Marshall Rock

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Shire of Mt Marshall derives it's name from this rock. over the years it has been a landmark and regular picnic spot for local people- a photograph of picnic taken from the top of the rock in 1927 appears in FH Broomhall's "History of Mt marshall".

Physical Description

Large granite rock, standing out from relatively flat terrain with two other rocks nearby and vegetation at the base. The east wall is weather beaten, somewhat like Wave Rock at Hyden.

History

Was originally mentioned by JS Roe in 28th October 1836 and in a later expedition by Robert Austin in 1854 who camped at the rock. it was also visited by Surveyor King in 1889 on a trig expedition.

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Sandalwooders Track

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

These tracks were made by the earliest white people in the district as they journeyed around the area "pulling" sandalwood as a means of making a living, but were then used as roads by many of the early settlers to access watering points and to travel around the area, including those near Gnamma Holes at Dingo rock and near Yellari Soak.

Physical Description

Track showing three distinct lines where horse (in the middle) and two wheels of sandalwooders' drays traversed going to and from a watering point.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

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Old Shearing Shed - Mouroubra

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The northern portion of Mt Marshall Shire is station country, mostly running sheep. This woolshed is an example of the completely self contained operation for yarding and shearing the sheep, with accommodation for the workers needed.

Physical Description

Large timber and iron shearing shed with wool store. The materials for the building were brought from Youanmi Mine as was the material for the two storey original homestead which was just east if the quarter's kitchen but is no longer in existence. The uprights for the overhead gear are made from large salmon gums which probably came from a belt of salmon gums just south of Mt Churchman. Living quarters and amenities for worker adjacent. Yarding and crane of lifting bales. Also yard for salughtering. The shed is still in use in Decemebr 1995, nine thousand five hundred sheep were shorn.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Fair

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Gnamma Hole

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

This gnamma hole, along with many others was used by the original aboriginal inhabitants, explorers, sandalwooders and early settlers as a source of water. There are discernible sandalwooders' tracks at this site, and when the hole was cleaned out by a local resident they found two earthenware water bag necks (presumably lost by earlier users of the hole) as well as a large collection of bones feathers which were obviously of animals and emus who had fallen in when attempting to drink and were unable to clamber out because of the depth of the smooth sides. Other ganmma holes can be found in the Mt Marshall shire at Yellari Rock/Soak, Clafferty's Soak and at the edge if the rock at Tampu Well. Another on private property may be Gabbikujil Gnamma Hole and there are numerous others known around the district that have no names.

Physical Description

A naturally occurring round hole about three and a a half metres deep, in the rock, possible made larger by aboriginal people. The walls are smooth and any person or animal falling in would be unable to get out.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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Welbungin Mail Tree - York Gum

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The remains of a meeting place for early settlers to receive mail, papers etc.- if you like, the first post office.

Physical Description

A York gum tree on the road verge with a "Sunday Times" sign embedded intot he trunk. Used prior to 1915.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Reasonable

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Rabbit Proof Fence No 1

Child Places

• 12080 Rabbit Proof Fence No 1
• 07144 Rabbit Proof Fence
• 13982 Rabbit Proof Fence No1
• 14216 Rabbit Proof Fence No 1

Values

The place is the longest fence in the world, extending over 1800kms.

The place is significant for its contribution to agriculture at the turn of the century.

The place is rare as a method of pest control, that was to eventually also help prevent the movement of dingoes, foxes and emus.

Physical Description

The Rabbit Proof Fence is the longest fence in the world and cost £250 per kilometre to construct. It was made from Saltwater paperbark posts, wire netting 42 inches wide, with a mesh not less than 1 1/2 inches, and no lighter than 17 gauge, ‘b’ grade with barbed and plain wire. Six inches of the erected wire netting was buried in the ground.

History

Rabbits were introduced to Geelong from England by Thomas Austin in 1859. Towards the end of the last century rabbits were known to have travelled across to Western Australia from Victoria. In 1896, Arthur Gregory Mason reported that rabbits were at least two hundred miles past the South Australian border and inside Western Australia at the town of Eucla. His recommendation to the government was to build a rabbit proof fence. After much debate and a Royal Commission, the government eventually adopted the idea of a barrier fence. In 1901 the Government Surveyor, A.W. Canning was commissioned to survey a fence line to be built to cut off the flow of rabbits entering Western Australia. Canning with only Hubert Trotman, Hassan (an Afghan Camel man) and eight camels completed the preliminary exploratory survey from Burracoppin to Starvation Boat Harbour in July and August that year. They surveyed a route for the fence and its construction began in December the same year. The fence from Starvation Boat Harbour to Burracoppin was built by contract with saltwater paperbark posts on the lower section obtained locally and other materials were shipped into starvation Boat Harbour. The fence was completed in 1906. When the fence was completed, it was the longest fence in the world, stretching from Starvation Boat Harbour, just west of Esperance in the south, to Wallal on the 80 Mile Beach in the northwest, a distance of 1822kms. Even before completion, the rabbits were past the fence and work had begun on Fences No.2 and 3. By 1908 the three fences were complete, over 3,000km of fence line in total. (See map.) Although the construction of the fences was finished, someone was needed to patrol and maintain them. Alex Crawford was appointed the first Chief Inspector of Rabbits and was required to inspect and maintain the fences. The fence was maintained by boundary riders patrolling 240km stretches of fence line with an ingenuous permanent water catchments and huts at regular intervals of 50kms. There were gates at every 32kms and trap yards for foxes and dingoes as well as rabbits every 8 kms. Grids and rabbit proof gates were constructed where the fence crossed the road. Without regular water, the use of horses to carry out the fence inspection was difficult. When camels were used, it was found that inspection of the fence was unsatisfactory from the height of a camel. Many other methods were tried such as bicycles, but this proved unsatisfactory. In 1910, a motor vehicle was purchased to carry out the inspection but was also to prove unsatisfactory. After many punctures and broken springs, it had to be towed slowly back to camp by camels. In the end the only workable solution for the inspection teams were buckboard buggies pulled by pairs of camels. Despite the best efforts to stop the rabbits at the barrier fence, it was to only slow the rabbit's migration. Erosion under the fences, holes in the wire and gates left open allowed rabbits to continue their movement west into the fertile agricultural areas. In their hundreds of thousands, they ate out pasture, ring-barked trees and devoured crops. Much of the fence is still in good repair, especially where it is used by abutting farmers as a boundary fence.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity- Moderate Authenticity- High

Condition

Good - although condition varies along the route

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Welbungin Sheep Dip

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

One of a number of sheep dips built in the shire area. shows the community spirit that existed- dipping was a big job and required help from neighbours so they all helped each other. Other community sheep dips in the shire in various states of repair are located at Warkutting soak, just off the Bencubbin-Beacon Road and north of Beebeegnying Tank., another on private property just off Gillett Road and two more north of beacon, one off Scotsman's Road and another at Cleary Tank.

Physical Description

Community sheep dip consisting of yrads plus race and concrete dip with steps leading out to holding pens.

Integrity/Authenticity

integrity: Mostly Intact

Condition

Reasonable

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Richard Lacey's Grave

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Burial site of an early landowner in the Welbugin district. Owned location no's 14801, 14802. Richard Lacey died in 1912, but the grave was unmarked until the shire erected the existing memorial in 1931.

Physical Description

Concrete slab and headstone just off the road with "Richard Lacey, died November 1912" inscribed on it. Surrounded by mallee type scrub and near a watercourse.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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Bulgining Well

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

An importnant water source for the expanding population of the district during the Soldier Settlement Scheme after WWI.

Physical Description

A rectangular well about 5 feet by 3 feet, dug to 96 feet and then walls shored up with sleepers. Water level is at about 30 feet. Wellhead mounded up with dirt, and a platform of sleepers for the winch mechanism which is not the original. There are the remains if a tank stand of sleepers at one side and of a heavy steel bucket also.

History

After WWI, when the area was opened up to the Soldier Settlement Scheme, the "Water Authority" had wells and dams built to serve these new settlers. Bulgining Well was one of these and one of these soldier settlers was Mr Joe Wren, who camped near Bulgining Well (the tree he cut to use the trunk as a table top has regrown into a tall tree, and the remains of the stove he used is nearby) and continued to use the well when he farmed on the property adjacent, where his daughter and grandson still live. His daughter, Mrs Alice Davies still has two of the buckets which her parents used to winch the water by hand from the well. Mrs Wren told her daughter that the refreshment rate of the well was very slow.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Walls are intact. Platform supporting winch gear is unsafe. Modifications: An engine driven winch assembly at the wellhead (date unknown)

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Datjoin Well

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Datjoin was mentioned by explorers as a watering point. It is thought that it was dug and maintained by sandalwooders, James and Edward Moran in the early 1900, and was eventually timbered by the Public Works Department. It was a major watering point on the Wyalkatchem-Mt Marshall line.

Physical Description

Datjoiin is a rectangular well dug down intot he granite rock and then the side walls built to the top with sleepers, it is 4.5 m deep. When full, the well supplies approximately 800 litres of water. In 1928 a creek was recorded as running through the site.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None (rebuilt by Jobskills in original style).

Condition

Good

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