression (1930s) when sustenance workers spent much of their ‘free’ time at the coast. Hardships within the group settlements, and more generally during the Depression years, led to an inability to afford more than essentials. Poor transport and remoteness from coastal towns meant holidays had to be taken locally. The original huts at the mouth of Donnelly River appear to have been built in 1934 as holiday accommodation, since references to earlier visits refer to tents rather than shacks. Although three existed in 1934, most were constructed in 1950-75. 43 huts currently exist, the majority of which are owned by residents of the Shire of Manjimup. All of these huts were constructed by their owners, using salvaged materials, and are occupied only during weekends and holidays. D’Entrecasteaux National Park was gazetted in 1978. Included within the Park boundaries were a number of different leaseholds and reserves as well as vacant crown land. The various leases and reserves implied different forms of land use, but all pastoral leases, for example, were resumed by CALM on creation of the park. There are 62 squatters’ huts located throughout D’Entrecasteaux National Park. Some of the older huts were built by pastoralists who brought cattle to the coast for summer grazing and by the former Forests Department for staff involved in forest assessment or staffing fire lookouts. However, families or groups of friends currently use the majority of the huts on a private basis, with few available to the public. In 1980, legislation was introduced to provide means to remove shacks from public land for environmental reasons. In 1983, State Cabinet endorsed a position paper on coastal planning and management in Western Australia. The report set out broad policies for coastal areas and included a policy that indicated that squatter settlements were not considered acceptable. A previous management plan for D’Entrecasteaux National Park allowed lifetime leases to the hut owners near the mouth of the Donnelly River. However, lifetime leases were determined illegal, and the hut owners indicated that they did not wish to be bound by the conditions of a 1987 management plan that precluded them selling or transferring ownership of the huts. In 1990, the hut owners negotiated new occupancy licences for their huts, to be current for a period of 7 years to June 1997, with a further option of renewal to 2007. The issue of squatter shacks first came to the attention of HCWA with a referral of squatter shacks at Sandy Cape Beach. The matter was in direct relation to the 1998 Government Squatter Shack Policy, where jurisdiction over these areas was transferred to CALM. At a meeting on 30 November 2001, the Register Committee determined that Squatter Shack Settlement, Wedge Island (P02451) and Sandy Cape ary 2002, Crown Solicitor’s Office stated there was no legal impediment to the listing of structures built illegally on Crown Land, but their preservation would be contrary to government policy. On 22 February 2002, the Register Committee agreed not to pursue heritage assessments for Wedge and Grey on the understanding that CALM agreed: Any development proposals should include significant and meaningful interpretation of squatter settlements, including mapping of dwellings, a photographic record of representative types, photographs of the shacks in use, and a social history taking into account lifestyle and oral history. Proponents should be asked to consider the retention of a representative group of shacks. It is not necessary that these shacks remain in use. The nature of the new development should be sensitive to the landscape and to the social history of each place, and may be reflected in road patterns, building materials, or the scale of development. HCWA’s Development Committee would appreciate an opportunity to provide comments on development proposals or send a representative to relevant meetings. At the Register Committee meeting on 24 April 2002, it was noted that CALM had agreed to include HCWA’s recommendations in any lease and/or development agreement for Wedge and Grey Islands. Since that time, Grey Shack Settlement (P10521) was reviewed in December 2004. The Development Committee agreed not to proceed with assessment but to reiterate advice given to CALM concerning Wedge and Grey Islands. CALM’s 2005 Management Plan for Shannon and D’Entrecasteaux National Parks notes: A heritage study of the huts other than those at the mouth of the Donnelly River showed that some huts had heritage value: Coodamurrup (Moore’s) Hut, Bolghinup Hut and East’s Hut (Heritage and Conservation Professionals 2000). These huts may be retained by the Department for cultural heritage and interpretative purposes. The Department may also consider upgrading or modifying some of the huts to use as built accommodation sites for visitors as the opportunity to stay in simple built accommodation in natural surroundings is appropriate in some situations.

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East Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

16177 Huts, D'Entrecasteaux National Park

Condition

Good

Uses

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Fisherman Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Uses

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Huts, D'Entrecasteaux National Park

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Child Places

• 15961 Crystal Springs Hut
• 16158 Mottram Hut
• 15994 Voutier Hut
• 16154 East Hut
• 11425 Bolganup Slab Hut and Stock Yards
• 16159 Coodamurrup Hut
• 15960 Bolghinup Hut

Uses

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Kanny Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Uses

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May Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Uses

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North Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Uses

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Rooney Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

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Scanlon Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Uses

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Tuckett Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

Condition

Good

Uses

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Creation Date

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Voutier Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

16177 Huts, D'Entrecasteaux National Park

Condition

Good

Uses

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Creation Date

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Wauchope Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

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Westie Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

18620 D Entrecasteaux National Park

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Bolghinup Hut

Parent Place or Precinct

11425 Bolganup Slab Hut and Stock Yards

Condition

Poor

Uses

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Diamond Tree Fire Lookout Tower

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Historic, Rarity, Scientific, Social and Representativeness

Physical Description

• Tall, straight Karri tree; • 54.5 m high; • Lower branches cleared for access; • Series of pegs and rungs form spiral ladder; • Safety mesh follows path of ladder; • Ladder leads to timber cabin at top of tree; • Timber platform with access steps at base of tree, and; • Nearby timber cabin, for interpretive material.

History

The South West karri forest region posed a special problem. There were few prominent hills and forest giants towering 70 -80m above the ground. A young forester, Don Stewart, (later to become Conservator of Forests), who in 1937 conceived the idea of using the trees themselves as Look Out Towers. One of these is the Diamond Tree, located 11 km south of Manjimup, 300m off SW Highway. The lookout was built in 1940-41, and a tree cabin was built at a height of 54.5m. The Diamond Tree was used continuously as a fire lookout until spotter planes took over the surveillance role in 1974. Between 1991-94 the Diamond Tree cabin was refurbished. Since then unsuitable weather conditions have sometimes grounded the planes, and the Diamond Tree has been used as a back up. The Diamond Tree is a popular tourist attraction. Refer to 16.6 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Good Authenticity: Good

Condition

Good

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Fernhill Homestead

Values

Fernhill Homestead is a representative, if modest, example of two small farm homesteads from the 1870s. Fernhill Homestead is a relatively rare remaining example of a building constructed in the timber slab method, which was once common in the 19th century in the Southwest. Fernhill Homestead demonstrates the self-reliance required of early settlers through the use of simple construction methods and roughly finished local materials. Fernhill Homestead has been in continuous usage since construction in 1872. Fernhill Homestead is associated with the Muir family, who played a significant role in the early development of the lower Southwest.

Physical Description

Fernhill Homestead comprises two single-storey buildings with simple verandas supported by bush poles, one residence in timber (1872), and one in brick (1887). The timber cottage is just two rooms, and is constructed of hand hewn slabs. The brick residence is on a larger scale, but still of a simple colonial design. The walls are constructed of hand pressed and sun dried bricks, laid in Flemish bond. Both buildings would originally have had timber shingle roofs, which are now replaced with corrugated iron.

History

Thomas Muir was first European to select land in the Manjimup district. He arrived at Fremantle on the Ganges in January 1844, and became a pioneer European in the area, discovering the Tone and Perup Rivers and Lake Muir. He occupied Perup in 1854 and Deeside in 1855. Thomas Muir died in October 1926, at the age of 93. James Muir had got caught up with Victorian Goldrush, and only re-joined the family at Forest Hill in 1862. In 1867, together with his wife Elizabeth, he pioneered his own farm, Fernhill (or Fern Hill), said to be so named because of the prolific growth of bracken in the area. The wood slab part of the present house was built in 1872, the brick portion in 1887. The condition of the jarrah slabs and the hewn timber are very sound and the bricks, which were hand-pressed and sundried, have weathered particularly well. The property was originally an outstation of Thomas Muir’s. James Muir took an active interest in public affairs, and was a member of the Roads Board. He was 89 years of age at the time of his death in 1910. In 2012, the homestead is occupied and well maintained by its owners.

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Historic, Rarity and Representativeness

Physical Description

House clearly built in two parts as stand alone buildings, one timber, and one in brick. Timber cottage very small scale with two rooms. Timber walls – jarrah hand hewn slabs. Brick house larger scale but still simple colonial design. Brick walls – hand pressed and sun dried bricks. Bricks laid in Flemish bond pattern. Both parts of the building originally had timber shingle roofs now covered with corrugated iron. Single storey with simple verandas supported by bush poles.

History

James Muir and his wife Elizabeth came to Fernhill in 1867. The timber part of the present house was built in 1872 and the brick portion in 1887. The property was originally an outstation of Thomas Muir’s. The house in 2004 was still occupied and being carefully maintained by its owners.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very Good Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

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Springdale Homestead

Values

Springdale Homestead is one of the few remaining farmhouses of slab construction in the Southwest.

Springdale Homestead has historic value as one of the five farmhouses built by the Giblett family, one of the two earliest families to settle in the Manjimup district.

Springdale Homestead has historic value as the centre of Seventh Day Adventist activity and worship in the region until the construction of a church in Manjimup in 1927.

Springdale Homestead represents a constructional achievement in an isolated district where the builders were limited to the choice of split jarrah slabs set vertically for walls with cracks plastered with mud.

Springdale Homestead is a good representative example of the type of housing used by early European settlers in isolated Southwest localities.

Physical Description

Springdale Homestead is constructed of split jarrah slabs set vertically for walls with cracks plastered with mud, whitewashed. The roof was of split jarrah shingles which are now covered with corrugated iron. The chimneys are of stone rubble. It has six rooms with pit sawn flooring, a verandah under a broken-backed roof supported by natural timber pole uprights, and timber framed windows and doors.

History

Springdale Farmhouse was built in 1883 by Jesse Giblett and his father John, of Balbarrup. Springdale Farmhouse was built in 1883 by Jesse Giblett and his father John, of Balbarrup. It is most important as one of the five farmhouses built by the Gibletts, one of the two earliest families to settle in the Manjimup district. It represents a constructional achievement in an isolated district where the builders were limited to the choice of split jarrah slabs set vertically for walls with cracks plastered with mud, whitewashed, still in place. The roof was of split jarrah shingles which are now covered with corrugated iron. The chimneys are of stone rubble. Springdale was used as a residence until very recently, the new owner wishes to restore it. The house represents clearly the type of housing used by the early settlers in isolated south-west localities. It is part of a landscape which demonstrates the idea of a Farm in The Forest. A shallow valley is cleared but is surrounded by forest, the house on rising ground overlooking the valley. The original homestead quality no longer exists since the removal of outbuildings. It is one of the few remaining farmhouses of slab construction occupied, until recent times, during the previous one hundred years.

Uses

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Physical Description

· Split jarrah slab walls set vertically (unpainted); · Some horizontal weatherboards (unpainted); · Cracks in the wall plastered with mud and whitewashed; · Split jarrah shingles (now covered with corrugated iron); · Chimneys constructed of stone rubble; · Six rooms with pit sawn flooring; · Verandah under a broken backed roof is supported by natural timber pole uprights, and; · Timber framed windows and doors.

History

Springdale Farmhouse was built in 1883 by Jesse Giblett and his father John of Balbarrup with the help of a local builder Ben Needs. It is one of five homesteads built by the Gibletts in the Manjimup district. It is thought that Perup House was built on the same design also by Ben Needs. Springdale was home to Ivan Giblett from 1906 until he sold it in 1984. Some of the trees in the near vicinity of the old house are believed to be original plantings from the time of Jesse Giblett. These plane trees mark the sites of the old dairy and smithy. The house was occupied and used as a residence until 1985. In 2005 it remained empty and was beginning to deteriorate rapidly.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very High Authenticity: Very High

Condition

Poor-Fair

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Tobacco Farm Group (No.2)

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Historic

Physical Description

· Set back from Burnside Rd; · Twin kilns; · Building fabric – corrugated iron and asbestos; · Kilns have recognizable ventilation structures on the roof, and; · High Authenticity but very poor condition.

History

These notes are derived from the Register of heritage Places Assessment for Watermark Kilns – the Bell Tobacco Farm, Northcliffe January 2005 This tobacco farm (fmr) is one of a number of tobacco farms set up in the Manjimup district just before World War II. In 2005 it continues to operate as a farm but like others in the district, tobacco fell by the way many decades ago owing to both economic and product unreliability. Refer to 16.4 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low Authenticity: High

Condition

Very poor (Review at April 2008 shows building to have collapsed)

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Glenview Tobacco Farm (fmr)

Child Places

• 19849 Tobacco Kilns, Lot 1441 Muirillup Road, Northcliffe
• 19850 Tobacco Kilns, Double Bridges Road, Northcliffe

Values

□ the place provides physical evidence of the processes involved in tobacco farming

□ the place is an uncommon, surviving group of tobacco farm buildings, of which few examples remain in the early twenty-first century, demonstrating a distinctive way of life and land-use

□ the place has the capacity to reveal the industrial archaeology of tobacco kiln technology and the aesthetic value of the structures.

The place has aesthetic value as a group of rustic buildings in a picturesque setting.

The place has historic associations with the development of the Manjimup district.

The place has historic associations with the development of the state’s tobacco industry.

Physical Description

□ Corrugated iron roofing □ Weatherboard walls □ Group of four buildings

History

In 1923, the Agriculture Department carried out successful trial plantings of tobacco at Perth. This was followed by trial plantings at Peel Estate, Coolup, Boyanup, Bridgetown and Manjimup in November, but first two failed, and only poor growth was obtained from the latter. In 1923-24, tobacco was grown and harvested at Manjimup by J. Murphy and J. Turner, but they experienced difficulty in curing the leaf. Samples of this tobacco was sent to tobacco manufacturer Michelides Limited in Perth, and also to Melbourne, Group Settler Herbert John ‘Jack’ Limmer, who was also associated with this venture, established a plantation at Dixvale in 1926, where the first tobacco curing kiln in the State was built. In 1928-29, experimentation by the Australian Tobacco Organisation also established that the soil and climate in the Manjimup district was suitable for tobacco growing. By the late 1930s, tobacco farming in Western Australia was well established. By 1939-40, 1,019 acres of tobacco were planted in Western Australia. After war-time restrictions limited tobacco imports, the Commonwealth urged increased home production. The State government advanced growers £10 per acre to assist in the costs of planting and cultivation, and 1,365 acres were planted in 1940-41. In the late 1940s, tobacco production in Western Australia increased with some growers returning to this crop after costs increased in the potato industry and with growing confidence in the stability of the tobacco industry. It was proposed to expand tobacco growing in Western Australia through the War Service Land Settlement Scheme, in the belief that it could be grown successfully beyond the Manjimup-Pemberton area, through ‘a belt embracing Busselton, Karridale, Manjimup, Northcliffe, Walpole and Denmark’ where 50 War Service tobacco farms were to be established, on Crown land, which had been previously forfeited or purchased for this purpose. After a 12 month training program in tobacco growing, the ex-servicemen were to be allocated land to develop as a tobacco farm. In 1949, the first 20 trainees commenced at the training school at Manjimup, of whom 17 moved to farms in 1950. In 1950-52, two further training schools would be held. Some of the lots allocated to ex-servicemen had been part of the inter-war Group Settlement Scheme. The soldier-settler was provided with sufficient funding for growing his crop and living costs. After the crop was sold, these costs would be re-couped, along with re-payments on the land and machinery. Once the settler’s farm was self-supporting, its administration was to transfer from the Department of Lands and Surveys to the Rural & Industries Bank. In the South-West, the main variety of Tobacco cultivated in the immediate post-war period was Cross Hickory, and later Virginia Gold was also introduced. The Government Research Station at Manjimup played an important part in the expansion, producing seed for sale to farmers at 5s. per ounce. There were approximately 300,000 seeds to the ounce, which would be sufficient for planting five acres.

Condition

The buildings and structures at Glenview Tobacco Farm (fmr) are in fair to good condition generally as a result of continued use and maintenance, originally for the purpose of tobacco farming and subsequently as general farm sheds and stores. The timber framing to the kilns and the grading shed appear from visual inspection to be sound. Slab floors and Hessian linings that date from the period of construction of the buildings and increase the authenticity of the kilns, appear sound. Where corrugated galvanised iron has been used for sheds or roofs, this shows evidence of rust. Gutters to the grading shed are in a deteriorated state. The homestead is sound and has been continuously occupied by the Vellios family from its original construction. The building has been cared for and is well maintained. The majority of buildings are clad externally with fibrous cement which is likely to contain asbestos. The friability of the fabric has not been tested.

Uses

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Child Places

• 19849 Tobacco Kilns, Lot 1441 Muirillup Road, Northcliffe
• 19850 Tobacco Kilns, Double Bridges Road, Northcliffe

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Representative and Historic

Physical Description

· Glenview has a collection of former tobacco farm buildings in a farmland setting; · Drying sheds (3) – walls a combination of asbestos and corrugated iron; · Roof – asbestos with some corrugated iron, and; · Roof line very distinctive owing to ventilation structure needed for drying tobacco.

History

These notes are derived from the Register of heritage Places Assessment for Watermark Kilns – the Bell Tobacco Farm, Northcliffe January 2005 Glenview Tobacco farm (fmr) is one of a number of tobacco farms set up in the Manjimup district just before World War II. In 2005 it continues to operate as a farm but like others in the district, tobacco fell by the way many decades ago owing to both economic and product unreliability. Refer to 16.4 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: High

Condition

Poor - Fair

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