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BUCKINGHAM FAMILY I would like to acknowledge the extensive research done into the Buckingham Family Hisory by Glenys Innes from which information used here has been gleamed. Thomas Buckingham Thomas Buckingham (b1760 - 1837) and Lucretia Hammett (b1775 – 1820) were married on 6th July 1802. He was 42 and she was 27. Lucretia was from Chulmiegh, Devon, England. They had 6 children: William 1803, Joan (Jane) 1806, Thomas 1808, Elizabeth (Betsy) 1811, Maria 1814 and John 1817. Thomas Buckingham Senior Thomas
Buckingham (Snr) was born on 11th September 1808 in Twitchen,
County Devon, Devonshire, England and married Mary Chanter
(Chaunter) on 23rd October 1835. She was born on 23rd
October 1815 at North Molton, Devon, England. Thomas and his wife, Mary lived on
a small farm in a small two storey
cottage, large pond with large trees round in front, several small fields
attached. It was in the Twitchen Parish that only had a population of 130 in 1831. They then
shifted to Sindercombe about seven or eight miles away. Times became hard in England
– wages were 14 pence (15 cents) per day or 7 shillings (70 cents) per week.
There were agents trying to get immigrants to go to Australia or Port Natal,
giving partly free passage. Thomas, looking for better opportinities decided to go to Australia. |
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VIEW OF DEVON COUNTY #1 |
RED MARKER SHOWS POSITION OF TWITCHEN, DEVON #2 |
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So he started to get ready by having a big sale
of everything. There was 2 wagons, 3 wheel carts, drays, harrows, ploughs,
harness, tools, furniture, horses, cows, pigs, fowls, ducks, geese, and plenty
of wheat, oats and barley, one horse named Ventor, one mare named Tidy, cows
named Tulip, Daisy and others. People came from all over but nothing fetched
any high price. They then packed up and started for Plymouth
about 70 miles away. The neighbours helped and supplied the 3 wagons to take
the 3 families. Thomas Buckingham and his wife Mary (nee Chaunter) (b1815), and
family of 5 sons and 3 daughters with Thomas’ sister Betsy and her husband Richard
Cockram and family. Also on board was his brother John and family. Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) was eleven years old
when they left England. They sailed from England in July 1850 on sailing
vessel “The Sophia”. It was a 537 ton teak and
yellow metal boat built in Calcutta in 1819. She was 128ft 3inches in length
and had a beam of 36ft. She sailed to Australia only the once, with Master
Captain John Clabon and a crew of 33 plus 250 passenger. He got paid 25 pounds
wages for the journey. At last
Rottnest came into sight and Pilot Beck came aboard and took the ship to an
anchoring ground a good way out from Fremantle. The men were let ashore a few
at a time to try and find work. Thomas was lucky and found work so they were taken
off in a small boat and carried ashore as there was no jetty. They were then
transferred to a small rowing boat to travel to Perth. |
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At the time of sailing the family consisted of: Aboard the "Sophia" at the same time, were the Wallis Family that settled in Walliston, Kalamunda. Their family consisted of: Thomas (Snr) and Mary Buckingham had 5 other children after arriving in Australia. They had a total of 11 children: |
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Maria
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Born 4th October 1836
at Twitchen, Devon, England.
Died 9th February 1919 at Moore River, aged 83. 1st
Married Edward Bentley (convict expiree) (b1820) on 5th February 1857 at Moore
River, Western Australia. Edward drowned while crossing the Karakin Brook,
Moore River on 2nd September 1859. |
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Thomas (Jnr)
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Born 10th April 1839 at Twitchen, Devon. Died 29th
October 1913 at Kelmscott aged 74. |
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Mary
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Born
4th February 1841 at Twitchen, Devon. Died 21st
November 1921 aged 80 in Exeter, |
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Alexander
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Born 18th September 1843 at
Twitchen, Devon. Died 28th March 1897 at Kelmscott
aged 54. Married Elizabeth York on 1st
May 1872 in Gingin. |
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Betsy
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Born 1846 at Twitchen, Devon. Died
1925 aged 79 at Cannington. Married
Edwin Cockram on 18th May 1870 at her brother Thomas Jnr's house "Poplar" in Kelmscott. |
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Caroline (Anne)
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Born 28th May 1849 at
Twitchen, Devon. Died 13th September 1915 at Kelmscott
aged 66. Married
Charles Fancote on 4th July 1871. |
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Jane
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Born 5th May 1852 in
Perth, Western Australia. |
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William
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Born 30th May 1853 at
Pinjar, Western Australia. Died 14th August 1917 at Kelmscott
age 64. Married
Sarah Jane Holt from Fremantle on 25th August 1879. |
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Ellen
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Born 20th February 1856
at Gingin. Died 19th May 1878 at
Roleystone aged 22. Married
Samuel August Salter (1849 – 1930) on 21st September 1875 |
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John
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Born 25th August 1858
at Gingin. Died 1st January 1947 in
Perth aged 89. |
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Hugh James
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Born 18th April 1860 at Gingin.
Died 7th August 1940 at
Kelmscott, Western Australia aged 80. Married Hulda Elizabeth Matthiesson 20th
November 1899 in
Perth.
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Thomas obtained work for Jeremiah Hicks, a butcher in Perth for six
months before leasing Leeder’s Dairy farm for a year or so. The family resided
for a time near Monger's Lake - now Leederville - afterwards at Lake Pinjar. In
1852 Thomas secured the lease on 6,000 acres at Lake Pinjar, 25 miles north of
Perth, which he took up with his brother-in-law, Richard Cockram. The
families constructed paper-bark houses for themselves and stock yards for the
animals. The men took on work in the neighbouring Gingin for several years,
taking contracts to build pug walled homes and barns. |
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GINGIN TOWNSITE 1905 - 50 YEARS LATER THAN WHEN THE BUCKINGHAMS MOVED THERE #4 |
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GINGIN TOWNSITE 1906 - 50 YEARS LATER THAN WHEN THE BUCKINGHAMS MOVED THERE #5 |
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Later the families moved to Gingin. Thomas leased a small unimproved
farm called “Moraba”, two and a half miles from Gingin. The farm was prosperous
and the family decided to buy a property of their own. In 1855 whilst at Gingin Thomas (Jnr) was speared by an aborigine.
Thomas had a favourite spot for their cows to feed on, however on Sundays the
neighbour’s cow minder, a civilised native, would often trespass onto to same
spot. On this day Thomas ordered him off, they had words then blows. He left
but came back later with his spears. He threw a glass pointed spear which
struck Thomas in the thigh which started bleeding profusely. Someone carried
him half a mile back to their home and then his father rushed him by cart to
the hospital in Perth where he remained for three weeks until he recovered. In 1857, Thomas (Snr) was informed by a settler, of a
valuable property on the Canning River, 20 miles from Perth, at Roleystone of
5,559 acres for sale at 530 pound ($1060). Thomas (Jnr) recorded in his diary that the first time he and his
father saw the property they had walked from Perth to Rolleston. In 1857 Thomas Buckingham (Snr), purchased the property on the south
side of the Upper Canning River, above Kelmscott, named “Rolleston” and eventually
moved his family there. The move to Rolleston (later called Roleystone) and the building of a house took
several years to complete. In 1861 they started building as there was only a
small stone hut on the property. They built walls with pug and bat bricks, they
split all the timbers for the battens, rafters, plates and frames. And split
Jarrah shingles for the roof. |
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REMAINS OF THE WINE CELLAR THAT THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM BUILT NEAR OLD ALBANY LANE/THOMPSON ROAD, ARALUEN #6 |
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REMAINS OF THE RETIREMENT HOUSE THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM BUILT IN 1870 #7 |
REMAINS OF THE WINE CELLAR THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM BUILT #8 |
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REMAINS OF THE WINE CELLAR THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM BUILT #9 |
REMAINS OF THE WINE CELLAR THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM BUILT #10 |
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In 1862 they built a foot bridge which was very high, they
also fenced the property, as by this time they had about 300 head of cattle, six or
eight horses and several goats. A bridge across the Canning River was also
commenced the same year. It was wide enough to take a cart, the sides were
built up with a strong frame and filled with stones. Long logs were put across
giving one 40ft span 15 feet above the river. Floods came and washed it all
away. Sometime later it was rebuilt several feet higher. |
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A FOOTBRIDGE CROSSING, SIMILAR TO THE BUCKINGHAM ONE OVER THE CANNING RIVER #11 |
A FOOTBRIDGE CROSSING, SIMILAR TO THE BUCKINGHAM ONE OVER THE FLOODED CANNING RIVER #12 |
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In 1864 their wheat crop was flourishing. The family experienced a
setback when some of their animals were poisoned and died from certain toxic plants
growing in the bush, and some suffering disease and others being attacked by
wild native dogs. |
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REMAINS OF THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM 'S SECOND HOUSE BUILT AS HIS RETIREMENT HOME, |
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REMAINS OF THE WINE CELLAR THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM #14 |
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Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) wrote in his Memoirs that in 1864 because “the
farm was not paying very well, he – Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) – rigged up a
timber wagon and went in shares with Edward Cockram carting piles for Benjamin
Mason of Mason’s Mill to Canning Landing, for the building of
the bridge at Fremantle. This venture began a colourful life within the timber industry
culminating in the building of water-powered saw mills on the Canning River at
Kelmscott. Milling timber in those days was not easy. All sawing was done with
the vertical saw. A pit was dug under the log after it had been felled; one man
below pulled the saw down, and one on top pulled it up again,.... similar to
the crosscut saw except that instead of being horizontal it was vertical.
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REMAINS OF BUCKINGHAM COTTAGE AMENTI ROAD #16 |
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MARY & THOMAS (Snr) BUCKINGHAM'S GRAVE #17
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The pit saw method of milling timber was carried on for some years and
worked very well and satisfactorily. Timber was sawn for bridges then being
built, other size timber for homes, shingles for roofs of cottages, and also
wide boards for the city undertakers for making coffins. Thomas Buckingham
(Snr) and Mary were growing old, so they rented the property out to their son
Thomas, in May of 1871. Sadly Thomas (Snr) Buckingham’s wife, Mary died on 12th May
1875 and was the first person buried at the
Kelmscott Cemetery. Two years later Thomas (Snr) remarried to a Miss Elizabeth
Placket. Thomas (snr) died on 4th October 1879 at Roleystone,
Western Australia.
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Maria Buckingham Born 4th October 1836
at Twitchen, Devon, England.
Died 9th February 1919 at Moore River, aged 83.
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MARIA & GRAND-DAUGHTER THELMA EDWARDS #18
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MARIA & JOHN THOMAS #112
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Thomas (Jnr) & Alexander Thomas (Jnr) and Alexander were growing up, and taking the brunt of
the heavy work, thereby relieving their father of a lot of worry. Thomas (Jnr)
bought a property at Kelmscott, on the Canning River, on the road to
Roleystone. The boys did not like the idea of the pitsaw method of labour, so in 1865 they heard about a water-wheel powered mill down at Busselton. Thomas travelled 140 miles to Vasse to see the Yelverton’s steam-powered Mill and inspected it. In 1855-56 Thomas Jnr and Alexander then built a water-powered timber mill near where Stocker Road is today. It was financed by their father but wasn't very successful as the price of timber fell.The dam was likely created by a large log, but I haven’t yet been able to rule out a number of smaller logs, even rocks. (No concrete.) Later on Thomas and Alexander built water-wheels of their own. Thomas on the lower section of the Canning River while Alexander built his on the higher section.
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THE WATER WHEEL MILL, KELMSCOTT #19
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Saint Mary’s Anglican Church Early records show that eleven people, including Thomas Buckingham (Snr), Thomas Buckingham
(Jnr), Samuel Hamersley, Charles Fancote and Samuel Salter, donated money to build St. Mary’s Anglican Church at Kelmscott.
Thomas was the successful tenderer and it was built by him and a hired mason,
for a cost of 62 pound ($124) and the building was completed on 16th
August 1871. The small Church was 16 feet by 20 feet in dimensions when it was
completed and local timber was used, and the hand-made bricks which came
from a nearby kiln. It was furnished by the different families
supplying their own stools to worship on as well as a small table for the Rev.
H. B. Grimaldi from Guildford who held services once a month in the church. |
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SAINT MARY'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, KELMSCOTT #20 |
On 3rd October 1871, Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) and Hannah
Mary Ann Salter, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Salter, of Salter’s Point,
Canning Bridge, were the first couple to be married in the St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kelmscott, with the Rev. Grimaldi the officiating Chaplain. The
witnesses to the marriage were Thomas’s brother William and his sister Ellen,
who was later to marry Hannah’s Brother Samuel Salter. This church Mr.
Buckingham had built a few weeks before. Previous to this time services had
been conducted at "Poplar". Thomas Buckingham lamented in his memoirs that
although he and Hannah were the first couple to be married in St. Mary’s Anglican Church
they did not receive a Bible as was usual on such an occasion. |
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SAINT MARY'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, KELMSCOTT #21 |
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Thomas and Hannah spent the first few years of
their married life at Roleystone before moving to the home that Thomas had
earlier built in Kelmscott in 1868 using pug and bat bricks made on site. They
finally settled in the home, “Poplar”, in Kelmscott in 1878 and it was in this
home that Thomas and Hannah resided for the rest of their lives and it was here
that they raised their eleven children.
CEMETERY AT SAINT MARY'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, KELMSCOTT #22 |
SAINT MARY'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, KELMSCOTT #23 |
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SAINT MARY'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, KELMSCOTT 1906 #24
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Thomas Buckingham Junior Thomas (Jnr) & Hannah Buckingham had eleven children. Ten of whom
survived their father. |
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Henry Thomas
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Born 1st
October 1872 at Roleystone. Died 14th
December 1952 at Kelmscott aged 80. |
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William
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Born 20th
February 1874. Died 8th
August 1937 at Kelmscott, aged 63. |
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Ellen Maria
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Born 13th
October 1876. Died 30th
August 1936 aged 60. |
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Frederick John
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Born 2nd
January 1878. Died 8th
November 1926 at Kelmscott aged 48. |
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Charles James
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Born 27th
May 1879. Died 1959
aged 80. |
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Walter Samuel
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Born 9th
February 1881 in Perth. Died 10th
March 1943 (1963) at Bentley aged 62. |
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Alice Maude |
Born 7th
September 1882 at Kelmscott. Died 19th
May 1883 aged 8 months. |
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Ada Maude
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Born 12th
August 1884 in Kelmscott. Died 7th
May 1977 aged 92. |
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Hannah
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Born 10th
September 1886 at Kelmscott. Died 30th July 1969
aged 83. |
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Betsy
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Born 25th
September 1888 at Kelmscott. Died 12th
May 1966 in Adelaide, South Australia, aged 78.
Never married. |
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Emily Victoria
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Born 24th
May 1891 at Kelmscott. Died 8th June 1959
aged 68.
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Thomas (Jnr) & Alexander Buckingham In 1872-73 Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) was driving a log hauling bullock
team at Jarrahdale in partnership with Samuel Salter, carting timber for piles
and poles for building bridges at Fremantle. The Jarrahdale timber industry had
just commenced when they started working from there. Early Jarrahdale is
described in a letter written by a Robert Lind in 1875 when Jarrahdale was in
its fourth year of operation. He wrote to his wife back in England describing
the bushy environment – In 1874 Thomas Buckingham (Jnr) and Samuel Salter applied for a timber
reserve near one which was taken up by Benjamin Mason. The reserve, in the name
of Buckingham and Salter took in Kangaroo Gully and Turtle Creek near where
Canning Dam is today. Alexander Buckingham married Elizabeth York of Gingin on 7th
May 1872 and set up home in Kelmscott where he worked as a saw miller. |
THOMAS (Jnr) & HANNAH (nee Salter) BUCKINGHAM #25 |
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The second mill was built by Alexander only, in the year
1875. The dam was not far down steam from the Buckingham Bridge, and was created
by a large log. There was a long race (also called a flume or ditch) which
carried the water to his mill. Alexander used it until the end of 1882. His
brother Thomas junior used it for parts of 1883 and 1884. It then remained idle
for some time. In 1891 Alexander’s sons, John and Ernest, began restoring the
mill race and started sawing. They used this mill for some time and were joined
by their brother, James. It was converted to steam in the second of the decade.
Its exact date of its closure is not known, but by mid 1899, the brothers were
milling at Beenup (Byford).
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WATER WHEEL AT BUCKINGHAM MILL, "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR', KELMSCOTT #28 |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT #29 |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT #30 |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT #31 |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT #32 |
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BUCKINGHAM MILL AT "POPLAR", KELMSCOTT #33 |
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HENRY & CHARLIE BUCKINGHAM MAKING BRICKS IN THE VICINITY OF FANCOTE STREET KELMSCOTT #34 |
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Alexander unfortunately became sick and died young. His brother Thomas took over operating the mill in 1883 and when Alexander’s sons Ernest and James grew older they then took over operations at the saw mill. The third water powered mill was built by Thomas junior on his property named Poplar in 1886 and he was still making some improvements into the next year. He used Alex’s dam. The race which carried the water to the mill was lined with heavy timber. It was used commercially by Thomas junior with help from his sons, then by his son Walter, into the early 1930’s, when the milling ceased. After the bad flood of 1945 the then owner of “Poplar” took out the old timber of the race and lined it with concrete.
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Mary Buckingham Born
4th February1841 at Twitchen, Devon. Died 21st
November 1921 aged 80 in Exeter, Devon,
England. Married
Edmund Oxenham Cockram 1862.
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Alexander Buckingham In 1872, Thomas’ brother, Alexander married Elizabeth Adams York on
the 1st May at Gingin, Western Australia. They had 5 children: John Adams Born in 1873 at Canning. Ernest Alexander Born in 1876 at Kelmscott. James Thomas Born in 1878 at Kelmscott Edith Ann Born in 1880 at
Kelmscott. Alberta Lettia Born in 1883 at
Canning. Herbert Jabez Born 1885 at Gingin.
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ALEXANDER BUCKINGHAM #113
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ELIZABETH BUCKINGHAM Wife of ALEXANDER #35
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Betsy Buckingham Betsy was the third daughter born to Thomas (Snr) and Mary Buckingham in 1846 at Twitchen, Devon. She married
Edwin Cockram on 18th May 1870 at her brother Thomas Jnr's house "Poplar" in Kelmscott. Besty died 1925 aged 79 at Cannington.
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EDWIN & BETSY (nee Buckinghan) COCKRAM #36 |
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Daughter ADA COCKRAM #37
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Son HENRY COCKRAM #38
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Caroline Buckingham Born 28th May 1849 at Twitchen, Devon, Caroline was one year old when the family arrived from England. At 22 years old she married Charles Fancote on 4th July 1871. They lived at Kelmscott opposite the site of the now Railway Station. In 1884 Caroline Fancote (ne Buckingham) was appointed the first Postmistress and held the job for almost 20 years, from 1884 - 190, while she raised her family of 10 children. She died 13th September 1915 at Kelmscott
aged 66.
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William Buckingham Born 30th May 1853 at
Pinjar, Western Australia. Died 14th August 1917 at Kelmscott
age 64. Married
Sarah Jane Holt from Fremantle on 25th August 1879.
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WILLIAM & SARAH BUCKINGHAM & FAMILY #39 |
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SARAH JANE BUCKINGHAM (nee Holt) AGED 77 |
EVA BUCKINGHAM & SARAH JANE BUCKINGHAM #41
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RUINS OF WILLIAM & SARAH BUCKINGHAM'S HOUSE At ARALUEN #42
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Ellen Buckingham On 22nd September 1875, Samuel Salter married Ellen
Buckingham, the daughter of Thomas (Snr) and Mary Buckingham and sister of
Thomas Buckingham (Jnr), in St. George’s Cathedral, Perth. Samuel listed his
profession as a timber contractor who was residing at “The Serpentine”
(Jarrahdale. The witnesses to the marriage were Ellen’s sister and her husband,
Edwin and Betsy Cockram. In 1877 Samuel and Ellen Salter had settled at Ranford Street,
Kelmscott. Their daughter Clara had been born in 1876. On Clara’s birth
certificate Samuel stated his profession as a “driver”, presumably a bullock
team driver. Ellen passed away on the 19th May, 1878 at the age of
22 leaving Samuel with a young child to care for. Their home in Ranford Street,
Kelmscott, was still standing in the early 1940s. The property was then in the
name of their daughter Clara Salter. Clara became a patient in a mental asylum
suffering from dementia in her final years and she passed away on the 4th
August 1953. It appears that Samuel and Clara were both boarding with Thomas and
Hannah at varying times through to 1887. Probably Hannah was helping her
brother to look after Clara while he earnt a living. Samuel was still at times
working in partnership with Thomas either at Jarrahdale, with the bullock wagon
in the carting of logs or stone, or splitting posts or at other times working
on the farm “Poplar”. |
SAMUEL SALTER #43 |
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John Buckingham Born 25th August 1858
at Gingin. Died 1st January 1947 in
Perth aged 89.
JOHN & ANNIE (nee Groom) BUCKINGHAM #44
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JOHN & ANNIE (nee Groom) BUCKINGHAM #45 |
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JOHN & ANNIE (nee Groom) BUCKINGHAM WEDDING #46
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Hugh Buckingham Born 18th April 1860 at Gingin.
Died 7th August 1940 at
Kelmscott, Western Australia aged 80. Married 20th
November 1899 in
Perth. Twins died in infancy in 1902. Hugh and Hildaalways referred to their twins as Sidney and Dorothea. However, officially on BDM they are referred to as Victor Hugh and May Florence. Victor Hugh was buried 1st December 1902 at 6 months and May Florence (May Adelineob Battye record) was buried on 11th November 1902 at 5 months, although the register said 1903 for May. The burial information came from the Battye Library which has a list of burials at St, Mary in the Valley Church, Kelmscott from 1902 - 1936. Hugh J. Buckingham built a mill on the Stinton’s Creek (Araluen Park)
which was south of the Canning River. This mill appears to have been operating
c1907.
HUGH BUCKINGHAM #47
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HUGH & HULDA BUCKINGHAM
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HUGH & HULDA BUCKINGHAM #49
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Thomas (Jnr) & Hannah Buckingham |
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"POPLAR" KELMSCOTT |
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GENERAL VIEW OF EARLY KELMSCOTT #51 |
THE MILL SHED - WALTER BUCKINGHAM MAKING FRUIT CASES #52 |
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JOHN ADAMS BUCKINGHAM SAW MILL, KELMSCOTT #53 |
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"POPLAR" KELMSCOTT |
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EARLY VALLEY VIEW, WALTER BUCKINGHAM'S HOUSE, KELMSCOTT #55 |
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THOMAS & HANNAH BUCKINGHAM FAMILY
THOMAS & HANNAH BUCKINGHAM FAMILY |
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As well as mothering her large family Hannah Buckingham spread her
kindness to those in the district needing help. She was often referred to as
the “Mother of Kelmscott” because she played an important role to many people
in the district but especially her role as midwife for which she most
remembered. Both she and her husband always made their home available for
people in need and Church Services were conducted at their home for different
denominational groups. As well as marriages and other celebrations were
celebrated there. |
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BUCKINGHAM SAW MILL, BEENUP {Byford) #58 |
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In 1886 Thomas (Jnr) built his own water-powered mill at his Kelmscott
property “The Poplars” on the Canning River on the road to Roleystone. The site
was Kelmscott Suburban Lot 33, now 222 Brookton Highway. The venture was
successful and remained in use for many years. Thomas’ son Walter, continued
the mill using it to break down logs and the further cutting down into
structural wood and fruit cases. He added a Ruston Hornsby engine and
eventually converted to electricity soon after 1926. |
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WORKERS AT ALEX BUCKINGHAM SAW MILL, KELMSCOTT WHEN OPERSTED BY HIS SONS #59 |
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BUCKINGHAM SAW MILL, KELMSCOTT #60 |
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Thomas passed away on Wednesday 29th October 1913, aged 74
years, at his residence "Poplar" Kelmscott and Hannah Mary Ann
Buckingham passed away on the 10th November 1919, aged 67 years.
Many of the Kelmscott community mourned their passing for a life’s job well
done. Hannah and Thomas are both buried at St. Mary’s, Church of England
Cemetery, Kelmscott. Originally the Church that Thomas built in 1871 was close
by but this small building has now been replaced by a much grander building. During his long period of residence at Kelmscott he had always taken a
keen interest and active interest in the work of the church, and at the time of
his death and for many years before was a vestryman. In a quite an unobtrusive
manner he supported all movements for the advancement of the district. At
various times he was a member of the Roads Board and Cemetery Board. The open
hospitality of his home was widely known; his house was a general meeting place
of the settlers for miles around. His high character and kindly nature drew to
the respect and friendship of all who knew him. His later years were marred by
a painful affliction. His sufferings, however, were borne with his usual brave,
patient and uncomplaining spirit, and he has left behind him an example which
will never fade from the memories of those who came into contact with him. The
high esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham and family are held was evidenced
by the crowd of sympathising friends who assembled to pay their last token of
respect, when his body was laid to rest in the cemetery beside the little
church which he had built with his own hands so many years previously. |
GRAVE OF THOMAS (Jnr) & HANNAH BUCKINGHAM #61 |
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THOMAS (Jnr) & HANNAH BUCKINGHAM'S CHILDREN
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Henry Thomas Buckingham Henry Thomas, the eldest son of Thomas (Jnr) and Hannah Buckingham, was born 1st October 1872 at Roleystone. He spent part of his early working life prospecting on the Goldfields. He later bought a property at Roleystone and established an orchard. The property was known as “Bangup”, probably the native name for the locality and commenced clearing it in 1897. In 1905 he married Lucy Jane Fancote (1882 – 1952) at the Congregational Church, Kelmscott. Their only child, Sybil was born in 1907. Later they moved with their daughter Sybil Constance (1907 – 1990), to a new home on the "Bangup" property. Henry died 14th December 1952 at Kelmscott aged 80. His wife, Lucy died in 1952. |
HENRY BUCKINGHAM #62 |
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HENRY & LUCY WITH DAUGHTER SYBIL #63 |
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM'S PROPERTY "BANGUP", ROLEYSTONE #65 |
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM' ON PROPERTY "BANGUP", ROLEYSTONE #66 |
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM' SPRAYING FRUIT TREES ON PROPERTY "BANGUP", ROLEYSTONE #67 |
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM'S PROPERTY "BANGUP", ROLEYSTONE #68 |
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM'S PROPERTY "BANGUP", ROLEYSTONE #69 |
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ORIGINAL BUTTER CHURN USED BY LUCY BUCKINGHAM #70
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HENRY & LUCY BUCKINGHAM'S GRAVE AT KARRAKATTA CEMETERY #71
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William Buckingham Born 20th
February 1874. Died 8th
August 1937 at Kelmscott, aged 63. William Buckingham was born at Roleystone on a property on the south side of the
Canning River on 20th February
1874. He died on 8th August 1937. He moved with his parents to “Poplar” Kelmscott, where the family
established a water driven saw mill. In 1899 he purchased a property of 12 acres in River Road (now
Armstrong Road) which he later caller “Clover”. In 1906 he built a three room
brick house with a weather-board lean-to as a kitchen. The property was fairly
heavily timbered and he spent many a long hour clearing to establish an
orchard. In 1909 he married Francis Teague Ayres (1885 – 1970), in the
Congregational Church, Leederville. |
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WILLIAM & FRANCIS BUCKINGHAM'S WEDDING #114 |
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When the property started to produce, the fruit and vegetables had to
be marketed, so before Mr. George Bunney started a pick-up transport service,
the produce had to be taken to the Kelmscott Railway Station by horse and cart,
where a rail van would be waiting in the yard to be taken later to the markets
in Perth. In 1923 William Buckingham and his wife started taking their own
produce to the Subiaco Open Markets, first in a “T” Model Ford, which was soon
found to be too small, then in 1924 by a Fiat ¾ ton wagon. This manner of sale
direct to the public was continued by the Buckingham family every Friday, and
also Tuesdays in the summer, right through to the 1940’s. In the last few years of his life William Buckingham had to take life
easy owing to a bad heart, so his son Ron left school at an early age to assist
in running the property. |
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KELMSCOTT RAILWAY STATION #72 |
KELMSCOTT RAILWAY STATION #73 |
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KELMSCOTT RAILWAY STATION #74
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KELMSCOTT RAILWAY STATION #75 |
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Ellen Maria Buckingham Born 13th
October 1875. Died 30th
August 1936 aged 60.
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Frederick John Buckingham Born 2nd
January 1878. Died 8th
November 1926 at Kelmscott aged 48.
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FREDERICK & EMMA BUCKINGHAM'S WEDDING #76
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Charles James Buckingham Born 27th
May 1879. Died 1959
aged 80.
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CHARLES & EDNA BUCKINGHAM #77
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Walter Samuel Buckingham Born 9th
February 1881 in Perth. Died 10th
March 1963 at Bentley aged 82.
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WALTER SAMUEL BUCKINGHAM #115
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Alice Maude Buckingham Born 7th September 1882 at Kelmscott. Died 19th May 1883 aged 8 months.
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Ada Maude (Maude) Buckingham Born 12th
August 1884 in Kelmscott. Died 7th
May 1977 aged 92.
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ADA MAUDE (MAUDE) BUCKINGHAM #116
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Hannah Buckingham Born 10th
September 1886 at Kelmscott. Died 30th July 1969
aged 83.
HANNAH & HARRY (Bert) COLLINS #78 |
HANNAH & HARRY (Bert) COLLINS #79
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HANNAH & HARRY (Bert) COLLINS WEDDING #80
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Betsy Buckingham When the first teacher,
Miss Dewar arrived, she lodged with them at “Poplar”. Thomas built a small room
onto his house especially for her. To their daughter, Betsy, this school was to
become a very important part of her life. She attending this school as a
student and then at the age of seventeen, returned as a Junior Monitor. In 1907
she was promoted to the position of Senior Monitor and Sewing Mistress. Betsy
went on and taught the junior grades for 43 years from 1906 through to 1948 until her retirement on 31st
January 1949 at the age of 60 years.
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BETSY, WILLIAN & HANNAH? BUCKINGHAM #81 |
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HANNAH & BETSY BUCKINGHAM #82 KELMSCOTT SCHOOL #84 |
BETSY BUCKINGHAM IN ENGLAND #83 For many years she operated a Lending Library for the people of
Kelmscott, charging 3 pence per book. She died in 1966 after a life of service
to the school and the wider community. Later in life Betsy moved to South
Australia and died on 12th May 1966 at the age of 78 years. Because
she was such a worthy person the district library was named the Betsy
Buckingham Library in her name and opened on what would have been her 100th
birthday on the 25th September 1988.
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KELMSCOTT SCHOOL UNKNOWN DATE |
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KELMSCOTT SCHOOL UNKNOWN DATE |
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KELMSCOTT SCHOOL 1910 #87 |
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KELMSCOTT SCHOOL 1911 #88 |
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Emma Victoria Buckingham Born 24th
May 1891 at Kelmscott. Died 8th June 1959
aged 68.
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Alexander Buckingham The year 1879 was a momentous year for the family as they lost their
father on 5th October. Also Alexander was preparing to go for a trip
to the land of his birth, England, to purchase a traction engine. This was no
small feat in those early days. Alexander walked from Roleystone to Fremantle to catch a coastal boat
that carried him to Adelaide, where he transferred to a Steamer going to
England. Apparently Fremantle was off the beaten track in those days, and not
all boats called there. While in England, Alex had an accessory of his own design attached to
the traction engine which was being manufactured by Areling & Parker. It is
believed it was a type of winch to haul logs clear of the ground to allow
easier traction movement. Eventually after several months, Alex and the eight horse-power road-engine
arrived at Fremantle on the “Daylight” on the 14th January 1880.
This meant that steam would have to be built up to provide the power to take
the engine by road to Roleystone. The trip had to go through the city, and he
had to obtain permission to drive it over the Causeway which at the time was
very narrow. Permission was granted provided he did it before 6.30 a.m., before
the city became awake. It was necessary to think of the horse traffic in those days. Horses
had never seen an engine, and it would have meant many runaways and broken
vehicles. Going down Adelaide Terrace where all the titled families of the
period lived, and at 6 o'clock in the morning, Alex had many a laugh at
children and grow-ups peering out of the upper windows in their night-shirts,
while many children followed the engine along the road. It caused quite a
commotion. |
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The road from Perth to Kelmscott was only a dirt road at the time and
in those days there were no bridges with the exception of the Causeway. The
only way over the Canning River was by way of the Rocky Ford below what was
known as Harris' at Kenwick, then again over the Southern River at Gosnells. At
Kelmscott the banks of the river had to be cut away to allow the engine easy
access up and over. This traction engine was nicknamed "Polly". He
used his engine to construct a road through very rough country, up into the
hills beyond Kelmscott wihich became one of the roads still used today. The
engine made its first full trip up this road to the spring known as Martin’s
Orchard to his mill on the 10th May 1880. It was used for road
conveyance on Engine Road, Kelmscott, and later for carting timber from
Kelmscott to Perth before the railway was constructed. It is reported in the Daily News, Saturday 2nd December 1882: It is reported in the Daily News, Saturday 9th December
1882: |
THE "FORD" CROSSING, CANNING RIVER #89 |
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"POLLY" WITH WAGON LOADS OF SAWN TIMBER #90 |
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Ernest & James Buckingham The timber trade was then going through one of those periods that
cropped up now and again, too much timber and too low a price. Alex was forced
to close down his Mill temporarily, and sold "Polly". It was sold for
a profit, to the late Mr. E. Lacey, of Sawyer's Valley. In 1905 Alexander’s two
sons, Ernest A. & James T. Buckingham started their career as saw millers
at Heidelberg, later known as South Kalamunda, and today, as Carmel. |
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ERNEST BUCKINGHAM #91
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They first advertised in December 1905 for a Spotter and their final advert was for a Picket Benchman and a Tailor Out Man in November 1906. There were reports that they had cut up Heidelbery Road with their heavy traffic and that they had constructed a road through Loaring's property previous to it being surveyed. After shifting the mill site once they sold to Richard Honey and Co. Then in 1907
Ernest A. & James T. Buckingham built a mill at Keysbrook,
removing it after 2 1/2 years to Serpentine. After four or five years’ work
at Serpentine the mill was moved to a spot on the Collie railway, which they
named Buckingham's Siding. |
JAMES BUCKINGHAM #92
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Buckingham Brother’s Mill Collie After they sold their saw mill at Carmel to Richard Honey & Co.
Ernest and James repurchased “Polly” to use at their new mill at Collie. The boiler was renewed. They were granted a Saw Milling Permit in July
1910 to cut timber in the Wellington District in the South West of Western
Australia. The engine was driven to the new spot mill, which was erected 11
miles east of Collie by Mr. Harold Barber, one of their workers. The trip took
two weeks as it could only chug along at 4 miles per hour. This site, after the
erection of a saw milling plant capable of sawing up to 20 loads of sawn timber
per day, became known as “Buckingham’s Mill”.
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HAROLD BARBER (in middle) #93 |
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They first used the “pit-saw” method to build a small mill to cut
timber to build the larger “general purpose” mill in 1911 powered by a steam
“Donkey Engine” and a railway siding to the mill. They employed 20 – 35 people.
The township quickly grew and had two shops, a grocer, a butcher, a hall and a
church. Some of the families that came to know “Bucks” as home were: Martin, Fancote, Barber,
Carrol, Brown, Wrights, Shepardson, Peppers, Stewart, Coops and Carpenters. The
first church at Buckingham was built for Ernest Buckingham with the first
service conducted by Reverend Walsh on 1 November 1915. During the 1920s and
30s, the Church played an important role in the community with a Choir run by
Elsie Dawson, an Endeavour Society and Sunday School. Socials were held in the
Church and Community Hal. At
one stage there were about 100 people living there and 60 children going to the
school. The school was built between the Buckingham Mill and Bunnings Mill
which was sometimes called the Wandoo Mill although it only ever cut Jarrah
timber. The Buckingham’s first house was a typical mill house and built out of
mill ends. Alf Martin married Hilda Buckingham who was the niece of Alexander Buckingham. Alf was a teamster and excelled with horses. He was working at Buckingham Mill around 1912 as a single man. From 1924 - 1930 Alf lived at Buckingham Mill with his wife and 5 children. |
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AERIEL VIEW OF WHERE BUCKINGHAM BROTHER'S MILL AT COLLIE WAS #94 |
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BUCKINGHAM BROTHER'S MILL AT BEENUP (Byford) #95 |
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COLLIE MILL - THE WORKING DAY - CONTROLLED BY WHISTLES 6:00
A long whistle would wake everyone 7:15
The second whistle would tell the men 7:30
A whistle sounded and immediately 9:30
Tea Break 12:00
Noon Lunch break. 12:55
Small pip of a whistle. Get ready to start. 1:00
Time to start work. 5:00
End of the working day. (This information passed to Glenys Innes by Stan Stewart with the info
coming from his father Ernie Stewart, son of Levi Stewart.) |
BULLOCK TEAM AT COLLIE MILL #96 |
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BUCKINGHAM'S MILL CHURCH, COLLIE #97 |
GENERAL STORE REBUILT AFTER FIRE, BUCKINGHAM'S MILL, COLLIE #98 |
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ERNEST & ELIZABETH'S FIRST HOUSE AT BUCKINGHAM'S MILL, COLLIE #99 |
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SCHOOL & HALL, BUCKINGHAM'S MILL, COLLIE #100 |
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SCHOOL GROUP, BUCKINGHAM'S MILL, COLLIE #101 |
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BUCKINGHAM HOUSE |
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In 1912, the engine which was now affectionately known as “Polly” by all
the workers, had its traction wheels removed and replaced with flanged wheels
for use on the railway in the vicinity of Collie, hauling trucks of timber into
Collie Township. It became useful as an engine driving a circular saw, and again
a road engine. It was finally used to drive a log-lifting winch. Railway lines
were laid out to the various landings and “Polly” was used to haul the logs to
the mill.
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"POLLY" MODIFIED TO GO ON RAILS #103 |
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"POLLY" MODIFIED TO GO ON RAILS #104 |
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The Buckingham Brothers paid 1000 pounds ($2,000) to the Western
Australian Government Railways to have a spur line put in the collie to
Narrogin railway line where it passed about one mile from their mill, and
“Polly” was used to shunt the trucks of sawn timber to the siding. A distribution centre, Buckingham Brothers Timber Merchants, was
established in Claisebrook Road, East Perth. Chinese market gardens were
abundant in that area at that time. In 1924 the entrance to the office of was
forced on the evening of Thursday 15th May and 5 pounds ($10) was taken from
the cash boxes. Then in 1941 on Thursday 25th September burglars entered the
offices of Buckingham Brothers, which they ransacked but got nothing. |
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The mill was working full handed by this time, the output was timber
being in great demand for a fast growing State. For eight years “Polly” was
worked hard. Two men were able to open the winch at the various landings and
load the rakes of timber. As the cutting areas expanded, the distance “Polly”
had to travel each day became too great for the water supply carried in her
tank, and the gallant little engine was replaced with a 30 ton Class A
Locomotive. Her shunting days were over. “Polly” remained out in the falling areas
for many years, her winch used to load logs at bush landings until the railway
lines were pulled up in 1953.
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THE 30 TON "A" CLASS LOCOMOTIVE THAT REPLACED "POLLY" #105 |
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"POLLY" OUTSIDE THE COLLIE VISITOR CENTRE #106 |
When the mill was sold to the State Building Supplies in 1954 “Polly”
was offered to the Perth Museum who declined the offer due to lack of space. In
1957 the Collie Road Board asked for “Polly” and it was placed on display at
the Collie Visitor Centre. Today “Polly” stands proudly there for all to view.
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"POLLY" OUTSIDE THE COLLIE VISITOR CENTRE #107 |
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The Bunning Brothers established a mill on the West side of the Collie
River and the rivalry between the two mills was fierce. The local watering
hole, The Cabbage Tree Hotel, often saw brawls erupting between the opposing
mills and the coal miners from Shotts. But winter flooding of the Collie River prevents the Buckingham
children from reaching the new school. The Government
built the Post Office on the Buckingham side of the river. Thus, when the
Buckingham kids couldn’t go to school – the Bunnings workers couldn’t get their
mail. |
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THE BRIDGE OVER TO CABBAGE TREE HOTEL #108 |
REMAINS OF THE BRIDGE OVER TO CABBAGE TREE HOTEL #108 |
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On the 12th February 1945 a fire swept through the
settlement and mill at Collie. Stewarts shop and up to 11 homes including those
belonging to the Dawsons, Carrolls, Whittings and Barbers were burnt to the
ground. It also destroyed the Pump House, the Church, Rail Line and trucks
parked up loaded with sleepers. Fortunately, no one was injured and the mill
was saved. John Buckingham had no financial interest in the sawmill but
following the fire, he came to Buckingham and with materials supplied by his
brothers, Ernest and James, he rebuilt the church. The
pews were built by A Sproston, a member of the congregation. An organ was
provided by the Forrest Park Methodist Church, Mt Lawley. The
non-denominational Church opened on 3 June 1951. Worshippers were primarily
Methodist and Anglican. The result being the lovely
little building known as “Buckingham Memorial Methodist Church”. In 1954 the Buckinghams sold the mill to the State Sawmills then in
1961 the State sold it to Hawker Siddley who merged with Bunnings in 1970. On
10th May 1974, after 63 years of production, Mr. R. G. Barber cut
the last log. After the mill’s closure, Buckingham town site was quiet and tranquil
till the Premier Mine started seriously impacting on it in the mid 90’s.
Wesfarmers Coal Ltd started buying up land and moving people out of the area in
1997. Later the Buckingham Home was fully restored and owned by Glen Hunter and
Sue Morton. The Barbers still occupied the other 2 homes remaining in the town
site (1998). |
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RESTORED BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, BUCKINGHAM"S MILL, COLLIE #110 |
RESTORED BUCKINGHAM HOUSE. BUCKINGHAM"S MILL, COLLIE #1112 |
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Norman Fernie Another little known sawmill powered by water in the area, was built
in the 1920’s by Norman Fernie on his father Robert Alexander Fernie’s property,
“Stoney Gully”, Roleystone. It was 2.5 Kilometres north of Roleystone on Peet
Road. An elevated wooden flume commenced about 85 metres above the mill and
carried the water to a tank on a mound above the mill, and then through a
nozzle to a cupped wheel, which then powered the mill. |
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The Buckingham Family This pioneering family made its mark in the Timber Industry of Western
Australia, not only in the Kelmscott – Roleystone region but also at Carmel,
Keysbrook and Collie. They were a well-respected community minded family and
were held in very high esteem amongst all those who came into contact with
them. They became involved in many local associations with the local Church,
Road Board, School and Post Office. It is hoped that this story, of the family,
will give the reader some idea of their contribution to the history of the
area.
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SAINT MARY'S CHURCH ORGAN Few would know that St. Mary's Church is home to the oldest church pipe organ in the Southern Hemisphere and the oldest of its kind in Australia. (c. 1750 -1770). The 18th century organ was located in the redundant St. Mark's Anglican Church, in Eccles, Kent in 1969. It was acquired and shipped to Kelmscott in 1971. It is likely to have been built in England between around 1750 and 1770. The builder's name, alas, is not recorded on the instrument but it has stylistic similarities with the work of the organ builder John Byfield 11 (died 1774) with a comparable instrument by this builder, and very similar casework, at "Finchcocks", Kent. The organ was restored by Mr Graham Devenish, of Pipe Organs W.A. Pty., Ltd., in 2012 - 2013.
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The current restoration work was necessitated through a serious attack by termites, which had eaten through some of the original woodwork. Dismantling of
the organ, and a full examination of its components, revealed that several
stops have been removed over the years, the keyboards and drawstops replaced,
and a 'shifting movement' that retracts selected stops, had vanished. These
have all been reconstructed upon historic models, assisted by advice from the
UK from Dominic Gwynn and David Wickens. Rectification of termite damage to the casework required reconstruction of original materials in oak, following original patterns. Several wooden pipes have been remade. This magnificent organ is fully restored and working. It has pride of place in the St. Mary's Church, Kelmscott.
Images supplied by Mr Graham Devenish, of Pipe Organs W.A. Pty., Ltd. |
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Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.
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References: Article: Gordon Freegard Images: Internet 2, 3, 4, 23, 51, 55
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008-2024 |
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