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JENNA HOUSE

Thomas Head was born c1873 in Burra South Australia, son of British parents. He came to Western Australia in February 1905.

Thomas (known as Tom) was one of the oldest to enlist from the Gnowangerup District, aged 43 years and 5 months.

His wife was Mary Jane nee O’Halloran. They had three children: Veronica ‘Vera’ Kathleen, Constance ‘Connie’ Evelyn and they later adopted Dorothy in 1922, who was the daughter of Tom and the late Margaret Grocock.

Tom was a builder and cabinet maker by trade, and had been apprenticed in Kadina S.A. for 7 years prior to his military service.
 


THOMAS HEAD              #1

  ADVERT IN GNOWANGERUP STAR NEWSPAPER           #2
 

Tom had the boarding house called "Jenna House" opposite the school.
He gave his address as Gnowangerup when he enlisted in Tambellup on 18 May 1916.
He weighed 131 pounds, was 5 foot 7 inches tall with a florid complexion, dark brown hair, blue eyes and a tattoo of a star on his right patella.
Tom served at the Western Front, in France and Belgium.
He returned to Western Australia on 26 March 1919 aboard the Morvada.
Tom was involved with the RSL and his wife Mary Jane often undertook the catering for their various dinners and social gatherings.
Thomas Head started building "Jenna House", opposite the school, in 1911 before WW1 and completed it on his return. Internally very little has altered.
 It was originally a boarding house, but Jenna house later became more like a hostel that provided self contained rooms/flats.
Each one had their own Metters stove according to Mr. Grace.
Mrs. Head who provided accommodation for bank staff and teachers the tariff was eight shillings a day or 28 shillings per week
Jenna House is on the local registry of local Historic Buildings

One of the teachers Lee Mitten and his wife lived in a one by three room flat and shared a bathroom. Single teachers were in separate rooms it was a formal lounge and a smoke room.
Albert and Jenny Pratt purchased Jenna House in the mid 1950's and Jenny operated a small business from the room on the front verandah selling the "best vanilla slices" ever.
In the 1960’s Mrs. Mitchelmore resided at Jenna House and gave piano tuition to mostly students at the Gnowangerup School which is located directly opposite.
The music room was at the front of the property.
Evidently Mrs. Mitchelmore in true music teacher style of the day would ‘rap’ the knuckles of her students!
It is said Mrs. Mitchelmore won the lottery and retired to Mandurah.
It is presently owned by The Grace family (2008).
 


 

        RECENT  VIEW OF "JENNA HOUSE"             #3
 


RECENT  VIEW OF "JENNA HOUSE"             #4


 


RECENT  VIEW OF "JENNA HOUSE"             #5

Margaret Weatherly: “Mrs Mitchelmore lived in the school house opposite. She taught me piano when I was eighteen.”

Marion van Bekkem: “My Dad stayed at Mrs Head's place for awhile before the family arrived. Always reckoned she was a Mother away from home. Later on her daughter & husband became great friends with the family.”

Rod Walker “My mother Margaret Walker said that a Mrs Berent (not sure of the spelling) lived there after fleeing from Nazi persecution in Germany. It was said that she was a renowned classical pianist with the National German orchestra, She taught music in Gnowangerup on the grand piano she took with her and later moved to Katanning”.

Thomas Carroll: re Jenna House my mother Vera was the eldest child, she married Frank who was a younger brother of Claude Cockrams wife), Connie was the second child and was married to Vin McDonald of Springvale, and Dot Vary was the youngest.

Jeanette Olsen: “My grandfather Thomas Head started building "Jenna House" before WW1 and completed it on his return”

Tracey Lee More: “I think this may be where my mum boarded when she first came to gnowangerup to work at Harris & Son as a teenager, Shirley Perrin who married Ian Firth”.

Karyn Nelson: I did Piano lessons with Mrs Mitchelmore in the front room!

 
 

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.

 

References:                 Article:      

                                  Image:    2             Gnowangerup Star Newspaper
                                                3, 4, 5       Merilyn Stewart

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024