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SARAH & JOSEPH BETTENAY c1901 #2 |
They had five sons: On 9th February 1881, Joseph and Sarah and their
three surviving sons, James 15, Joseph 10 and Matthew 7, sailed on the 1180 ton
sailing ship “Zamora” from Plymouth bound for Moreton Bay, and the fledgling
colony of Brisbane. The “Zamora” was a 3 mast iron ship 222.6 feet long and
34.3 feet wide. They arrived on the 24th May 1881. The population of
Brisbane at the time was 31,109. Sarah’s brother, Thomas Beeston and his wife
Elizabeth (nee Harrison) were already residents of the colony. Seven years after their arrival, James married his first
cousin, Elizabeth Ann Beeston, first child of Thomas and Elizabeth. They
married on 19th June 1888, and lived in Brisbane all their lives.
They had no children and are both buried in a double plot at Lutwyche Cemetery,
Brisbane. |
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About 1890, the rest of the family, Joseph and Sarah and
their other two sons, Joseph and Matthew, left Brisbane for the fruit growing
area of Mildura, Victoria. The family remained in the Mildura area for only a
few years. During this period both sons married. Joseph married Ada Leworthy, a dressmaker, on 27th
November 1893. Ada Leworthy was born in 1866 at Swinsbridge, Devon, England and
lived as a child in Barnstaple, near High Wycombe. As a young woman she was so
delicate and unwell that her family was told by the local doctor that she would
not survive another English winter and they must make efforts to send her to a
warmer climate. By chance, a related family was about to emigrate to the new
colony of South Australia and immediately arrangements were made for the young
Ada to join the Parker Family to act as a governess for their young children.
She sailed on 1st April 1886 on the “Orient”, on a voyage which took
one month and ten days to reach Port Adelaide. Joseph and Ada had 3 children;
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ADA LEWORTHY WITH HER MOTHER |
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Matthew and Jane had 5 children: |
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GENERAL VIEW SHOWING THE TWO MILLS AT CANNING MILLS #4 |
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About 1900 the Canning Mills had cut out all the easily recoverable
jarrah and it was necessary to shift the mill to more lucrative area. The elder
Bettenays, with son Matthew and his family, chose to return to Mildura. Joseph
and Ada, however decided to stay on in Western Australia. The elder Bettenays, Joseph and Sarah, both died at Mildura in Victoria
soon after returning from Western Australia – Sarah in 1902 and Joseph the
following year in 1903. The water supply at Canning Mills became polluted and Typhoid Fever
became rife in the area. Ada valiantly nursed her husband and infant son
through the illness after the visiting Doctor had given him up for lost! The
decision was made to move to a safer place. Land was being offered for
development by the Western Australian Government near the Canning Mills town site.
Both Joseph and Ada had lived and worked for some time in Mildura, a prosperous
fruit growing area, so they decided to establish an orchard in this newly
opening area. What was needed was a block with its own independent water supply away
from Canning Mills catchment area. And so the search began in earnest. A
Conditional Purchase Block which had been selected and passed back to the Crown
because the necessary conditions of development had not been complied with. It
had a small clearing and a good water supply with many springs rising on the
land. |
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In the autumn of 1901 Joseph and Ada moved out of Canning Mills to make
their home on the new selection and to develop an orchard from the virgin bush
block. They named the property “Irymple” after the area in Victoria in which
they had lived when first married. Ada’s brother, George Leworthy joined his
sister after working unsuccessfully as a gold miner on the Klondyke in Alaska. Joseph was to continue working at Canning Mills as a carpenter,
assisting to demolish the mill house while the other began the arduous work of
clearing the new block. Every day Joseph rode off on a horse to work and brought
home at the end of his day, a piece of timber from the mill shute to renovate
and extend the small slab hut which was the only building on the property. Ada
made what became her famous butter, which Joseph sold at the Mill to keep the
family going. |
PEN & WASH DRAWING OF THE "OLD SLAB HUT" BY MARGARET BETTENAY #5 |
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GEORGE LEWORTHY #6 |
The old slab Hut was made from Jarrah slabs with a roof of bark, cut
from the nearby tree in the traditional aboriginal manner. One Jarrah tree, now
dead, still stands on the property which shows quite clearly the scar where a
slab of jarrah bark has been cut for use in the first house. There was a great
stone fireplace in the centre of the room and a chimney in the northeast corner
of the roof. In the late twenties the Old Slab Hut as still standing but in great
disrepair. Vern Bettenay, as a little boy, remembers the Slab Hut as ‘very dark
and dirty, with a low roof’ – it was in use in his time as a poultry shed. The first years on the new block were a dour, unending struggle to clear
the land and to survive. The valley’s rich and deep soil hosted thick forests
of eucalypt and scrub. All of which had to be cleared by hand digging and
burning. Ada kept a few goats – which in common with many other introduced
animals, began to succumb to the Heart Leaf Poison which thrived in the area.
Ada consulted the local land owners, the Buckinghams, who showed her the
offending plants and advised her to dig out every bush. She scoured the block
and dug out every plant and happily, her animals survived. By 1903 enough land had been cleared to begin the planting of the first
orchard. An ambitious plan was drawn up and the trees ordered. The original
docket for the trees and plants ordered from Rossister Brothers Nursery
survives today and it shows that a “Fruit Salad” type orchard was planned, with
a number of grape vines as well as apple, pear and stone fruit trees. |
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ORIGINAL SALES DOCKET FROM ROSSITER & COMPANY 1904 |
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Only one of the original planting survives today – some 118 years on (2021) – the venerable Newcastle apricot – still bearing apricots.
Further down the valley, also still bearing fruit, are remnants of the Flame
Tokay Grape which sprouts up far and wide, showing its rich autumn colours each
season.
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VERNON BETTENAY WITH JACK UNDER THE OLD APRICOT TREE c1992 #8 |
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In 1906 a large meeting was held at Canning Mills to form a Progress
Association at which Joseph Bettenay was elected President. They decided to
lodge complaints about the condition of roads in the district and also about
the removal of a Stationmaster at Pickering Brook. They decided to meet every
six weeks. During 1908 -1910 the family decided to move out of the original slab
hut, which was much too small for the growing family. For some time Ada had
been using a section of the creek for a Coolroom to keep her home made butter
and other food stuffs fresh. A small lean-to shed straddled the creek and the
foodstuffs were lowered in containers, into a pool of cool running water. The
decision was made to construct a new house at this spot, which is now covered
by the present packing shed and cool room. The old coolroom was used as a home
for a while by Ada’s brother, George Leworthy. It was eventually demolished by
Arthur, Roy and Vern about 1933. Canning Mills officially closed down in 1908,
and the new house was constructed of timbers from the mill Engine Shed. Over
the years, new bedrooms were built as the family increased and wide verandahs
housed beds for many visitors. Irymple Homestead was eventually demolished in
August 1965 to make room for extensions to the packing shed of today. |
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JOSEPH & ADA BETTTENAY WITH FAMILY #9 |
When the new school opened in Roleystone (near the junction of Holden
Road and Brookton Highway) the children were able to walk to school each day –
though Arthur, as the eldest, was only able to take advantage of this education
for one year before he began full time work at home on the property. Doris,
however was able to work as a monitor at the same school later in her life. In 1912 the railway line to Canning Mills was extended to the
Karragullen Siding. It was officially opened on 5th August amid
great rejoicing with the cutting of a ceremonial ribbon for the first train to
steam through. The ribbon was held by 13 year old, Miss Doris Bettenay and 17
year old, Mabel Parker. Mabel had recently arrived from England to settle in
Roleystone with her family on the property they called ‘Arden’. Arthur Bettenay
and Mabel married a few years later in 1920. World War 1 plunged the world into conflict and Australia was gripped by
patriotic fervour. Arthur Bettenay enlisted as soon as he could and was
followed soon after by his brother Wilfred. Arthur was part of a force lying
off Gallipoli as part of the landing of troops, when a number of the soldiers
on the ship were taken ill with influenza and the ship was diverted - he later
fought in France. Wilfred also fought in France and was seriously wounded and
lost a leg.
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ARTHUR LEWORTHY BETTENAY’S WAR SERVICE
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ARTHUR LEWORTHY BETTENAY #10 |
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GROUP OF 44th BATTALION SIGNALLERS TAKEN IN ENGLAND 1918 #11 |
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WILFRED GEORGE BETTENAY’S WAR SERVICE
Their father, Joseph had a talent of recording events and happenings in
verse. This a verse he wrote in July 1914. |
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THE MEN WHO WENT DOWN When the battle is over, the victory won, Went down, not went back! For they died in the
field. We will never forget them: The Men That Went Down. Let their story be told in the years yet to come, We have met them, old comrades, on mill, mine and
track, By Joseph Bettenay, Karragullen |
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WILFRED DETTENAY AND NEWLY PLANTED ORANGE |
Both brothers returned to Australia to a heroe’s welcome from the local
people in 1919. As a mark of appreciation, Wilfred was given an orchard planted
on his home block by local volunteers headed by Thomas Price Senior of
Illawarra Orchard. This orchard which he named “Bannow” was planted with oranges,
some of which still survive today. Bannow was the name of the English hospital
in which he stayed after his wounding. In later years it was worked by
Wilfred’s son Keith until it was bought by Vernon Bettenay and incorporated
into the Irymple block in 1996. Meanwhile Arthur had established his own
orchard up the valley from Irymple which was known as “the Top Block”. This
holding was subsequently sold to Bert Nicholls and then later became part of
the O’Meagher Orchards. |
McPHERSON'S Pty, Ltd. ADBERTISEMENT 1938 #14 |
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"BANNOW" ORCHARD AT A LATER DATE 1950 #15 |
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A year later, in January 1920 Arthur Bettenay married Mabel Ruth Parker
and they set up their home on “the Top Block”. The Parker Family had arrived
from England in1912 and the large and musically talented family quickly
integrated into the Roleystone – Karragullen life. Arthur, a man of few words,
writing in his diary on the first day of his return from the War notes that
he ‘visited Parkers’!! By the end of the year he had built a new home on his
block in preparation of his marriage to Mabel.
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MABEL PARKER #16 |
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MARRIAGE OF ARTHUR BETTENAY AND MABEL PARKER 1920 #17 |
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Arthur and Mabel had 5 children: 1920 Wilfred Joseph was born on
24th December at Shiloh, Subiaco. |
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THREE GENERATIONS OF THE BETTENAY FAMILY c1921 #18 |
Eric became a keen cricketer in the Roleystone
Karragullen Cricket Club. In the early days of the club, he took on the
challenge of establishing the ‘after match drinking facility’, by setting up a
plank between two trees and this served as the bar for the keg – a part
essential of the cricketing experience. Wilfred had married Sidney Mary Gibbings, daughter of Mrs. Stud and the
late Mr. Gibbings of Coolup, in 1923. The service was performed by Reverend
Cotterall in the Karragulllen Hall. They set up their home on the “Bannow“
block to raise their family.
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They had four children: 1924 Keith Arthur was born on
22nd January.
Doris had married Robert Young McVittie from Hawick, Scotland on 19th December 1925 and was living in her new house on the family property before moving to live in Perth. They had 2 children: 1927 David Ross was born on
19th February in Perth.
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ADA BETTENAY AND DAUGHTER DORIS #19 |
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About 1927 Ada became interested in a small shop for sale in Brandon
Street, South Perth and decided to buy it together with a small woodyard on the
opposite side of Canning Highway, which Joseph was manage. Ada named her new
enterprise “The Peter Pan”. A ‘send-off’ was organised by the locals at the
Karragullen Hall. Unfortunately Ada was ill and could not attend the function. Joseph
responded to the speeches by say “neither he nor his wife would forget
Karragullen and the many friends they had made there”. |
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THIS SHOP AT THE CORNER OF BRANDON STREET & CANNING HIGHWAY (PHOTO 2021) |
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It was agreed that Arthur would take over Irymple Orchard from his
parents and sell The Top Block – this was rented for a few years to Cliff
Harris and later sold to H. Nicholls. Arthur and Mabs and family moved into
Irymple Homestead c1930. The founding of Araluen by J. J. Simons on the adjoining bush block, was
to have a profound effect on the neighbouring Irymple. Within a few years of
opening the park, The Chalet and a number of holiday cottages were built and
the Bettenays began supplying fresh milk and cream on a regular basis – it was
a daily chore for the boys of the family to make a delivery trip on their
bikes. The dairy herd was expanded to cater for this business and as the Park
grew in popularity cars would regularly pass through the property on their
return trip to Perth at Mr. Simon’s request. This was to prove a mixed blessing
as much fruit was lost from the roadside trees during Sundays and holidays! |
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IRYMPLE HOMESTEAD c1930 BUILT 1910 #21 |
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Tragedy struck the family in 1931 when Doris died in childbirth, leaving
her baby Margaret and her son, David, to be cared for by the family. Ada,
devastated by her daughter’s death, decided to sell the Brandon Street shop and
return to Irymple and rear her grandchildren in the house built by Bob McVittie
for his bride. Joseph continued to run the woodyard in South Perth. |
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Meanwhile, Vern was home on the property working the orchard with his
father and brother Roy – cutting timber for firewood and milking the dairy
herd. It was about this time that Arthur and his sons built the cow bails, the
shed and the dairy. The men of the family also constructed the much loved
Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts, making Irymple a mecca for visitors,
particularly over the weekends. It was at this time that the boiler on Irymple
Mill was finally condemned and the decision was made to officially close the
mill, bringing to an end a long tradition of timber milling. In April 1937
Arthur was elected to the Armadale-Kelmscott Road Board for a 1 year term.
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Mrs. WILFRED BETTENAY OUTSIDE KARRAGULLEN HALL #22 |
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THE TENNIS COURT AT IRYMPLE #23 |
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THE SWIMMING POOL AT IRYMPLE #24 |
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GENERAL VIEW OF IRYMPLE ORCHARD #25 |
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KARRAGULLEN ACHOOL 1937 #26 Back Row L- R: RON OLIVER, ? , MARCO SCARI, ERIC BETTENAY. (Photo used with permission of the City of Armadale Birtwistle Local Studies Library) |
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KARRAGULLEN ACHOOL 1938c #27 Back Row L- R: DOROTHY BETTENAY, EDNA BETTENAY, HILDA BUCKINGHAM, ELEANOR BETTENAY
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The impact of World War 2 was felt by everyone at Irymple – clothing and
food rationing, shortages of every kind as the war effort accelerated. Petrol
was rationed, although the customary trip to the Subiaco Markets, so much a
part of orchard life, continued. The production of primary produce was crucial
to the war effort and men were “manpowered” to ensure that food needs were met.
It was a time for “making do’ and the hills community did its best to support
the troops in the war zones. Arthur Bettenay was a member of the Voluntary
Defence Corps and Joseph moved to Brisbane to work as a carpenter for the
American Army. Meanwhile the women of the family knitted diligently for Comfort
Parcels to go to the troops and they also learned to identify enemy planes and
studied first aid.
ERIC BETTENAY WITH TRACTOR 1944 #28 |
VERNON ARTHUR BETTENAY #29 |
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VERNON (VERN) ARTHUR BETTENAY’S WAR SERVICE |
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VERNON BETTENAY RELAXING #30 |
On his demobilisation he decided to return to Irymple forthwith, and
within a short time was working in partnership with his father on Irymple
Orchard. Other members of the family were pursuing other interests – Wilfred
(Jnr) was working on Agricultural Colleges before taking a permanent position
with the Agricultural Department, with Roy and Eric following similar career
paths. Edna meanwhile worked for some time at Illawarra Orchard before taking
up a nursing career. Ada’s brother, George Leworthy, sadly died in 1944. This gentleman and
long time loyal worker and supported of all her schemes, had been at Irymple
since its foundation. Every year, the fruits of his labour and seen as the
family harvest the asparagus he planted in the market gardens do long ago, and
now growing wild in the orchard – together with the jonquils and daffodils
which he nurtured for the Subiaco Markets, still blooming every Spring. The
story of his lifetime became a legend. As a young boy he was placed in work and
was found missing on his first day at the workplace. Finally located, he was
discovered playing happily with a cat and her new born kittens and was
summarily dismissed and sent home in disgrace! Such was the trouble at home
that he ran away to sea and finally found his way to Alaska and the Klondyke
goldfields. When the gold proved elusive he decided to join his sister in
Australia and sailed around Cape Horn on a wild voyage to finally join the
Bettenay family at Canning mills about the early 1900. Following his return from the war, Vern bought a shiny black limo “The Plymouth” and while transporting young folk across town he met school teacher Margaret Mary Gowans (born 28th February 1927 in Adelaide).
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1948 WEDDING |
On 28th June 1948 Vernon married Margaret Gowans, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Gowans, of 121 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont was solemnised
at St.
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1948 WEDDING |
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Vernon, in partnership with Arthur, commenced a period of expansion. In 1948 saw the clearing and planting of the hill land behind Vern’s house and new plantings in that area and a progressive programme of removal of old and superseded trees began. The developments of new varieties followed and new blocks were planted progressively – Yates, Delicious and Granny Smiths. Vern and Margaret’s family grew with the births of five children: The original house soon became too small and plans were made to build a
new house. Completed in 1962, the new home was built under the War Service
Homes Scheme. It was built on the site of the original Irymple Saw Mill under
the shade of a stand of Blackbutt trees. Many of Ada’s original red roses were
transplanted into the new garden where they continue to bloom magnificently
every year.
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ADA BETTENAY WITH A BUNCH OF |
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ARTHUR BETTENAY (84) NAILING FRUIT CASES TOGETHER #34 |
The 1950’s saw a number of weddings of the Bettenay clan. On Saturday 16th
September 1950 at Wesley Church in Perth, Dorothy Bettenay, daughter of Wilfred
and Sidney Bettenay married Curnow Knuckey of Roleystone. Later that same year,
on 21st October 1950 Roy Bettenay, son of Arthur and Mabel Bettenay,
married Miss Ruth Baker, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Baker of Carlisle, at
the Forest Park Methodist Church. February 4th 1953 saw the wedding
of Eric Bettenay, son of Arthur and Mabel Bettenay, married to Elizabeth
Theodora Jeffrey of Melbourne (formerly of Roleystone) at St. Margaret’s Church
in Nedlands. And then on March 28th 1953 saw another wedding.
Phillip Bettenay, son of Wilfred and Sidney Bettenay, married Myrna White at
St. Peter’s Church of England, Victoria Park. Another Bettenay wedding occurred
in October 1953 when Edna Mary Bettenay, daughter of Arthur and Mabel Bettenay,
married Walter Buckley of Gosnells, at St. Peter’s Church of England, Victoria
Park. Joseph Bettenay died in 1953 after a long illness. His wife Ada, died a
year later, bringing to an end a magnificent chapter in the history of Irymple.
Intelligent and determined, she had planned the family holdings and was very
much the Matriarch of the Valley. To the end of her life she made her opinions
known on many subjects and was fond of debating the ways of the world. She was
a fund of information on the old days and was never tired of recalling the
struggles on the new land.
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IRYMPLE ORCHARD & NEW HOUSE 1959 #35 |
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The sixties was a time of expansion and high activity. The orchard was
in full production as the new plantings came into fruit. Plums, apricots and
new season apples and pears, passed through the packing shed and Joe Lori’s
carrier trucks called in on a regular basis. Exports to Great Britain, Europe
and Asia went away regularly and the planting of new varieties continued.
JOE LORI AND ONE OF HIS EARLY TRUCKS #36 |
FIONA & LINDA BETTENAY PICKING EXPORT PLUMS #37 |
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THE FIRST CHERRIES #38 During the 1990s to 2000 disturbing economic trends were emerging. The
exports markets collapsed due to various reasons and conditions on the local
market also changed. Costs soared and prices declined because of the collapse
of the exports markets, resulted in a glut of fruit on the local markets. Once
again Irymple began to change – as it had done so often over the years. Hard
decisions had to be made as high costs and rates began to take their toll and
one after another of uneconomic varieties of fruit trees were removed. One
solution was for Kim to work part time off the property as a professional
musician with Vern doing what he did best– worked the orchard. |
In 1977 Mabel Bettenay died quietly at home after a long illness and
less than two years later, her husband, Arthur died suddenly, at Roleystone on
7th December 1978 aged 83, bringing to an end a lifetime in
involvement at Irymple. Then in 1980 their eldest son Wilfred (Jnr) also died
suddenly of a heart attack. A new generation joins the Irymple story in 1988 when Kim Bettenay and
his young family took up residence in the grandparents’ house. A decision was
made to plant an experimental block of cherries in the coldest section of the
orchard and after a great deal of trial and error the first fruit is hailed –
two glossy cherries are picked to be shared by the admiring family! It will
prove to be a time of joy and frustration as the new adventure progresses.
KIM BETTENAY #39 |
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VERNON & KIM PLANTING NEW CHERRIES 1995 #40 |
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CHERRIES PACKED READY FOR MARKET #41 |
CHERRIES CHERRIES CHERRIES GALORE The welcome bright spot in the last months of each year in now the cherry crop which lasts from November till Christmas Eve. T The venture to grow cherries proved very successful as the cold of that valley was ideal for setting the fruit. Over the years the cherry block has been expanded and is now the primary source of income for Irymple Orchard. When the season comes on fully, it is all hands on deck to pick, grade, pack and market the cherries. All family members are called upon for these tasks. Over the years Irymple has created a name for some of the best and juiciest cherries available. And in those weeks leading up the Christmas they have a steady stream of regular customers calling every year.
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PRIMED READY FOR PICKING #42 |
DELICIOUS CHERRIES #43 |
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A GOOD CROP READY FOR PICKING #44 |
CRATES OD CHERRIES READY FOR PACKING #45 |
EVERYONE HELPS #46 |
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ALL HANDS ON DECK TO GRADE AND PACK #47 |
CHERRIES FOR SALES AT THE MARKETS #48 |
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The Bettenay Clan have lived and worked in the Karragullen - Rolystone area for over 120 years. From the early pioneering days of carving a viable orchard out of the virgin bush, to their involvement in many community acrtivities, they have become a valued and respected family in the area. |
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VERNON & MARGARET BETTENAY AND FAMILY 1997 #49 Back Row L _ R: CLAIRE BARRY, KIM BETTENAY, LIAM WEBB, DEBBIE BETTENAY, VERNON BETTENAY, MARGARET BETTENAY, SAM BETTENAY, |
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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 1
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008 - 2021 |
