Family Histories
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WALLIS John & Emma The very first
people to settle and take up land in our area were generally former workers
from Mason & Bird Sawmill. Just before and after it closed, areas of land
were taken up and clearing commenced to start their new life as orchardists and
growers in the district. Some of the earliest recorded settlers were the
following; Henry & Anna Mottram who settled in Carmel 1874, Richard &
Mary Weston who settled in Pickering Brook 1875, John & Emma Wallis who
settled in Walliston 1880, Arthur & Annie Gibbs who settled in Bickley
1891. These are the stories of those early pioneering families.
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HIS PARENTS Edward Wallis married Hannah Warchus
on 1st April 1840 in Ticehurse, Sussex, by July the same year, he was a Police Constable in London. Edward joined the Metriopolitan Police, commonly known as the "Peelers", on the 11th May 1840 as Warrant Officer 17037. He resigned from the Police Force on the 6th June 1844. Two years later, in 1850, Edward (33) sailed
for Western Australia with his pregnant wife, Hannah (30) and three children, Harriet
(7), John (3), and Ann (2), aboard the “Sophia”. John was born on 6th December 1848 in Tocehurst, Essex, England.. "It is with much more than mere official regret that I report ... the abandoned conduct of several of the single females lately landed from the SOPHIA ... eight or ten frequently found in the public houses and streets, drunk, in company with sailors and other dissolute characters. I propose to remove the names [from] the Rations List of the ill-conducted girls and deny their admittance to the depot. "Yule concluded that he was aware that this solution may indeed create further problems, and suggested moving the girls to Perth and Guildford immediately, "away from the contaminating associates of a seaport". The acute accommodation shortage led to the leasing
of several buildings in Perth and Fremantle. Some of the immigrants were placed
at the disused steam driven flourmill below Mt. Eliza (on the site where the
Swan Brewery was later built). The mill was a three-storey building with steep
narrow ladders, not designed for habitation. The Inquirer newspaper
of September 11, 1850 reported an accident to one of the female immigrants
"who fell from the upper story of ... the depot, and alighted on the
platform beneath. She remained for some time insensible. The Colonial Surgeon
was quickly in attendance ... we regret she is still in a precarious
state." 1 lb bread The “Sophia” was closely linked with the
commencement of the convict era and the Assisted Emigration Scheme in Western
Australia. It should also be realised at that time no female convicts were to
be transported to Western Australia. Lengthy negotiations with the home
Government regarding the benefits and concerns of convict transportation had
ended with an agreement requiring an equal number of free immigrants to receive
passage and settlement costs at the Imperial Government’s expense. The 250
assisted immigrants on the “Sophia” were the first to arrive under this new
scheme According to research by John Bell, Harriet was born on the 29th April 1842 at 38 Gee Street, Finsbury, London and later Christened on 22nd May 1842 at St. Luke, Old Street, Finsbury, London. She arrived in Fremantle with the rest of the family in 1850. Harriet married John Ballantine, a Royal Engineer, at the Congregational Chapel in Fremantle on the 23rd July 1853. A Royal Engineer was a member of a British Military Corps and sent out to Western Australia to oversee and assist in the various infrastructures and building improvements in the colony such as the building of the goal in Fremantle.. John was only in Western Australia for three years and it is likely that he arrived on the convict ship "Nile" in January 1858 and apart from marrying in Fremantle may have spent some time in King George Sound in Albany. Harriet was only sixteen years and 85 days old when she married.. Three years later they were off back to England. The family moved again in November 1877 to Sydney. Sophia married a George Lewis. Another two daughters were
born in Fremantle. Hannah Lillian May on 25th October 1857 in
Fremantle, who married George Harwood when she was 16 at Fremantle, and when
she was 28, married John William Bright. And Fanny born in 4th
August 1860, who unfortunately died eleven days later.
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JOHN WALLIS John grew up in the Fremantle area
and trained as a carpenter and wheelwright. He was reputed to have installed the organ pipes in St. Johns Church, Fremantle and St. Georges Cathedral in Perth. On
the 19th November 1873 at the Pinjarra Anglican Church, he married
Emma, the daughter of Levi and Lucy Sarah Green (nee Senyard) of Pinjarra. Emma
was born on 17th October 1852 at Barragup, one mile from Mandurah and
was the elder daughter in the family. The first year of their marriage was
spent at Pinjarra where their first son, Levi John was born on 4th
November 1874 in a house located next door to what was the Copper Kettle
Restaurant. They were one of the first settlers
in the area and took up 100 acres of land of Canning locations 311,460,
48/1270, in 1883. A year later they moved into their home, one of the first
privately owned dwellings in the area built on their property called
“Orangedale” on Canning Road between Pomeroy and Orangedale Road. There, three
more children were born, they were Theodore, Frank and Florence.
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JOHN WALLIS #1 |
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There were only a
few families scattered through the heavily timbered area around Kalamunda. Most
of them worked on a timber mill and took up properties after the mill closed. |
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On the property, a
solid four room cottage was built of timber slabs from the clearing. Nails were
scarce so the uprights and beams were often doweled together. There was glass
in the windows of the cottage and an iron roof. The galley which was 15 – 20
feet away from the house, it contained the kitchen and general assembly area
with a large open hearth, handmade bush timber table and benches, stretchers,
flattened earth floor covered with sacks and open windows and doors. After the mill closed, money was
scarce, and John had to find other employment away from home. He obtained work
at Flontroys Dairy in Redcliffe and worked from 4.00a.m. until dark six days a
week for one pound ten shilling (3 Dollars). He would come home monthly to do
more land clearing and development. From 1889 to 1891, John got work for eight
shillings (80 cents) a day on the construction of Victoria Reservoir. John used his skills to make their
furniture such as a table with turned legs, a large chest of drawers and a
sofa, the back of which was carved from a solid piece of timber using an adze
axe. A dining Table he made is in the Kalamunda History Village. He also made
boots from kangaroo hide and the boot were so sturdy that they were passed down
from child to child. |
”ORANGEDALE" THE ORIGINAL WALLIS DWELLING, CONSTRUCTED |
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”ORANGEDALE" THE ORIGINAL WALLIS DWELLING, CONSTRUCTED |
”ORANGEDALE" THE ORIGINAL WALLIS DWELLING, CONSTRUCTED
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”ORANGEDALE" THE ORIGINAL WALLIS DWELLING, CONSTRUCTED |
REMAINS OF WALLIS' "ORANGEDALE" PROPERTY, CANNING ROAD, John Wallis was a successful orchardist and contributed to the community as a foundation member of the Darling Range Vine and Fruit Growers Association and was a member of the local Roads Board in 1906. In 1906, a visitor to the district noted that the Wallis’s lived in a ‘pretty little home’. |
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In 1911 John became very ill. He was
nursed at home by Emma and died at his residence "Orangedale", Walliston on 5th May 1911 of cardiac disease, aged 62 years. His funeral took
place in the Guildford Anglican Cemetery on Sunday 7th May 1911. The
service was conducted by Rev. H. Myerson. John Wallis was a resident in the
Canning Hills district for 30 years. The Darling Range Road Board sent a wreath
out of respect to the late Mr. Wallis, who was at one time a member of the
Board. The cortege was a long one, with many old settlers paying a last tribute
of respect. GOLD
DISCOVERY When John Wallis was developing the orchard at "Orangedale" he would periodically pack up and go off for 3 or 4 days. When he returned he would go to Perth and sell the gold he had discovered. This would help to tide the family over. In later years when he had to give up work after he had an accident at Millar's Railway, the memories of John's sojourns intrigued his son, Levi. "Where did the gold come from?" He travelled around and eventually discovered it. He refused to disclose the site believing it would lead to crime and trouble. Since then it has been found but after making enquiries about the hassles involved for accessing mining equipment and the Conservation Act of the area , it would not be viable so like Levi Wallis, it was decided to leave it there
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EMMA WALLIS Emma Green was born on 17th October 1852 at Barragup, one mile from Mandurah and was the elder daughter in the family of twelve children. Her parents, Levi and Lucy Green, of “Brookdale”, Pinjarra, were old residents of the district. Her father arrived in this State by the ship “Shepherd” in 1843 and her mother by the ship “Mary” in 1849. Emma married John Wallis on 19th November 1973 at the Pinjarra Anglican Church. John was 27 years and Emma was 21 years. The first year of marriage was spent at Pinjarra where their first son, Levi John was born on 4th November 1874. After some years in the Fremantle area, John moved to the hills to work at Mason & Bird's Mill as a wheelwright and carpenter. Emma followed shortly after. After the closing of the Mason’s Mill
in the late 1880's, some of the former employees stayed in the district and eventually
took up land, along with John & Emma Wallis. A significant pioneering woman of the Kalamunda district. In 1883, Emma and her husband John were the first settlers of the area eventually named after them, Walliston. Their home, one of the first privately owned dwellings in the area was built on their property named “Orangedale”, on Canning Road between Pomeroy and Orangedale Roads. |
EMMA WALLIS #7 |
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EMMA WALLIS AND HER SIAMESE CAT #8 |
In addition to domestic tasks, Emma helped clear and work the land, planted and sowed crops, tended to the garden and animals and made butter. Water for the household was first carried by hand from Yule Creek and washing was done at the creek in a large tub with homemade soap, made from fat and lye and a scrubbing board. All washing and rinsing was by hand and clean clothes were hung over bushes until a line of wire was strung between two trees. All clothes were handmade. She also baked bread, many loaves every second day
for the family and workers at Mason’s Mill. The yeast used was made from
potatoes and hops. She also plaited wheat straw and made hats. She also became
the midwife for most of the districts births and it is believed she delivered
up to 200 children. She was a small neat person, always wearing a snow white
apron and would be called out at all hours of the day or night to attend a
birth. It was not an uncommon sight to see Emma, holding a lantern and guiding
her horse along the bush tracks. On Christmas Day 1907 she left the family
dinner to deliver Harold Littley, one of our respected citizens. John and Emma Wallis and their family all worked on the “Orangedale” property. Emma loved Siamese cats as family pets.
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EMMA WALLIS AND GRANDCHILDREN
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PADBURY STORE, GUILDFORD #9 |
There were
no shops in the area and few roads, merely tracks. When provisions were
necessary, Emma rode one horse and took with her a pack horse once a month to
Guildford to William Padbury’s Store to do the shopping. The children had to say
at home by themselves. It was a 40 km ride to Guildford
through almost impenetrable forest no roads, only bridle tracks that the wild
brumbies had made. Hills people would sometimes spend the night and catch the
train to Perth. Needless to say, they tried to be as
self-sufficient as possible growing vegetables, planting fruit trees and
keeping some animals. They would think nothing of walking
six or seven miles to visit a friend. |
WILLIAM PADBURY #10
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By 1844 William Padbury had
opened a butcher's shop in Perth and established his first store in Guildford
in 1865. This magnificent building was constructed in 1869 and was at the time
considered to be one of the most imposing buildings in the Colony. The current
facade, which considerably changed the building's appearance was added circa
1900 (despite being dated 1869). He also opened shops in Moora and Toodyay as
well as owning the Peerless Flour Mill at Guildford.
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PRESENT DAY PADBURY STORE RESTAURANT, GUILDFORD #11 |
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A well-known and respected woman
throughout the district, Emma was a founder of Carmel School which opened in
1903 and Carmel Church. A life member of the Kalamunda Agricultural Society,
where she won many prizes for her exhibits and donated the Emma Wallis Memorial
Trophy for the exhibitor with the highest number of aggregate points. The last
person to win this trophy was her daughter Florence. Sadly, this trophy was
stolen from her daughter’s home after her mother died. As time moved on, her children married and some settled
in the district, and of course there were grandchildren. She loved them all,
but there was no nonsense and no fuss. There were Levi’s four and Lucy’s eight,
Fred’s five, May’s two Frank’s three, Dave’s four and Theo’s two.
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AFTERNOON TEA AT "ORANGEDALE" FOR RETURNED TROOPS FROM FREMANTLE #91 |
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After John’s death in May 1911 aged 62 years, Emma lived in “Orangedale” until she bought land in Pomeroy Road, Canning Location 311 and with the help of her sons, she had a large house built which was one of the finest in the district at that time. She called it "Woodlands" and lived there with her unmarried daughter Florence. To buy land she grew and sold cape gooseberries, other fruit and flowers. Her youngest son, Frank took over the “Orangedale” property. Emma lived there with her youngest daughter, Florence. “Woodlands” soon became self-supporting with cows, (milk, cream, butter and meat), pigs, hens, and an orchard with apples, apricots, citrus and figs. Fruit was used fresh or dried and later on, preserved in Vacola jars when these became available. The front paisley shaped garden beds were unique. There was a large shed where Emma’s four wheeled carriage – a Phaeton – was kept. She used to drive her carriage, pulled by a horse called “Creamy”, into Kalamunda to the Church of England on Sundays. There were 2 seats and a small seat at the front near the horse’s tail, where the children had to sit. After church they would return home to have a hot roast dinner ready, read bible stories or go visiting other local families in the afternoon.
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EMMA'S NEW HOUSE "WOODLANDS" #12 |
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Nearly 120 residents from all parts of the State
assembled on October 17th, 1967 at “Woodlands”, Walliston, to
celebrate the 70th anniversary of Mrs. Emma Wallis’ birthday. Having
come to this district 42 years ago, and being the old surviving pioneer of the
locality, she can relate some stirring incidents of the early days. She has
seen production in the hills grow from nothing to thousands of cases of fruit
and hundreds of tons of vegetables yearly. Notwithstanding her advanced age,
Mrs. Wallis has one of the prettiest and best-cared-for flower gardens in the
West, which is visited from far and wide, and admired by all who have been
fortunate enough to have seen it. By the above number of guests it will be seen
how popular and appreciated Mrs. Wallis is. In sickness, or wherever a kind
action can be shown, this old pioneer is one of the first to come forward. An
enjoyable evening, including a dainty supper and dance, was spent, and
thoroughly enjoyed by all. Many useful and valuable presents and letters were received
from relatives and friends. |
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A lifetime of toil and achievement, problems and joys
eventually took their toll on Emma until she became too ill to continue. Her
family cared for her at home. On Sunday 19th April 1931, she died
after a long illness, at her residence, “Woodlands”, Walliston. She was one of
the earliest settlers in the Darling Ranges, having been there for 50 years.
She was 78 years old and leaves five sons, three daughters, 27 grandchildren and
two great grandchildren to mourn her loss. Prior to the departure of the
cortege, a short service was held at her late residence, when her favourite
hymn, “God Will Take Care of You”, was rendered. The funeral took place on
Tuesday 21st April in the Anglican portion of the Guildford
Cemetery, where her remains were interred in the family grave, The Rev. Hurst
conducted the service at the graveside, supported by the Rev. H. Morrell and
the Rev. Tom Allen, who eulogised the deceased’s pioneering work and good deeds
performed for the benefit of the district and the residents generally. The esteem in which she was held was evidenced by the
very large number of friends who gathered at the graveside to pay their last
respects. Some 32 cars were in attendance. Many beautiful floral wreaths and
messages of sympathy were received by the grieving relatives. |
EMMA WALLIS' FUNERAL #86
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EMMA WALLIS' FUNERAL #87
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EMMA WALLIS' FUNERAL #88 |
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By 1891 the Upper Darling Range Railway had been built mainly to provide transport for the timber mills. It provided a line from Midland Junction to Kalamunda and Pickering Junction, then eventually south as far as Karragullen. One of the stops was near the Wallis home and was called variously Wallis’s Crossing, Wallis’s Landing, 12 Mile Siding (because it was 12 miles from Midland), South Kalamunda, Heidelberg and Heidelberg Grove, and was eventually serviced by a low-level platform and shelter shed. Locally grown produce was transported to the Perth markets from here. Whatever the name, it was a considerable advantage to the Wallis family and the other settlers gradually joining them.
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WALLIS' LANDING 1925 #13 |
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CHARLES .H. BROOKS #14
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However, there was no timetable and
passengers were not the main priority until in 1903 the government, after many
petitions, took over most of the line and provided a regular passenger service.
This railway siding had the highest altitude on the rail line at 1021 feet
(compared to Kalamunda at 930 feet). The area was on the move. In 1896 Mr. Charles H. Brooks
and his family leased Stirk Cottage and the two-storied barn in which he started operating a small general
store. It was the first shop
in Kalamunda. When the lease expired the business had outgrown
the existing setup. So on consultation with William Padbury and his advice, it
was decided to build and open a new store in Kalamunda. In 1903 he opened his new shop, it was situated on Canning Road where Stirk Medical Group now stands
(2018). John Wallis became one of the first strawberry growers in the district
and they were carried to Perth four times a week by Mr Brooks. They were sold
through a firm called Silbert & Sharp at 2/6 (25 Cents) a pound for the
best quality. Mr. Brooks’ two horses that drew the open wagon to Perth were
named Rondo and Nero.
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C.H.BROOKS' KALAMUNDA STORE, CANNING ROAD, KALAMUNDA #15 |
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The original Wallis large orchard landholding was subdivided for residential occupancy leaving the residence on a small lot surrounded by mature trees. In 2011, two of the outbuildings associated with its former use as an orchard were demolished. Currently [2013] the residence is still owned and occupied by members of the Wallis family. |
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THEIR CHILDREN Levi John Born 4th November
1874 at Pinjarra Died 17th March 1966 at Busselton, buried at Guildford Cemetery Married Ada Morris on 16th
July 1913 at St. Swithans, Lesmurdie Lucy Ann Jane Born 13th April 1877 in
Fremantle Died 8th August 1958 at Bickley, Western Australia Married George
Henry Palmateer on 28th April 1897 Frederick Rueben Born 10th April 1880 in
Fremantle Died 7th
April 1961 at Lesmurdie Married Kate
Winifred Edwards at Kalamunda in 19th April 1904. Daughter of Benjamin &
Frances (nee Skipper) Edwards
Born 24th May 1881 (1882) South Australia
Died 17th August 1960 at Lesmurdie, Western Australia
David George Born 28th June 1882 at
Mason & Bird Mill, Bickley Died on 14th November 1962 at Bunbury, Western Australia Married Nellie (Ellen)
Jones on 29th March 1911 in Harvey, Western Australia
Annie May Born 16th December 1884
at Mason & Bird Mill, Bickley Died 11th July 1955 in Perth, buried Guildford Cemetary, Western Australia Married George E.
Blamire in 1909.(1908) Theodore Edward Born 22nd November 1887 at
“Orangedale”, Walliston Died 29th
September 1938 Married Victoria
“Girlie” Perrin Huxtable, daughter of John and Gertrude Huxtable of Pinjarra, on 28th
August 1912 Frank William Born 22nd May 1892 at Guildford Died 4th
July 1976 at Carmel, Western Australia Married Mary Julia Quinn on 17th February 1914 in Guildford Emily Florence Born 7th July 1897 at
“Orangedale” Walliston (Emily Florence Wallis had written her own birthdate down as 7th September 1897 in the records she had written down for the family) Died 9th September 1983 Married Alfred
Reginald Halleen (28) at Methodist Church, Carmel on 28th October 1925
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WALLISTON In 1903 there was a move for a
town-site to be gazetted but the Lands Department rejected the request stating
that the block suggested (Canning Location 461) consisted of the roughest class
of ironstone jarrah forest. Both John Wallis and also his eldest
son, Levi Wallis, served as elected members on the Darling Range Road Board and
actively sought to further develop their area. In 1915 the South Kalamunda Progress
Association wrote to the Commissioner of Railways requesting a name change from
Wallis’s Landing to Walliston. This request was successful. Walliston was born! In 1918 the Townsite of Walliston was
approved, with a subdivision of residential blocks as well as provision for ten
acres for a future recreation reserve. It was not until 1970 that the Shire of
Kalamunda (formerly the Darling Range Road Board) agreed to the development of
a Walliston General Industrial Area to be approved. It was in that year, too,
that the Walliston Primary School was built.
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LEVI WALLIS Levi was the eldest child of John and Emma Wallis. He was born on 4th November 1874 at Pinjarra. At 21 years old, Levi received a grant of 50 acres at 1/- an acre at Lot 183 Mitchell Road in
1895 and started clearing an orchard in 1896. He worked as a labourer and
gardener in the district. Levi was a member of the Darling Range
Road Board and retired from that position in 1903. Levi married Ada Morris at a pretty and quiet wedding celebrated at St. Swithin's Church, Lesmurdie, Kalamunda, on July 15th, 1913, with Rev. Mr. Nicholls officiating. Ada was the second daughter of the late Mr. M. J. Green, of Warburton, Victoria.
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LEVI WALLIS #16 |
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The house to which he took his bride, after the wedding, was a very basic shack. In fact the stables were to become family home as it was cosier than the shack the family
was living in. Levi and Ada
had four children, Lindsay John born 8th May 1914 at Walliston,
Albert Kitchener born 26th June 1915 at Walliston, Stanley Robert
born 30th September 1916 at Walliston and Marjorie Joy born 27th
June 1921 at K.E.M.H. Subiaco. Levi Wallis continued to work as a labourer
finding work with the Roads Board clearing roads and later he secured
employment with the Railways The building had a framework of bush poles, the corner uprights being about half a metre in diameter, overlaid with upright face cuts. As the family grew and needed a larger house, Levi improved the shed by converting it into the snug four roomed house that stood for many years.
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LUCY & LEVI WALLIS #92
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LEVI & ADA ON THEIR WEDDING DAY #17 |
The cracks between the cuts of boards were sealed with strips of tin meticulously cut with hand shears, tacked fast, and painted over. The floor, was made from sleeper seconds from the railway which skirted the property. A railway stop nearby, originally known as the 12 Mile Siding, is now known as Wallis’ Landing after his parents and the name Walliston was given to the entire area when it was gazetted in 1918 as a town site. The original water supply for the house consisted of a wooden barrel or water butt which caught the rain of the roof. Washing and bath water was carried from a spring in the tea-tree swamp nearby. Levi’s dwelling stands as a living memorial to the hard and often lonely pioneering efforts of the early settlers in the hills.
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LEVI, JOYCE & ADA AT WALLIS' LANDING #18 |
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Levi worked to the railways around Barton's Mill at Pickering Brook. Hauling logs from the forest out as far as Mount Dale back to the Mill and also carrying the finished timber to the rail head at Pickering Junction to connect with the timber trains from Canning Mills travelling down the Zig Zag to Perth. Levi died on 17th March 1966 at Busselton aged 91 years, and is buried at Guildford Cemetery
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LOGGING TRAIN BEING HAULED BY LOCOMOTIVE "COATES" |
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LEVI WALLIS AT CANNING MILLS 1960-61 #96 |
LEVI WALLIS AT CANNING MILLS 1960-61 #97 |
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING #19
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING #20
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The buildings continued to evolve to a rectangular timber cottage with lean-to roofed section
on east side. The property was vacated in 1978 and by
this time the place was in poor condition. The property was bought by Joyce
Coglan, to save it from destruction and to conserve it. The new owners undertook conservation works in 2005 and the project was been funded to a large extent
by the owners, but did received a substantial amount of support through the
Heritage Council's Heritage Grants Program and is on the State Heritage list. Phillip Griffiths
Architects were contracted to carry out the preservation project, which was about conserving a sole surviving example
of a dwelling built with mill face-cuts, and with evidence of subsequent additions. It reflects innovation of the
early settlers and shows how people lived on the land
in fairly spartan circumstances. It aimed to conserve as much authentic fabric
as possible and to adapt the place
for simple contemporary uses. The work was based on a conservation plan
prepared by Laura Gray and the adaptation has been planned around conserving
significant fabric, removing intrusive fabric, and adapting spaces. The place
has been sympathetically fitted out and furnished and is now used for
accommodation. The stables are used for a variety of purposes and are designed
to provide flexible space for displays, studio space, talks, and so on -
community festival events. The property in now owned by Dot Ginbey. The finished
conservation project received the Western Australian Architectures Conservation
Award in 2006.
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING DURING CONSERVATION WORK #21
LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING DURING CONSERVATION WORK #22
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING AFTER CONSERVATION WORK #23
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING AFTER CONSERVATION WORK #24
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING AFTER CONSERVATION WORK #25
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING AFTER
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LEVI WALLIS' ORIGINAL DWELLING AFTER CONSERVATION WORK #27
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LUCY WALLIS In 1894, Mr. G. H. Palmateer came to Western Australia
from Heidelberg, Victoria, and took up a tract of several hundred acres of
virgin bushland in the Bickley Valley and set to work to carve out for himself
a home and an orchard. He called his allotment “Heidelberg” because he likened
it to the Heidelberg he had known in Victoria. A hut of jarrah slats, sapling
frame and bark roof was soon built. With axe, shovel, cross-cut saw, kangaroo
jack and grindstone, the virgin acres of trees and scrub yielded to the
planting of an orchard. It was one of the first orchards in the hills district
from Kalamunda to Karragullen.
PAINTING BY GEORGE PALMATEER OF HIS |
LUCY PALMATEER 1930 #29 |
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It was at Stirk’s Cottage, which is still standing in
Stirk’s Park, Kalamunda, that an eligible bachelor from Victoria, who was busy
establishing himself in an adjoining valley, met and won the heart of 16 year
old Lucy, it was George Henry Palmateer. Lucy was the second eldest child of John and Emma Wallis and was born on 13th April 1877 in
Fremantle. Although her father was against it, three years later, on 28th April 1897, George
(30) and Lucy (20) travelled by horse and buggy to the Church of England
Church, Guildford, where they were married in front of six guests. So began
their 55 years of marriage. Along with her good wishes, Emma gave Lucy a few of
the now rare Princep daffodil bulbs, originally from “Blythewood” at Pinjarra,
to enjoy at her new home. Little did Lucy know how well these daffodil bulbs
would reward her in later life.
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LUCY & GEORGE PALMATEER FAMILY December 1907 |
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They lived in a jarrah shingled, four bedroom house built of bricks made of sun-dried clay from the excavating of a dam on the property. They had eight children – Gordon Victor born 1st March 1898 at Heidelberg, Roy Henry born 1st November 1899 at Heidelberg, Myrtle Alice born 30th December 1901 at Heidelberg, Thelma May born 2nd July 1906 at Heidelberg, Clarice Victoria born 16th June 1910 at Kew, Victoria, Phyllis Irene born 14th January 1913 at Heidelberg, Dulcie Olwyn born 27th September 1914 at Heidelberg and Audrey Merridy Adele born 16th August 1918 at Heidelberg. By 1907 a more substantial homestead was built to accommodate the growing family. |
LUCY UNDER HER ARCHWAY OF WHITE ROSES #31 |
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LUCY & GEORGE PALMATEER WITH THEIR 8 CHILDREN 1919 |
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The ten room building incorporated the former home. With
40 centimetre thick walls of clay brick, rafters of imported Oregon and
concrete steps curving up to the front verandah overlooking the beautiful
valley, the home eventually became a “show place”. It was known for its
hospitality and beautiful surroundings, which included the magnificent magnolia
and camellia trees.
HEIDELBERG HOMESTEAD #33 The property was irrigated from a natural spring situated
on high ground. In the early days the water not only reticulated for irrigation
but also used to turn a Peltham water wheel which drove a small electric
generator providing lighting to all the house in the evenings. It is believed
this was the first electric lighting in the district.
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LUCY IN HER TERRACED GARDEN
LUCY PICKING DAFFODILS #34
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GEORGE & LUCY PALMATEER CELEBRATING |
The depression years hit hard. Fruit prices fell as low
as one tenth of the expected price. To supplement the family income, Lucy considered
growing daffodils commercially, because the bulbs given to her at her wedding,
were thriving. So in 1925 one acre of
fresh ground was cleared and hundreds of bulbs replanted. By the mid 1930’s
more land had been prepared and over 10,000 daffodils bloomed. As the venture
grow the plantings expanded and in 1944 a harvest of more than 50,000 blooms
were picked over three weeks. The whole hillside was a blanket of yellow.
Audrey assisted Lucy with the daffodil crop and it was not uncommon for the two
of them to pick 5,000 to 6,000 flowers in one day. On a vital picking day in
August of 1944, Lucy fell sick. However, the flowers had to be picked, so
Phyliss, Audrey, Florrie, Clem and Mavis picked as hard as they could in the
pouring rain. As a result, 24,000 daffodils were packed and ready for sale. In 1947, at their spacious old home, “Heidelberg”,
surrounded by acres of well-cared-for orchard land, they celebrated their
golden wedding anniversary. Congratulations came from far and near, including a
cable from one son, Dr. Roy Palmateer, now of California, a long-distance
telephone call from their eldest son, Pastor Gordon Palmateer, of Adelaide, and
a telegram from a daughter, Mrs. T. Knyvett, of New South Wales, as well as
good wishes from other members of the family and numerous guest who attended
their golden wedding tea. Lucy’s life ended suddenly on 8th August 1958 at Bickley, Western Australia. Her body was laid to rest beside her husband’s in Guildford Cemetery.
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FRED WALLIS Frederick Rueben Wallis was born at
Fremantle on 10th April 1880. He left school at 14 and worked at
home for a while and then went clearing roads around the district with two of
his brothers. Later on he went to Canning Mills, became a champion axeman,
competing with his brother, David at log chops all round the South West. He
took up 96 acres of land at Canning Location 570 near Bickley. He cleared and
planted the property at weekends – rode down and aided by the horse, pulled and
burnt the scrub and trees, dug a well, slept in a tent and rode home again
Sunday night after a good deal of hard work. .
OPENING OF KALAMUNDA AGRICULTURAL HALL #37 |
FRED WALLIS #89
FRED WALLIS #36 |
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WEDDING OF FREDERICK WALLIS & KATE EDWARDS 1904 |
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FRED & KATE WALLIS WITH THEIR CHILDREN - |
They first lived in a very humble cottage in Lawnbrook Road on Fred’s property which he had called “Pretoria. It was a hard life for Kate after the upbringing she had, but she coped and reared 3 daughters and 2 sons. Fred served in the 1st World War in France and Belgium and arrived home safely when the war came to an end in 1918
FRED & KATE WALLIS' HOME "PRETORIA" #40
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An R.S.L. Ladies Auxiliary was formed to support the returned soldiers and Kate was a member and president for many years and her committee raised the money to erect the Memorial and gardens in Kalamunda. On 1st June 1919, Mrs. Pritchard, in Canning Road, gave up the Post Office and it Kalamunda 3 short rings She continued to hold this position until she retired
in 1947, when she was presented with a gift from grateful residents for 28
years of loyal service. With very little time to spare, Kate
still found time the wounded and convalescent soldiers at the Home in Lesmurdie
and entertained them at the piano. |
WALLISTON POST OFFICE #41
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TENNIS COURTS AT FRED WALLIS' PROPERTY "PRETORIA" #42 |
TENNIS COURTS AT FRED WALLIS' PROPERTY "PRETORIA" #43 |
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One most pleasing community event took place at Walliston on the Wednesday 29th December 1923. Over 200 children from Walliston and surrounding districts assembled at 2 p.m. to partake in sports and games, etc, on Fred Wallis’ lawn, which was keenly contested and enjoyed by the young folk. About 6 p.m. they were then marshalled and marched up the road to “Halleendale”, the residence of Mrs. Florence Halleen (nee Wallis), where a scrumptious juvenile banquet was served. The tables were beautifully and artistically arranged, being decorated with lemon and mauve streamers, and by the way of edibles everything that could appeal to the most delicate appetite was provided. The appearance of the tables afterwards showed the children had done full justice to the good things provided, which must have proven a compliment to the strong committee who had been working so hard for months to give the children a Christmas treat. And then at 7.30 p.m. the Christmas Tree. Father Christmas arriving by motor car in full view of a happy band of young Westralians, who handed to each child a present from the heavily laden Christmas tree. Prior to Father Christmas’ arrival the tree and tables were open for inspection by parents and visitors to avail themselves of the opportunity to express their feelings of gratitude to the committee for the splendid display their hard work had produced. The children’s expression was, “I have never had such a good time in all my life.” The committee’s reply being, “We are amply repaid by the looks and happiness on the children’s faces”. What generally disappoints – the ending of the event – was alleviated by the kindness of Mr. Logie, who motored the little ones home, and he was going until nearly midnight.
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KATE WALLIS IN HER GARDEN #44 |
HER GARDEN AFTER HAIL STORM c1935 #45 |
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Members of the Wallis
family were very community minded and great gardeners.
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A cricket match was suggest to Fred but the only place was the cow paddock. The men had a get together, put the work around and the "Pioneers Sports Club" was formed. The ground was cleared of cows etc. Matting and bats were bought and the first match was played against the Convalescent Home. Many other games were played with teams coming even from Perth for a picnic in the hills.
LAWN BOWLS AT FRED WALLIS' "PRETORIA" #46 About 1935 Fred joined the Roads Board and worked constantly until December 1945 when he retired and received a gold watch and a wallet in recognition of his services. He was the first grader driver and the machine caused a good deal of interest. The roads were all gravel at that time and the previous method of grading to smooth out the corrugations was by horse drawn graders which was slow. He helped form a committee to save Stirk Park for the use of the public instead of being sold for private housing. |
PIONEERS CRICKET CLUB AT "PRETORIA" 1920 - 1936 #47 Top Left: ( ? ), Fred Wallis, ( ? ), Frank Weston, Surrey Swan, Dick Griffiths, . |
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In 1935 residents of the district arranged for a social afternoon at the home of Fred Wallis’ property to farewell Mr. A. E. Jackson, who has retired after being the Headmaster of the Carmel School for 22 years. A presentation will be made to Mr. Jackson by Mr. R. S. Sampsom, M. L. A. Kate passed away peacefully at Lesmurdie on 17th
August 1960 and rests in the Guildford Cemetery, after a lifetime spent giving
and caring for all those fortunate people who came into contact with her.
Remembered always by her loving family for the example she set, for the way she
cared for them, and for her beautiful face that never grew old. Fred passed away on 7th April 1961 and is
buried next to his wife in Guildford Cemetery. He was physically very strong
and energetic and achieved so much in his lifetime – his efforts gave so much
pleasure to so many people. He was always eager to help any organisations raise
fund and made his property available. Sadly this beautiful property has
succumbed to the bulldozers and developers – progress it is called – and
nothing now remains but a cottage, overgrown grass of what was once a place of
great charm. The avenue of giant pear trees, the camellias and hydrangeas, the
lawns and tennis courts are gone forever more.
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KATE WALLIS WITH SON MARTIN & GRANDSON AT "PRETORIA" #48 |
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The Carmel Methodist Church, built in 1915, was removed and rebuilt in Lawnbrook Road at Walliston where it was re-clad in new asbestos sheeting. It was well patronised and at one time over 40 children attended Sunday School. Kate’s early religious training came in useful, she played the organ and was one of the instructors. At the time of the relocation a stone bench seat was built in front of the church in memory of early settlers Kate and Fred Wallis. The plaque on the bench reads “REST AWHILE. A tribute to the memory of our loved parents, Kate and Fred Wallis, 1880-1961. True Pioneers” The church has since been demolished but the bench remains. A branch of the C.W.A. was formed and she was a foundation member.
KATE WALLIS AGED 65 #49 |
WALLISTON METHODIST CHURCH #50 Notice stone bench at extreme right
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Several generations have wonderful memories of days spent in happiness on the lawns of Kate and Fred's place. After their deaths, within six months of each other, in 1961, the property was sold. The second owner was a developer with little thought of land care. Fruit fly attacked the fruit and the Inspector ordered a clean up. A bulldozer was brought in and did just that, flattened everything in sight. So ended an era of much joy and companionship.
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DAVID WALLIS David George Wallis, the fourth son of
John and Emma Wallis, was born at Mason & Bird’s Mill on 28th
June 1882. Dave met his bride-to-be, Ellen
Margaret Jones, when he came down to Harvey from Kalgoorlie where he was
cutting timber for the mines. He was staying with relatives, the Green family
in order to attend a large ball to be held in the town. She was the daughter of
Arthur and Ellen Margaret (Parmenter) Jones of Australind and was born on the
14th September 1887. The Jones family were farmers in the area.
Ellen was one of eight girls. When she met Dave, she was working for Mr. and
Mrs. Gibbs. He married Nellie Jones on the 29th March 1911 at the
Anglican Church in Harvey
DAVE & NELL (ELLEN) WALLIS #51 |
DAVE WALLIS #84 |
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KALAMUNDA'S FIRST SCHOOL #52 Back Row: Edie Stirk, Elsie Mead, Elizabeth Stirk, Eleanor Mead, Harriet Stirk, |
He walked to the Gooseberry Hill School, as Kalamunda was called then, with his brothers and sisters from
the property at As a young man he was recognised as one of the best runners of the time. His greatest victory was beating Postie, the leading runner in Western Australia. Postie clocked 10 seconds for the 100 yards and after Dave beat him at a meeting, the handicaps would almost ruin his chances. The story goes that he used to follow the race meetings and once he and his brothers attended one at Kalgoorlie. Money was scarce in those days and the prize money not very big. The only way to earn any was on the bookmaker’s odds. When they got to Kalgoorlie they decided to beat the Handicap!!! Dave grew a beard, died hid hair and entered under an assumed name, with no previous record. He won easily but he and his brothers collected their winnings and made a smart getaway. His son Geoff inherited his father’s running ability.
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KALAMUNDA'S FIRST SCHOOL (then called Gooseberry Hill) #53 |
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After finishing school he left Walliston and went to Fernbrook, a small timber-cutting and rail junction town near Collie, where he took up a job sleeper cutting with Jimmy Gorey. All his life was spent in the timber industry. Dave worked at Worsley with Paddy Arnott, the leading mill owner at the time. He was in charge of the bush work until he was sixty years old, then his son, Tom took over that job and Dave came back to the main mill. At one time he also had his own mill, “Teddy Bear” in the Rowlands area. Both Dave and Tom were proficient log choppers and early pictures show David competing at the log chops at meetings at Kalamunda. His last log chop was a Veterans Chop in Collie, which he won by a comfortable margin. Most weekends the family would go fishing and shooting and any outdoor sport they were into it. Dave and Nell (as she was called) had four children, Elvie May, David Arthur (Tom), Gwendoline Phyllis (Gwen) and Geoffrey Keith (Geoff). A story is told that not long after
they were married, Nell had saved twenty pounds (40 Dollars) to buy a cow. One
day Dave rushed in “Where’s the twenty pounds?” Believing it was for the cow,
Nell waited for Dave to come home with the cow but he proudly came in with a
gun. That gun is still known as the “cow” gun. The cows came later. There were
no fences and the cows roamed the bush but came home each night. He was very proud of his fashionable car called a Durant that he bought from Elias Garage in Collie.
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DAVE & NELL WALLIS WITH TOM, GWEN & ELVIE #54 |
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DAVE WALLIS COVERED WITH HIS PET POSSUMS #55
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DAVE WALLIS IN HIS MARKET GARDEN AT WORSLEY. #56 About 1931, Scotty Bell, the father of
“Bell Brothers”, had a contract to build the Mungallup Dam. Dave and his son,
Tom, had a sub-contract to supply stone for the wall of the dam. They had two
horses and two drays and loaded stone on and off by hand. There was no
Machinery used on the job, just picks and shovels. As they expected the job to
take about a tear, Dave and Nell closed their house at Worsley and moved to
Mungullup, where Nell ran a boarding house for the men working there. It is
here that Gwen met young Alec Bell and they were later married. This dam is
still there and it is interesting that the original pipes were made of wood.
Six to eight lengths of carved wood about ten feet long were lashed together
with wire to make a pipe of diameter of nine inches. This was all covered with
black tar and looked like a small barrel. Many years later the original pipes
were replaced by concrete ones. |
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Another son, Geoff, has happy memories
of the home in Worsley. It had previously been the Mill Manager’s house and was
about thirty-five squares. The main room was about forty feet long and had very
high ceilings and the room and ceiling were lined with tongue and groove
timber. Each piece was one complete length without a join.
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MAY WALLIS Annie May Wallis, or May as she was known, was the fifth child and the second daughter of John and Emma Wallis and was born at Mason’s Mill on the 16th December 1884. She had a great sense of humour and would often tell stories of her past. Like when she was small her mother had planted a row of radish seeds. It seemed a long, long time waiting to see what they produced. One day May pulled a plant up and found a tasty little tuba underneath. She ate it. It was good, but what to do with the top, so she stuck it back in the ground. She tried another, and another. They were good!! Her mother EMMA, wondered why all the plants were withering. She was shocked to find all the bottoms bitten off. May and her brother Dave, were full of fun and mischief and would often have to be brought back into line by the "switchy stick".
MAY WALLIS #57 |
MAY WALLIS #93 At the age of 22, she met George Ernest Blamire, who with his family had moved from Scotland to Balam in Victoria. It was here that George’s father, George was killed while working a team of horses and a timber jinker. The remaining family decided to move to Waroona in Western Australia where they took over one of the town’s boarding houses. George and his mother later moved to Paterson’s Mill, near Heidelberg where George was employed as a teamster in charge of hauling logs by horse teams from Piesse’s Brook valley, and the forest over the hills to the top end of Walnut Road, for saw milling at Patterson’s Timber Mill. May went to school at Kalamunda. On leaving she worked for her married sister, Lucy Palmateer at Heidelberg. May had a great love for horses and it was here that she became an excellent and skilled horsewoman. She was an outgoing fun loving person who loved life and all it offered. George was also an excellent horseman and had an affinity with both hard working and social type horses. |
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GEORGE & MAY BLAMIRE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY #59
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GEORGE BLAMIRE #58 George and May were married in 1908 (1909) at
Wesley church, Perth. They bought 30 acres of land off Mitchell Road near the
Walliston Railway Station from George Palmateer. During 1911, and after May’s
fathers death, they bought and developed six acres of land from her mother in
Pomeroy Road. After the house was built in 1938 they sold the Mitchell Street
property in 1946. Both George and May worked very hard, like many other
settlers, working long hours to clear and set up the new orchard and house.
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GEORGE & MAY BLAMIRE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY 1st September 1909 |
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Basil George was born on 2nd June 1910 at Bunbury while May was on holidays. Mervyn Ernest followed at home on the 14th May 1912 at Walliston. They both went to school at Carmel walking about 2 miles to get there. At the age of 12 Mervyn was given a bicycle to ride to school. He remembers that this gave him extra time to carry out his morning chores before going to school. The children's day began at sun-up with the feeding of the fowls, milking, cream separating and other minor chores. After school and at weekends a variety of chores were carried out. Wood to be chopped, carted and stacked, fruit trees to be tendered, pruned, fruit picked, graded and packed, and a number of other household and orchard tasks governed by the seasons. Occasionally the Blamire and the Palmateer families with their 8 children, would both go to Busselton in George Palmateer's Ruggles truck for their fortnights holiday. Three days it took to travel the distance, one way. The first night they camped on Will and May Greens (Emma's family) verandah at Pinjarra and caught up on family gossip. Will was a fettler on the railways and lived in a private dwelling about one street away from the railway. The next night at a well near Capel, this well was renown for its crystal clear and cold water. On the third day they arrived in Busselton where they pitched the tent in a grassy area near the beach for the two weeks. |
MAY WALLIS ON HER HORSE #60
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A fair percentage of the roads during this period were merely rough and sometimes very sandy tracks, or limestone full of potholes. The average speed for the trip was some three minute per mile in the truck. How could we today, tolerate the time and effort needed to enjoy ourselves! May died 11th July (May?) 1955 in Perth and was buried at the Guildford Cemetery.
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THEO WALLIS Theo was the first born at "Orangedale" and the sixth born of the eight children to John and Emma. He was born on 22nd November 1887 at “Orangedale”, Walliston. It is presumed that he did not enjoy his infancy nor his childhood. At the age of about two, father John and the other family members were clearing and burning cleared land. It was during this necessary part of farming that Theo fell into one of the fire where his clothing caught fire and was badly burnt in a number of areas. His mother, immediately sent the other boys into the bush to catch a racehorse goanna which were killed and rendered down and the oil extracted. Theo was covered in cooking fat while the family waited for the goanna stock to cool and the oil skimmed off. Lucy, Theo's sister, was taken out of school to carry out the house work while Emma worked day and night to stop Theo's muscles from stiffening and the skin from contracting. It was obviously a success as Theo without having a limp or any visible scar tissue.
THEO WALLIS AT LOG CHOP #61 |
THEO WALLIS #95
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VICTORIA "GIRLIE" HUXTABLE #62 It is assumed that he stayed sometime with his grandparents, the Greens at Pinjarra, whore he probably met Victoria "Girlie" Huxtable at local dances and socials. Courting would have been tough as by now he was working on the construction of No 2 Mill which was 12 kms from the Green's farm. On the 28th August 1912, he and Victoria Perron Huxtable were married in St. John's Anglican Church on the banks of the Murray River in Pinjarra. Victoria, or "Girlie" as she was always known was the fifth child of John and Gretrude (nee Horsell). John was a Police Constable and Gertrude a Midwife.
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His chosen profession became tree felling and he competed, from a very young age at log chops successfully. It is not known at what age Theo left Walliston, however it is known that he worked for the No 1 Railway Timber Mill in Dwellingup during 1910. This mill commenced construction on 25th March 1909, Theo was 20. The Railway Timber Mill No 2 (Banksiadale) commenced construction on 25th April 1911. Theo was a master axeman and contributed to preparing a lot of the timber for the frame of the main mill. Unfortunately because Banksiadale is no more, and the town is under water from the South Dandalup Dam, none of his workmanship survived, only his broad axe which is in the possession by one of his descendants.
THEO & VICTORIA WALLIS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY #63
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At Banksiadale they took up a house block alongside the mill creek that flowed through the townsite, and also leased a few acres of land which they cleared and grew vegetables and strawberries to supplement the low wages at that time. On the 2nd August 1913 Edward (Ned) John was born and the family began followed by Joy Victoria, Robert and Daphne. The small two bedroom vertical slab house had to gain extra rooms as the family expanded, so each day after work Theo, attended to the adding of a bathroom, laundry and another bedroom to the house. Theo bought a 1928 Chevrolet four cylinder truck and it was the only means off transport in Banksiadale, other than the train to Dwellingup and then catch the Government Railway services. This vehicle and Theo led a busy life, he and his family dog (Bully, a bull terrier) ran a number of services throughout the week. Five cents to go to the pictures in Dwellingup on Wednesdays. A seat each side and the children sat in the middle for safety. Bully the dog was the only animal allowed through the doors on picture nights, he sat down the front with the children. To understand this it must be remembered that a vehicle was a luxury, a truck unusual and in a small mill town that may boast four or five cars, the truck was vital, not only to the social life of the community, but to all facets of life. On Fridays the seats were taken off and he sold (or bartered) vegetables in town. On Saturdays he sold vegetables in Pinjarra. Again five cents to go to the dance in Dwellingup on Saturday evenings, with the seats back in. During the Christmas break the truck was kept busy with bookings to run families, with their tents and stuff, to Mandurah and return them to Banksiadale at the end of their holidays. Rabbits shooting trips were arranged into the foot hills, a popular sport carried on by most of the families as it was a cheap source of meat and an alternative the kangaroo or what the butcher sold. Around 1930 tennis was the rage, so Theo and his son, Ned, decided to build a single tennis court at the back of the town with dirt from the local white ants nests. As wire netting was expensive, they only put up the 2 metre wire mesh fence at each end of the court (the children of the players fetched the ball if it went to the side. A tree stump was employed as the umpires seat, and the "Wallabies Tennis Club" was born. By 1930 the depression started to effect all of Western Australia and the mill stared to reduce its production down to only one third of previous output. Employment became harder to get also. Theo and the family concentrated on strawberry and vegetable production including community fishing trips to the Murray River near Ravenswood, and piece meal work at the mill. On 29th September 1938 at the age of 50, Theo died of a heart attack on board a Perth bound train at Armadale. It is understood that he was travelling from Banksiadale to Perth to see a cardiologist as he had been suffering from a heart condition for a number of years. After Theo's death Girlie, in consultation with children, Ned and Joy, decided it would be best to sell the small farm, which she did. Girlie lived in the cosy little timber slab house by the creek until one day when she fell and broke her pelvis. She died shortly after the accident on 31st December 1965, and joined Theo at the Karrakatta Cemetery.
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FRANK WALLIS Frank was the fifth son of John and Emma Wallis and was born on 22nd May
1892 at Guildford. Frank recalls an early story. There were very few motor cars in Kalamunda until well after the 1st World War. However the very first, about 1904, was owned by Archibald Sanderson. It is thought to have been a French De Dion. One can imagine the excitement and wonder it generated - this horseless carriage which climbed up Kalamunda Hill without animal aid. Frank remembers riding in it when aged about 12. He rode down to Guildford in it and said that on the way back he could easily have stepped out on to the road and beat it to the top. Not wanting to offend Sanderson, he kept to his seat, and in any case what small boy would not want to ride up the hill in the first car?
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FRANK WALLIS #64 |
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FRANK WALLIS & HIS GEESE #65 |
Frank worked as an orchardist on the
family property of “Orangedale”, Walliston. In 1909 Frank and his brother rode their bicycles to Bunbury for a holiday, the only holiday Frank ever had in his life. On Tuesday 17th February, 1914 Frank married Mary Julia Quinn. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Quinn of Kalamunda. It was celebrated at St. Mary's R. C. Church, East Guildford, and the service was conducted by the Rev. Father Brady.. They had three children – Emma born
1914, Mary born 1916, Francis (Frank) John born 1918. They walked to school at Carmel cutting through Grandma Emma"s place to get there. If they were late coming home, their mother knew they were playing at Grandma's place. Such interesting things to do there - a big fig tree to climb, eggs to gather, hay stacks to slide down, a batch of kittens, or chickens, or litter of pigs or to climb on a fence and watch Grandma scratch old "Jack" the boar, on his back with a shovel. It was hard work tilling the Kalamunda soil with hand implements. Natural predators took their toll of the strawberry crops. The bob-tailed goanna was the main predator. Frank remembers that they were constantly eating the strawberries. He used to keep an axe handy, and waged a constant but unequal battle on them. The Elephant Beetle attacked the crops early in that century, with devastating effect, bringing the commercial growing of strawberries to an end in virtually one year.
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One of the early motor vehicles Frank had was a Napier. He cut the back seat off, closed off the front and made it into a utility. With this he took the fruit to his stall at the kerbstone Markets at Midland and Guildford. Some of the fruit crop would be sent to the Metro Fruit Markets which moved from East Perth to West Perth. Other vehicles he had over the years were an Oakland 4 then an Oahland 8, and an Essex 4.
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FRANK'S TWO GIRLS, EMMA & MARY (each side) C1930 |
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His wife Mary died in 1963 and Frank died on 4th July 1976 at Carmel, and had lived 84 years continuously in the Kalamunda area, a record unsurpassed by anyone.
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FLORENCE WALLIS Florence Wallis was the first pupil to attend the Carmel School and walked to school through a bush track. One of the early tracks through the bush was made by her father, who hitched a heavy log to a horse and dragged it along the ground to make a track for his little girl as she walked to school from "Orangedale" to Carmel every morning. Chores had to be done before and after school. All the family had to do their share of the work. There were pigs to feed, cows to milk and fowls to tend. It was a very busy life indeed. She remembered singing a song at the first school concert held in 1913 accompanied by the teacher, Mr. T. B. Miller on the violin.
CARMEL SCHOOL #68 |
FLORENCE HALLEEN (nee WALLIS) #67 Her mother, Emma, built a new house at the Pomeroy Road property and together they planted the Eucalyptus trees on the property, the most spectacular of which now form an avenue either side of Pomeroy Road. They established a productive orchard at this property as well as a spectacular garden that was well known in the district. The gardens were chosen as the venue for local weddings and social events. The avenue of trees planted c1920 are a remnant of the former lush garden.
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AVENUE OF EUCALYPTUS TREES ON POMEROY ROAD, WALLISTON #69
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Alfred Halleen was a caterer and together with his mother, owned a very successful business at 33 Market Street, Fremantle which traded as the “Aleda Tearooms” which they sold in 1911. They moved to Walliston that same year and bought Canning Loc. 270 from Mr. Edwards. They also bought a virgin block of land in Pomeroy Road which was sold to Mr. Petitt and named "Rising Dawn". A year later Alfred was associated with the Kalamunda Fruit growers Association. She married Alfred Reginald Halleen (28) at the tiny Methodist Church, at Carmel on 28th October 1925. His mother had passed away and they had sold the property in Halleendale Road. They lived at "Woodlands" with her mother where they established an orchard and piggery and some poultry. On the 18th
February (19??) their daughter Lesley Florence was born at the Harvey Hospital in
Bulwer Street, Perth. In November 1927 Alfred or Reg as he was more commonly called, purchased a brand new Graham Brothers truck fitted with a special enclosed cab and covered-in body. He had previously been using a modified Dodge Brothers’ car chassis for a number of years to take his produce to market from Walliston.
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REG & FLORENCE HALLEEN ON THEIR WEDDING DAY #70 |
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A special event that Florence was involved in was the catering for 400 returned soldiers from the 2nd World War which was held in the Kalamunda Agricultural Hall in 1945. All cooking was done on a wood stove. There was cured ham, silverside, turkey, potted meats, salads and mould beetroot. For dessert there were 30 huge trifles lashed with sherry, jellies and cream, chocolate eclairs, creampuffs and all kinds of sponges beautifully decorated. These was also home made icecream which Florence husband, Reg, had made in an icecream churn. This was turned by hand, and was surround by ice to produce the most beautiful rich icecream. It was a real hit and was still being talked about weeks later.
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REMAINS OF "WOODLANDS" #71 |
REMAINS OF "WOODLANDS" #72 |
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Florence Halleen became a very good cook and competed in many shows. Sometimes she took as many as 400 entries to a show and won many trophies and prizes. There were preserved fruits, jams and jellies, cakes of all kinds, fruit and dairy produce - the list was endless. She has been awarded 2,350
diplomas and 34 trophies and cups, and numerous certificates of merit from
various shows for her efforts in that class of work. She has never been
defeated in the bottled fruit classes. It is doubtful that any exhibitor in
Australia has a better record. She exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Show in Claremont
as well as the Canning, Kelmscott, Kalamunda, Byford, Northam, Gosnells and
Roleystone Shows.
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FLORENCE HALLEEN'S CERTIFICATES #73 |
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FLORENCE HALLEEN'S PRESERVES #74 |
FLORENCE HALLEEN'S PRESERVES #75 |
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FLORENCE HALLEEN'S PRESERVES #76 |
FLORENCE HALLEEN'S PRESERVES #77 |
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FLORENCE HALLEEN AND HER TROPHIES #78
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Her husband, Reg, died on 22nd
July 1952.
Florence died 9th September 1983, aged 85.
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FRANK WALLIS & FLORENCE HALLEEN # 79 |
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The City of Kalamunda has named a park in Walliston after the Wallis Family in recognition of their dedication and service to the district over many years. |
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WALLIS PARK 25th October 1998
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WALLIS
DRILLING Back in 1963, two Perth
drillers – Marty Wallis and his son, Jamie – set up Wallis Geochemical
Drilling. In 1965, the company was incorporated as Wallis Drilling Pty Ltd. Marty was working for the Bureau of Mineral Resources and was told if he bought a rig, then the government would give him a contract. Jamie joined the new company and father and son began their drilling partnership at the former Rum Jungle uranium mine site about 105km south of Darwin. Marty and Jamie continued drilling all over the state including Coolgardie, Norseman and Laverton. By 1974, they had drilled their way back to Perth and Graeme joined the family business and the drilling industry. He became a co-director of the company and maintained a managerial role while Jamie and Marty remained drillers and technical specialists as well as company directors. |
JAMIE & MARTY WALLIS #80
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WALLIS DRILLLING RIG ON SITE #81
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WALLIS DRIILING 50 YEARS CELEBRATION #82
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Wallis Drilling began operations in 1965 and is now one of Australia’s largest privately-owned mineral drilling companies. We currently have 250+ staff who operate a fleet of over 55 drilling rigs in Australia and selected International markets. In 2015 Wallis Drilling celebrated 50 years of service in the drilling industry. We are based in Midvale, Western Australia with subsidiary companies in Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. Our recent drilling experience extends to Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America and throughout Australasia.
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Wallis Drilling’s first invention was Marty’s patented reverse circulation system for drilling below water tables in soft sediments. In 1974 came an idea which revolutionised the industry. Wallis was drilling in the mineral sands sector and Jamie was looking for a way to increase productivity and avoid sample contamination which was an issue in auger drilling. To solve this problem, he designed and built a completely new method of drilling; the Wallis Aircore system. It set a new standard in the industry and Aircore technology is now used all over the world. This was the first commercially successful Air Reverse Circulation drilling system in the world. Since those pioneering days, Wallis Drilling has continued to expand and innovate. Our drilling services now include Aircore, Reverse Circulation and Mud Rotary, Diamond Core and Multitech. Today, the company has over 55 drill rigs, 250+ employees and operations in selected international markets. It is still 100 per cent family-owned.
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WALLIS' DRIILING RIG ON SITE #83
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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.
Reference: Article: Gordon Freegard
Images: 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42,
Copyright : Gordon Freegard. 2008 - 2020
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