On this page:
- The Scope of the Written History
- Radio Interview with Jennie Carter
- Original Landowners
- European Settlers
- Relationships between Original Landowners and European Settlers
- The Kelmscott Barracks
- For more information
Relevant links:
City of Armadale District History Project
The City of Armadale has commissioned historical researchers and authors from ‘Historical Research and Publication Services’, Bevan and Jennie Carter, to research and write the history of the City of Armadale District. When completed, the illustrated book will be available to buy.
- Listen to some information about Jennie and her ideas on the project.
- Listen to some information about Bevan and his ideas on the project.
The Scope of the Written History
The history of the Armadale District will be presented within a broad, but logical, chronological framework with emphasis and explorations of key themes which may include:
- Indigenous people of the Armadale area
- Exploration
- Colonial settlement
- Arrival of convicts
- Land use and development
- Transport
- Local government
- Employment business growth
- Regional responses to war and post war migration
- Community development
- Education
- Leisure and recreation
- Housing development including the role of the State Housing Commission (later Homeswest)
- Achievements
- Future visions, plans and strategies.
Radio Interview with Jennie Carter
As part of the Armadale District History Project, Jennie Carter is interviewed by Steve Gordon regarding the effect on the district of the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic.
Audio belongs to 6PR (used with kind permission)
A Tiny Piece of the Story So Far
Original Landowners
The current City of Armadale boundaries sprawl over three traditional Aboriginal properties. Soon after the first European colonists arrived to take up land in 1829, it was recognised that the Canning River was the boundary between Aboriginal leader Monday’s land, called Beeloo or Djeeral, to the north and Midgegooroo’s territory Beeliar, or Booyal to the south. Boorgoon was leader of the group which owned the property to the east, known as Mulgang.
Aboriginal property boundaries and occupants were described by Robert Menli Lyon (Perth Gazette 20 April, 1833), Armstrong SRO Acc36/58/159-164 and Symmons SRO Acc36/89/128
An extract from a book on traditional Aboriginal societies.
(In the Beginning: A Perspective on Traditional Aboriginal Societies by Trevor K. Jacob, p.235)
European Settlers
The presence of large tracts of land which were not being developed by their absentee owners led to constraints on any significant development and land use in the Armadale district until the end of the nineteenth century.
SRO Cons 3869 Canning 81 and Cockburn Sound 139 showing development constraint of large early grants
A new beginning occurred when small holders began to purchase land. Robert Stewart was first when he purchased a portion of Theophilus Ellis’s estate, Kelmscott Town Lots 19-22, in August 1839.
Other areas to be settled during this period were Byford (Beenyup) and Cardup in 1848 when Henry Mead took up land on Cardup Brook and with Joseph Batt acquiring a 10 acre block on Canning Location 34 (now known as Bedfordale), which he named Paradise.
Desperate times were to follow during the 1850s and 1860s but improved slightly over the subsequent two decades.
Relationships between Original Landowners and European Settlers
There are many examples in early reports of the generosity of the Nyoongar people to the early settlers.
The Aboriginal inhabitants of this Country, are a harmless, liberal kind hearted race; remarkably simple in all their manners. They not only abstained from all acts of hostility, when we took possession; but showed us every kindness in their power. Though we were invaders in their country, and they had therefore a right to treat us as enemies, when we lost ourselves in the bush, and were thus completely in their power; these noble minded people shared with us their scanty and precarious meal; suffered us to the rest of the night in their camp; and in the morning directed us on our way.
Perth Gazette March 1833 p51 – possibly Robert Menli Lyon
A native shot - it will be the recollection of our readers that a short time
ago an attempt was made on the life of a respectable settler on the
Canning by a party of the Aborigines. It falls to our lot to record a
similar attempt made by the same party which terminated fatally to
one of the aggressors. The affair to which we allude happened near
Kelmscott on Saturday the 5th Inst. As Capt Ellis & a small escort of the
63rd Regt were occupied in the Bush, three natives one of whom was a
female made their appearance. On that Gentleman approaching them a
spear was thrown at him with almost fatal aim & force. It however
providentially struck the buckle of his stock [cravat] & glanced off. The
party immediately fired & killed the offender who was armed with 9
spears & proved to be the identical person who had so recently shown
hostility to the settlers & attempted the life of Mr Phillips.
The body was removed on the second night by the natives"
Perth Gazette February 26, 1831.
This is a portrait of a soldier in the 63rd Regiment referred to in the previous paragraph. The image gives a good representation of the uniforms soldiers of the 63rd Regiment would have worn. The particular officer depicted here is named Thomas Manning at age 24.
The Kelmscott Barracks
With Nyoongar Aboriginal groups becoming increasingly agitated over the continuing presence of colonists on their land and settlers demanding protection, the government planned to erect army barracks at the edges of the settlement. Sometime in late 1830 construction started at Kelmscott on lot 26. Most of the work was done by soldiers of the 63rd Regiment and the main building was completed in early 1831.
Smyth’s 1836 map showing the barracks and Ellis’s house
(State Records Office Cons 3869/070)
For more information
Should you have any queries regarding the rewrite of the Armadale district history please contact:
Patricia Walker – Manager for Libraries and Heritage
Tel: 08 9399 0105
Email: info@armadale.wa.gov.au
or
Lorraine Pearce – Historian/Local Studies Librarian
Tel: 08 9399 0641
Email: info@armadale.wa.gov.au