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FOREST INN The Forest Inn, Canning Location 165 and the 'town' site. |
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The purpose of this paper is to give a feel for the layout early part of the town sites history and provide a brief discussion of some of the issues that arise. Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, this paper will combine three contemporary newspaper reports with the only known detailed map of the site- Lands Department Canning 155. Canning 155 is cumulative. It records all features that the Lands Department had jurisdiction over, or, had an interest in. It does not show the chronology of events that cause a particular feature to be added to the map. It is not indicative of the chronology of events that shaped the 'town' site. |
THE FOREST INN , CANNING MILLS #1 |
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The extracted reports are in chronological order. The first newspaper report is Canning Notes from 5 August 1891. The second, Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir from the West Australian of 20 June 1894. The third, The Water Supply Report by the City Surveyor, West Australian, Monday 6 August 1894. The issues arising from these articles relate to the location of the first Forest Inn and its name, the location of the Slaughter house, and the remedies put in place to deal with the pollution problem. The Forest Inn shown on the map is the second phase of the Forest Inn's life. The first Forest Inn's location, in this writer's view, gives rise to its name. The map section shows the slaughter house on the left side of Location 165. The map is relatively accurate with respect to the location of mill features, the Forest Inn and the Doctor's residence. The author has issues with the depiction of the creek adjacent to the hotel. The descriptions of the locations of the Inn and slaughter house in Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir more or less accord with the depiction of the creek on the map. The current position of the creek does not, if the map section is correct there was a significant change in its course. |
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The creek is now more or less straight where it passes through Location 165, whereas in the map there is a large oxbow feature near the hotel. In addition at some time the south end of the creek was dug in and covered by jarrah boards. Probably to prevent animals polluting the creek. Not shown on the map are the 'houses' referred to in the reports. The Lands Department had no interest in the location of the mill houses so they are not recorded on any of the maps seen by the author. The map section does not show the town's water supply. That issue will be examined in a separate paper.
Map Section Canning 155 Lands Department Canning 165 Sourced from Landgate. |
REMAINS OF OLD CANNING MILLS DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE #23 |
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#2 |
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Extract 1 “Canning Notes 1891”. “On arrival at the Canning Jarrah Timber Company's station, the first building seen is a very nice brick house, occupied by Mr. Lionel White, the manager for the Company. A few chains farther we arrive at the Spot Mill. This was the first Mill erected, and was intended to simply cut timber for the Company's own requirements, but orders are coming in so rapidly it has been found necessary to keep this mill going as hard as possible to supply urgent indents. Passing the large forage store, stables and trades men's shops, we come to the Canadian mill. This is one of Waterson's plants, fitted with a traversing log carriage and twin saws for breaking down large logs, and is capable of cutting flitches four ft. wide. |
CANNING JARRAHH TIMBER COMPANY'S MANAGERS HOUSE #3 |
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LIONEL WHITE AND FAMILY AT CANNING MILLS |
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One feature which is noticeable is the absence of a cross cutting gang for each mill, which is usually seen at sawmills, as all this work is done by two of Ransome's steam cross cutting machines, which are capable of cross cutting logs four ft. in diameter in the short time of three minutes. Passing on we come to large excavations and find another large mill in course of erection. This mill, when completed, will be capable of cutting logs sixty feet long. It will be driven by a pair of Tangyes' engines, steam being generated in two large Cornish boilers, and will be capable of turning out fully 25 loads of timber per day. Returning to wards the Spot Mill, on the upper side of the mills, we see in the landing and log yards some hundreds of logs ready for cutting. These were thoughtfully got in from the bush during the summer, as Mr. White determined to keep the mills going right through the winter, thus preventing a lot of lost time when haulage from the bush was difficult and costly. The company has a very fine store, well filled with all requirements for the employees and their families, and on enquiring I found the prices were very moderate, only a shade over town prices being asked. . |
STEAM POWERED CROSS CUT SAW AT CANNING MILLS #5 |
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CANNING JARRAHH TIMBER COMPANY MILL SITE LOOKING SOUTH EAST #6 |
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CANNING JARRAHH TIMBER COMPANY MILL SITE LOOKING NORTH #7 |
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The Company's manager is deserving of great credit for not allowing any public house on the works, as a license would not only cause loss of time, but drunkenness, poverty and perhaps accidents. ... A large building of jarrah, some 43 feet long and 30 feet wide, is about going up, to be used in the day time for school purposes, there being from 40 to 50 children at present on the station capable of attending school. This is to answer for a reading and recreation room and library in the evenings and for religious services on Sundays, for any denomination that wishes to make use of it. |
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A four roomed house for the teacher and librarian will also be provided. Although the Company is contemplating telephonic communication with Perth, which will be of immense service, a Post Office will be necessary, as it must be eventually the largest mill in W. A. And be the means of giving employment to some hundreds of hands. Of all the mills that I have visited I have never seen the work conducted and carried on with such good hearts and spirits by all the employees, many of whom I had met before on other work, and can thus testify to what I say. … |
OUTSIDE THE CANNING MILLS SCHOOL BUILDING #8 |
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From here I proceeded some two miles to Mr. Stephen Gibbs' hostelry, the Forest Inn, enroute to the Perth Water Works, to which a good road is being cleared, so that visitors wishing to go on to the waterworks will be able to walk, ride or drive, and with comfort, under the immense shady trees in summer time. After a short sojourn at mine host and having refreshed the inner-man. I passed on another mile to have a look at the waterworks, the great wall and the impounding dam (not impounding drain, as you misprinted in my last notes). They are now carrying on the wall to its full height across the dam, and with a few dozen more hands should bring the wall to completion. After a good look round I repaired to Bartle's Boarding House, which I would recommend all travellers not to miss, if they want to have a really good 'square' meal, consisting of first-class soup (a superior article to what you get at some of the town hotels), joints, several kinds of vegetables, capital pastry (none of your raw material); all this coupled with cleanliness, greatest civility, and good attendance leaving nothing to be desired, and all for a shilling, for that was the small demand made for our sumptuous spread. There are also three other boarding houses on the camp and a store, thus giving the locality a very picturesque appearance, with its canvas town of about eighty tents and other habitations. Mr. W. H. Burton, the Manager, will not allow any public house on the Company's area”. |
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VICTORIA RESERVOIR #9 |
VICTORIA RESERVOIR #10 |
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OFFICIAL OPENING OF VICTORIA RESERVOIR BY LADY MAYORESS MRS. LILLA KEANE TURNING THE VALVE. (WIFE OF EDWARD KEANE) #11
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Extract 2 1894 “Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir” “The mills and station are situated in a glen and along a brook, between four and five miles from the Victoria Reservoir. The mills are situated at the southerly end of the settlement, and the cottages are thickly plotted along the banks of the glen, from about two hundred yards to the south of the mills to about three hundred yards north of them. The population at present is about four hundred. On either side of the brook, from a distance of 20 or 30 yards on either side of it, there is a flat or gentle slope from which the hill rises abruptly. This flat for the whole way down to the reservoir is covered with sedges, scrub, flags, & c.Most of the cottages are built well off the flat on side of the hill. Some few, however, are onit. … There is one small farm on Gibb's Brook, once an inn. The habits of the people appear to be cleanly, but there are two glaring exceptions. One is a boarding house, built right down on the edge of the brook, from this house down to the brook there were direct signs of pollution in the shape of slime caused by grease and soap, and of kitchen refuse, bones, scraps of paper, etc. The other is the slaughter-house, situated at about fifty yards from the brook. The condition of this place almost beggars description; the whole place seems to be full of a decomposing blood and offal, which is overflowing and trickling downhill towards the brook, and there is evidently no effort to prevent pollution, and that of the worst character. If the polluting character of' this filth is in any respect in keeping with of its appearance and smell it must be very bad for both are ghastly. ... The smell in the neighbourhood of this place was positively suffocating. These two cases ought be dealt with peremptorily under the Act ...” (Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir. West Australian, Wednesday 20 June 1894, page 6), |
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VIEW AT CANNING MILLS LOOKING EAST #12 |
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Extract 3 August 6 1894 “The Water Supply Report by the City Surveyor” “On the 25th ult. I visited the Canning Jarrah Timber Mills, in company with Mr. Wilson, the managing director of the company, with a view to arriving at some amicable arrangement, if possible, whereby the pollution, as reported in my former report, could be prevented. In that report I stated there were two undoubted sources of pollution, namely the slaughter house and a boarding house. No visible signs of pollution now exist from either of these sources, the surroundings of both buildings being scrupulously clean. I stated to Mr. Wilson that the only sure method of preventing a recurrence of the old order of things was to have both these buildings removed to a considerable distance back from the stream. Mr. Wilson, however, will not admit that the Council have any power to cause this to be done, but offered to do anything in reason short of that to prevent the defilement of the stream. |
MANAGING DIRECTOR Mr. FRANK WILSON #13 |
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As I could not admit that while houses are situated and inhabited so near as they are to this brook indirect defilement at least could be prevented, I declined, since Mr. Wilson had taken the above attitude, to make any suggestions short of removing the buildings, but asked Mr. Wilson what his views were with regard to preventing the pollution, stating that I would lay any scheme of his before the Council for their approval or otherwise. |
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MILL WORKERS AT CANNING MILLS WITH THEIR VARIOUS TOOLS OF TRADE. LIONEL WHITE (First on the left, middle row) #14 |
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The Forest Inn, its name and location. The first Forest Inn was associated with the Perth Water Works site at Victoria Reservoir. There is a report from June 1890 of Gibbs having a building constructed near the reservoir work camp for the purpose of an Inn or Public house (Perth Water Works, W.A. Record, 5 June 1890, Pg.7) The initial location for the Forest Inn was “some two miles... [from the mill], enroute to the Perth Water Works, ...'' (refer paragraph 4 of Extract 1). In Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir it is stated “[t]here is one small farm on Gibb's Brook, once an inn” (refer Extract 2 paragraph 2). Further “[t]he mills and station are situated in a glen and along a brook, between four and five miles from the Victoria Reservoir ''(see extract 2 paragraph 1). This puts the first Inn approximately equidistant between the mill and the Reservoir. There is a small surveyed Location in about the right place between the mill and the reservoir. The Certificate of Title for this Location needs to be extracted, it should show the name of Steven Gibbs. Gibbs was responsible for constructing and the naming of the original Inn. It has been said that the name of the Inn is a tribute to John Forrest. That argument does not stand up. If it was a tribute to Lord Forrest the spelling of the name of the Inn should be “Forrest”. The spelling recorded in Canning Notes is Forest Inn. This is consistent with the photograph and related comments by Gordon Freegard (Freegard, 2019, p.64). The Inn stood on its own, in the literal middle of the forest between the site of the proposed mill at Barbers Swamp and Victoria Reservoir which was then under construction. In this writer's view the name is a literal reference to its initial location, it is an Inn in the forest. The period of operation at this site can be traced through the Liquor Licensing applications. Steven Gibbs initial wayside inn liquor license was granted on 4th June 1890 (Perth Licensing Bench. West Australian, 4 June 1890, Pg. 3). |
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It remained in place until Gibbs applied on the 18th February 1893 to transfer his licences to Canning Mills. Gibb's leased the new Inn from the Canning Jarrah Timber Company (Gibbs, 1883). Gibbs Liquor License was granted as evidenced by the references in the extracts Pollution of the Victoria Reservoir and The City Council. Given Gibb's lease the building it is assumed that either the building was in place and was converted to a wayside inn or was a new building. However, there is nothing in the liquor licensing reports that indicates that an architect was involved. It could well be the building referred to in extract 1 paragraph 3 to be provided for the teachers and librarian. |
THE FOREST INN, CANNING MILLS #15 |
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In any event the respective extracts refer to a boarding house. Gibbs application refers to a wayside inn in a building with four bedrooms and two sitting rooms. This does not accord with the description of a hotel, the description is more in line with the proposed building to be shared by the teacher and librarian. |
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Conclusion The Forest Inn had two phases of operation, the first near the Victoria Reservoir. It operated from about June 1890 to about March 1893. From about March 1893 it was located at Canning Mills Location 165 as indicated on the map section. The Inn forest Inn is named literally, it was an Inn in the forest. There is physical evidence on Location 165 that as a result of the siting of the Inn and the slaughterhouse the natural course of the creek bed has been modified to prevent the creek being polluted. However there are unresolved issues that require proper examination. References. Canning Notes, Inquirer and Commercial News, Wednesday 5 August 1891, page 5
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The Forest Inn This paper is intended to follow The Forest Inn, Canning Location 165 and the 'town' site (Mizen, 2022). Mizen deals with the first phase of the Forest Inn's existence, its original location near Victoria Reservoir and its relocation to Canning Mills Location 165. This paper will discuss the later history of the Forest Inn, The intention of this paper is to set out the full chronology of the licensee's of the Forest Inn. The chronology will be appended at the end of the paper. |
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The Forest Inn had its genesis in 1890. Steven Gibbs was the initial licensee. Gibbs was responsible for moving the Inn from its original location to Location 165 (Mizen, 2022). Gibbs held the Inn license until 1897. 1897 probably marks the downturn in the activities of the mill. During the early period of the Inn it featured in a number of reports by members of the press visiting the mills, either on their own, or as part of ministerial delegations. There are often multiple versions of the reports, all very similar, in different papers. The Gibbs era was probably the height of activity for the mill and the Inn. Following Gibbs there were a number of licensees. With the exception of Liebow, most licensees were only short term, few lasted longer than a couple of years. This is also indicative of the downturn at the mill. A decline in the profit from the premises does not mean nothing occurred.
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STEVEN GIBBS #16 |
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THE REMAIN OF THE FOREST INN AFTER THE FIRE #17 |
On the 2nd of January 1908 it was reported that the inn had been destroyed by fire. At the time of the fire the licensee was Mr F Hanna. The fire was noticed at about 3.00 am. On noticing the smoke Mr Hanna alerted the other occupants. The only things they saved for themselves were a few items of clothing. However, they saved most of the items belonging to the Post Office that was attached to the hotel (Post Office Destroyed, Daily News, 2 January 1908, Pg.4). The report of the fire raises an interesting point. At some point the trading facilities that the Canning Jarrah Timber Company and later Millars operated, or were privately operated at their behest, were transferred to the Inn. |
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Mr. Hanna's stock was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Co. for Ł600, and there was also a policy over the hotel and other structures, which were built of wood.” (Fire at the Canning Mills,West Australian. 3 January 1908, Pg.4) It appears the building insurer engaged an architect to design and construct the replacement building. Following the fire, on the 21st March 1908, Fred Upton, Architect, was calling for tenders for the erection of a hotel in jarrah near Pickering Brook (Upton, 1908). The only sustainable inference is that Upton's advertisement relates to the reconstruction of the Forest Inn. Upton is a noted architect who worked firstly in Melbourne then in WA. Amongst other things Upton designed the Midland Town Hall. Upton is historically important in his own right (Taylor, 2013, Frederick William Upton). The Inn was rebuilt. In late 1908 Liebow became the licensee and remained so until the Inn was closed. The Inn was a local meeting place and was involved in a number of political events |
POSTCARD OF THE FOREST INN WHEN W. LEIBOW WAS PROPRIETOR #18 |
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WILLIAM LEIBOW #19
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WILLIAM LEIBOW'S FAMILY #20 |
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THE FOREST INN, CANNING MILLS #21 |
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The Upper Darling Range Railway League meet at the Inn (Country, The West Australian, 2 July 1909, Pg 6). The function for the opening of the Karragullen railway extension was also held at the Inn (Canning Mills Railway, The Swan Express, 16 August 1912, Pg.8). It was also the location of a number of sporting events, particularly the wood chop events organised by Liebow (Athletics, Canning Mills Sports, The West Australian, 17 April 1912, Pg.9).
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LOG CHOP AT THE FOREST INN, CANNING MILLS #22 |
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The license was not renewed in 1922. The contents of the Inn was sold at Auction in October 1923. In December 1923 Frank Neilson was prosecuted for stealing timber and galvanised iron from the Forest Inn. The report indicates that the Forest Inn was then the property of the Water Supply Department (Iron and Timber Stolen the Daily News, 21 December 1923, Pg.10). In 1924 what was left of Location 165 was sold to Liebow, Certificate of Title Volume 857 Folio 1 shows William Henry Charles Liebow purchased 87 acres being a portion of Canning Location 165 on 11th April 1924. By Application dated 24th July 1931 the title is endorsed with Liebow's true and correct name Heinrich Karl Edward Seedorf. Portions of the title were then sold off including a large portion to the Di Marco's in March 1936. This includes the Tonusso's. The remaining rock wall in front of the mill site is what is left of the Tonusso residence. The later owners should show in Landgate records. At various points after that the Water Corporation resumed sections of the mill site including the portion occupied by the Inn. |
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The bulk of the known media reports are set out in the Forest Inn Chronology below. There is a caveat attached, there were a number of major disputes relating to pollution of Munday's Brook. These reports refer to the Inn or a boarding house, these are likely to be the same building. These references are not listed as they do not add anything useful regarding the Inn. The Inn's name is also inconsistently spelt, the same applies to the licensee's names. |
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Forest Inn chronology (updated 2023) 1. 1890 In June 1890 of Gibbs is reported as having a building constructed near the reservoir work camp for the purpose of an Inn or Public house (Unknown, 1890A) 2. 1890 S. Gibbs application for Wayside Inn license (Unknown, 1890B) 3. 1890 S. Gibbs application listed for hearing (Unknown, News and Notes, 1890C) 4. 1890 S. Gibbs application granted for location near Perth Water Works (Unknown, Perth Licensing Bench, 1890) 5. 1891 Forest Inn St Patricks day Sports (Unknown, Sports News, 1891A). 6. 1891 Forest Inn still at its original location on Munday's Brook. 7. 1893 Application to transfer license to Canning Mills. It is not clear whether the original building was dismantled and moved or a new building was constructed at Location165. S. Gibbs application August 1892 see Freegard and see (Gibbs, 1893) 8. 1894 17th September S. Gibbs prosecuted for Sunday trading (Unknown, Sunday trading at Canning Mills, 1894A) (Unknown, Sunday Trading, 1894B) (Unknown, 1894C) 9. 1896 That Gilded Six Pence Again (Unknown, That gilded six pence again, 1896) 10. 1896 Gibbs license renewed (Unknown, Quarterly licensing meeting, 1896) 11. 1897 Application by J. White for Gibb's license (White, 1897) 12. 1897 White's license granted (Unknown, Perth Licensing Court, 1897) 13. 1897 Armstrong application for license (Armstrong, 1898) 14. 1898 6th December Armstrong license renewed (Unknown, Wayside House Licenses, 1898) 15. 1899 Armstrong License renewed (Unknown, Wayside House Licenses, 1899) 16. 1901 Stealing Stout (Unknown, City Police Court, 1901) 17. 1901 Lamzed license application (Lamzed, 1901) 18. 1901 Lamzed license granted (Unknown, Licensing Courts, 1901) (Unknown, Quarterly licensing meeting 1901) 19. 1901 Lamzed prosecuted for allowing gambling (Unknown, "Hazard" and "Nap", 1901) 20. 1903 Carter license renewed (Unknown, 1903) 21. 1907 5th June George Bickerton license granted (Unknown, Quarterly Licensing Meeting, 1907) 22. 1907 16th November Frederick Greer Hannah applies for license (Hana, 1907) 23. 1908 2nd January Hotel, Post Office, Store and Butcher's Shop burnt down (Unknown, News and Notes, 1908) 24. 1908 Tenders for construction (Upton, 1908) 25. 1908 21st November William Henry Charles Liebow applies for license (Liebow, 1908) 26. 1908 License transferred from Hana to Liebow granted (Unknown, Perth Licencing Court, 1908), Liebow remained in place until closure. 27. 1921 23rd September license reduction hearing (Unknown, Reduction of Licenses, 1921) 28. 1921 6th December License renewed (Unknown, Licensing Courts, 1921) 29. 1922 December License not renewed (Unknown, Swan Licensing Court,1924) 30. 1923 17th October Contents of Hotel sold at auction (Unknown, Wednesday Next, 1923) 31. 1923 19th October Balance of Hotel contents sold at auction (Unknown, To Day To Day, 1923) 32. 1923 December Frank Neilson was prosecuted for stealing timber and galvanised iron from the Forest Inn
The report indicates that the Forest Inn was now the property of the Water Supply Department (Iron and Timber Stolen The Daily News, 21 December 1923, Pg.10).
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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: David Mizen Images: Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society 1, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008 - 2024
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