BARBER'S SWAMP MYSTERY  
Copyright       David Mizen     November 2020

Joseph Shaw, Canning Mills and the mystery of Barber's Swamp

The Tram Line Survey Report set out below was published in the West Australian 29th September 1885. It formed part of the promotional material for proposed sale of Mason’s Mill conducted by Waldeck Smith on behalf of Joseph Shaw. The report refers to the new mill to be built at Barkers or Barber’s Swamp. No location for the swamp is given. As a result of the location of correspondence from Joseph Shaw and Surveyor Angove it is now possible to identify the location of Barbers Swamp. As a result, it is possible to date activity at Canning Mills to at least 1883.

  ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE "WEST AUSTRALIAN" ON 29th SEPTEMBER 1885

Section of Lands Department Map Sourced from State Records Office item No 506237 (Department of Lands and Surveys)       #1

THE ABOVE MAP SHOWS THE TRAMWAYS REFERED TO IN THE  NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

                                                       
 The report above refers to Barkers Swamp and Barbers Swamp, the names appear to be used interchangeably and appear to refer to the same location. The State Records office holds a correspondence file initiated by W Gibbs on 8th October 1883. Gibbs letter raises 2 issues, the first that Joseph Shaw had engaged Mr Angove to surveys lots in the hills and secondly that Angove appeared to be attempting to locate water sources in the area he was surveying (Gibbs, 1883). On October 25th 1883 the Commissioner of Crown Lands writes regarding Shaw’s application to purchase land in the Darling Ranges and seeking assurance that if the application were to be granted the public right to access water would be retained(The Commisioner of Land Crown Lands, 1883). The letter is not set out on the conventional manner however the name J Shaw appears on the left-hand foot of the letter opposite the Commissioners title and signature. It is assumed that Shaw was the intended recipient. There are several other letters touching on the interests that might be affected if the land was sold to Shaw. There is an undated note to the Commissioner of Lands stating that the writer knows of no permanent water except for a small swamp “at the proposed mill site”(Undecipherable, 1883). Following the note there is a longer letter from W.A Saw dated 15th December 1883. Saw states that he had visited the lots to be taken up by Shaw with Stephen Gibbs. He then notes that the only permanent water is situated at Martin's Springs on lot 167, further that there is also water about ¼ of a mile from the head of this brook at Barber’s Swamp the site of the proposed new mill(Saw, 1883). It appears that the correct name is Barber’s Swamp, Stephen Gibbs being a local resident would presumably refer to the location by its correct name, likewise Saw. There is further correspondence from Saw dated 20th December 1883 regarding the possible reservation of lot 167. The final document in the file is a Survey Sketch of Canning Location 167 prepared by Angove. The diagram shows Location 167 abutting Canning Location 166(Angove , 1883).

Given that Location 167 abuts Location 166 the documentation set out above ties the location of Bakers Swamp to Canning Location 165. Location 165 being the site of mill. It is the writer’s contention that Barber’s Swamp is situated on the eastern side of Location 165 at the northern end of the lot, there are now a number of paperbark trees regrowing in the creek bed indicating water in that area.
 

Section of Lands Department map Canning 155 Sourced from Landgate     #2

LATER MAP SHOWING CANNING MILLS ESTABLISHED ON CANNING LOCATION 165

The other point that arises from this series of correspondence is that Shaw had approval for a timber mill at Canning Mills at least as early as 1883. It also raises the possibility that the pit sawing sites at the top (west end) of Location 167 were commenced by Joseph Shaw as part of the permission to commence milling operations in the area.

References

Angove , W. (1883, September). District of Canning. Perth: State Records Office AU WA S211- cons541 1883/2737.

Forrest and Angove. (1885, September 29). Canning Timber Station. The West Australian , p. 3.

Gibbs, W. (1883). Letter to Commisioner of Crown Lands. Perth: State Records Office AU WA S211- cons541 1883/2737.

Saw, W. A. (1883). Letter to Commissioner of Crown Lands 15th December. Perth: State Records Office.

The Commisioner of Land Crown Lands. (1883). Letter dated 25th October. Perth: State Records Office AU WA S211- cons541 1883/2737.

Undecipherable. (1883). undated note to Commissioner of Crown Lands. Perth: State Records Office AU WA S211- cons541 1883/2737.

References:      Article:      David Mizen

                      Images:   1      Department of Land & Surveys
                                     2      Landgate

                      Image Stitching by John Linton
                                      

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