BEARD Jimmy

James Edward Beard, of Gnowangerup was the oldest native born resident in Gnowangerup for many years. Jimmy was born on July 14, 1863, the son of John and Margaret nee Magee. He told reporters in 1951 that he was 20 miles from the town site, that his parents had arrived in W.A. not long before his birth, which took place ‘near the old coach inn at Gnowangerup’. A conflicting story appeared in The West Australian (11 February 1953) regarding the place of his birth – it was reported that he had arrived in Western Australia aged two. Another conflicting story gives his birth place as Albany (The Fruit of the Country by Merle Bignell p 148)

Jimmy was christened at Albany, where his sisters Margaret and Sarah were born in 1867 and 1869 respectively. He was still a small boy when his father was killed in an accident. Jimmy took good care of his mother until her death in 1913. As a youth, Jimmy drove a team of horses with a large wagon, carting sandalwood on the bush tracks through the Stirling Ranges to the port of Albany. He later said that he was a teamster for “many years.” and that he had lived in Albany until he was 16 years old.

Jimmy recounted the discovery of fellow teamster Jock King’s partially buried body at ‘The Sinkings’ in 1882. This was a well known teamster’s camp on the King River road. He had been camped with his team at a nearby at the time. A man by the name of Collins was later charged with the murder. In those days the teamsters went via the Kalgan River (about 58 km from Albany) and ‘The Sinkings (about 13 km from Albany) on then to Albany. Several were employed by Mr. John Hassell, and proceeded to his yards in the town. Here the sandalwood was weighed and the teamsters paid. They were paid around 40 pounds per load. This was a lucrative trade at a time when a team of horses could be bought for around 60 pounds.
 

JIMMY BEARD & JIMMY LAURISTON        #1

A newspaper report (The West Australian 11 February 1953) recorded that Jimmy had driven a wagon with five horses from Katanning to Coolgardie in 1893 (the time of the goldrush). He was able to name all of the men who had accompanied him. “Mr Beard mentioned that he had known the photographer’s grandfather, who had travelled the route to Coolgardie known as “Hollands Track”. He was able to tell the photographer more about his relatives than the cameraman previously knew.”

Jimmy was employed as a ‘bush worker’ and later took up a small selection about a mile down the creek from James Quinn’s. He was a regular carting wheat and wool by horse and wagon the 29 miles from Gnowangerup to Broomehill before the railway line was extended. One occasion his horses bolted, and in the melee one horse was killed and others were injured (A.H.A. Allardyce The History of the Gnowangerup District)

Jimmy said he once walked to Perth which took eight days, camping on the roadside.

During the "Back to Albany" celebrations in 1936, he met up with old friends and colleagues, and spent a happy time recounting stories of the olden times.

Jimmy was the yardman at the Gnowangerup Hotel for many years, and even after retiring could still be seen helping out. He had become a respected community member, and was a familiar sight in Gnowangerup. He would often be seen in his large coat, with a long grey beard and hat and smoking his pipe. He became friendly with the publican Tom Pinner and his stepson, Dudley Thornton. For some years he had told friends he had been born in (about) 1848. So in 1952, for what was believed to have been his 103^rd birthday, friends Dudley, J. Weir and Mr C. Wilson arranged for him to Perth for a ‘city celebration’. This was believed to have been organised by a Perth newspaper. Jimmy enjoyed the car travel, and would urge the driver to ‘step on it!’

At the party where he was interviewed and photographed, still claiming he was 103 years old. He was given a great deal of attention due to this longevity. Adding to the validity of Jimmy’s claim, Dudley Thornton said that Mrs. Moyle of Albany, who had died 10 years previous [c1941] aged 85 said she could remember Mr. Beard as a grown man when she was a young girl. (It is more plausible that she was referring to Jimmy’s father who did live in Albany during the 1860’s).

The story was run in newspapers in most states of Australia. Birth records were not as easily accessed in those days, and as Jimmy was born many kilometres from Albany, the nearest registry office, he probably thought it was one tall story that would not be unravelled. At the time of his interview, he stated his recipe for a long life was a combination of looking after yourself, hard work, two tots of rum first thing each morning (“Don’t spare the rum”), eggs and bacon for breakfast, and very little else for the rest of the day, except "plenty of damper and black tea without sugar or milk." He was remembered at the Gnowangerup Hotel as still being able to sing a good song, dance a merry jig, and play a good game of darts.

On the return journey he began looking for familiar landmarks when they were only a hundred kilometres out of Perth. “I should be able to see Quartermaine’s farm soon (Katanning)” he repeated, no matter how many times his companions tried to explain the distance they had travelled.

In 1953 Tom Pinner took him to Perth for an eye examination, and at that time he told reporters he was 104 years old. This report noted that he could not read or write, but that he spoke clearly and had an excellent memory. He was then reported as being able to enjoy the ‘occasional’ glass of rum, still sing a chorus of an old time song, walk unaided and was still smoking his pipe.

He remained a bachelor, and was often seen in the company of Gnowangerup’s other well known bachelors – Jimmy Beard, Bill Patten who lived near the railway station and ‘Bullocky Bill’ Stone who lived near Christmas Farm. Jimmy died on the fourth of May, 1959 aged 96. Had he been born in 1848 he would have been 111. Had Mrs Moyle’s assertion been true, he would have been around 159 years old)
 

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:      The West Australian 11 February 1953
                                                                  The Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) 17 April 1951
                                                                  The Mercury (Hobart)13 April 1951
                                                                  The Argus (Melbourne) 12 April 1951
                                                                 The Fruit of the Country by Merle Bignell p 148
                                                                 A.H.A. Allardyce The History of the Gnowangerup District

                                  Image:     1  The Brade Family

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023