Gnowangerup History

“Later the farm at Gnowangerup was sold Wattie had cleared the 600 acres of land that he had wished to expand.
The bank manager showed him a farm at Ongerup but it was too expensive and would have put him in debt. He chose instead to move the family to another virgin block near Dartnell Siding on the Tambellup to Gnowangerup railway line in about 1928.
It was the first siding East of Tambellup. This land was much lighter nature than Gnowangerup farm but nevertheless was hard work to clear. There was only 70 acres cleared so the work started all over again, clearing the land.
The home was built by Jimmy Lawrence. It was here that what he had was asked if he wished that his daughter Alice was a son and his reply was “No, she is capable of working as hard as any man”.
An attempt was made to drive the cows from Gnowangerup to Dartnell - only one arriving the rest succumbing to box poison!
Possibly the box poison plants did cause the deaths of cattle in this instance because of the stress brought on by walking the stock.

Wattie farmed here for about three years, so in about 1931 the family were on the move again. One can only guess that the times of depression and financial hardship caused the abandonment of this enterprise. Life was hard in these times.
When his eldest son Ted was accidentally killed in a shooting accident at Nyabing in 1931 Wattie was unable to pay the funeral expenses and the undertaker took the stripper (harvester) for payment. It is believed that he took Ted’s tools and buried them in the orchard at Dartnell so the undertaker could not find them and take them as part payment.
From here the family moved Broomehill to live and what he worked for a time as a farmhand for Dave Wray and another farmer. He then left the family at Broomehill and move onto the Harvey Weir to work. He sent home money via the mail.
In one instance the regular fortnightly check did not arrive and Louisa was left without money to buy food for the children. It was not Wattie’s fault, the mailman forgot to leave it.
It seems that about this time in his life where he worked on the East-West Road across the Nullabour Plain. He worked here for approximately two years. Taking his horse and cart he would be away many months at a time. He talked of fishing while Eucla.
Wattie and his family returned to Gnowangerup to live. He took employment with Gnowangerup Road Board as a foreman. This necessitated him being away from home for long periods of time. In those days the road gang would camp out for weeks on end. They camped in tents and later lived in crude caravans.
He earned himself a very good reputation as a road maker and grader driver — the grader of being horse powered.

Through most of his life Wattie like to go to the pub for a drink or two or maybe even three or four! It was nothing for him to climb in the cart time to go home. It would not be long before he was fast asleep. He’s faithful old one eyed horse would take him home. When she got to the gate that had to be open she would stand and wait patiently
One such a night when the road was wet and slippery the horse misjudged the side of the road hitting a rock and turning the cart over. Ted, who was with him was pinned by a bag of flour. I guess would be that sobriety turned very quickly!
Wattie and Ted would on some occasions make the journey home together going past his house as far as the boundary fence then sit and talk until daylight.
In later years when the grandchildren Amelia and Brian Nicholas were attending school in Gnowangerup, Grandma Wolfe always had a midday meal ready for them, there was not much of the dinner hour left by the time they walked to their home and back.
In the twilight years of his life Wattie lived with his family. Most of the time with Maud and some time with Nancy.
Wattie passed away at Gnowangerup on February 2, 1960. He led a life for that for him had held many sorrows not the least being the loss of two wives and two children. A life of hardwork and bitter disappointment.
He was a kind and loving man who pass these attributes onto his children.
He indeed lived in hard times”.

‘Family Alice & Ken
Alice (nee Wolfe} and Ken Nicholas married and in 1973 they moved to Borden to live and their son Brian continued to farm at Mongup. They had only been a very short time in residence there when they were again hard at work in the garden. There was always a supply of fresh vegetables for their own use and surplus for the family. The flower garden was a blaze of colour and cut flowers adorned the tables of such places as their own home, their families homes, the blowing club house, the church, the golf club etc.
They were both very keen members of the Borden Bowling Club
In 1991 Alice and Ken moved to Glenn-Craig retirement village in Albany to live. They transplanted to this situation very well. Again attending a garden and becoming involved in the activities of the village.
Sadly Ken lived only six months after this move. Alice continued to live on in their unit for another six months. By this time her legs refused to hold her up properly and in June 1992 Alice moved to the hospital section of the village
Although her legs refuse to carry her she is bright and still very much with the world. She spends her days doing hobbytex for which she has quite a lucrative market. (This was written prior to her passing)
Alice reads and participates in the many activities organised by the Glenn-Craig staff. She never misses carpet bowls an activity she had earlier played on many a night at Mongup.
Date Alice passed away is not available.
Family Amelia & Mark
Amelia Mary is the eldest child and eldest daughter of Alice (nee Wolfe) and Ken Nicholas was born at Gnowangerup on 25th February 1939. She grew up at Mongup the home of her parents at Borden. Education was a problem and she studied through correspondence and went to various primary schools in the area gaining her Junior Certificate.
After leaving school she obtained employment at the Borden Post Office working mainly as a telephonist. This led to further employment at the Gnowangerup Post Office again as a telephonist.