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PARNELL Edward Venning    NEW

Written by Stuart G. McDonald and Leslie D. McDonald

Edward Venning Parnell left his native Cornwall with his bride, Zebudah Dunn, from Plymouth Harbour on February 21st, 1855. After an uneventful crossing on the ship, the John Banks, they docked at Adelaide on May 29th, 1855. This country would have been a contrasting place for a young man of twenty, who was used to working in the dark, wet Cornish tin mines.
They soon moved to Charleston, SA, where Edward was working as a farm labourer when his son Edward Venning (Ned) Jr. was born on March 11th, 1856. The family then moved to Nairne, where Edward worked as a labourer when a second son, Richard Thomas, was born on July 16th, 1857. The family spent a few years at Nairne, but in 1859 or 1860, they moved to Maharg's Creek, where Edward returned to farming and where a third child, a daughter Margaret Venning, was born on November 21st, 1860.
In 1861 or 1862, the family returned to Nairne, where they finally settled, and where the last child, another son George Dunn, was born on November 22nd, 1863. Edward worked primarily on market gardens at Nairne until his death at the age of 78 years, on April 10th, 1911.

EDWARD "NED" & MARY PARNELL               #1

Their eldest son, Ned, married Mary Ann Slee on November 11th, 1878, at Nairne. The wedding was held at the home of Mary's parents, Richard and Mary Slee. Mary had come to Australia from Merton, Devon, in the United Kingdom, with her family in 1853. There were six children in the family: William (1848-1926), who married Caroline Jane Head (1844-1922); Mary Ann (1849-1909); Richard (1852-1853); Richard Henry (1854-1923), who married Hannah Thomas (1855-1935); John (1856-1859); and Walter.
The young couple settled at Yongala, where Ned worked as a wheelwright until 1885 when he leased a farm at Erskine. He continued, however, to work as a wheelwright at Yongala. He also worked for a time at the "Parnell Carriage Factory" at Orroroo, owned by his brother Richard. Richard patented the stripper that took off the first harvest at Toolbrunup. The remains of the stripper lay derelict in a paddock 15 km north of Williams.

 

Between 1879 and 1891, Mary and Ned's six children were born:
Edward Venning (Paddy, Tom) Parnell, born at Yongala on September 9th, 1879.
Mary Slee (Polly) Parnell, born at Yongala on November 3rd, 1881.
Olive May (Ollie) Parnell, born at Yongala on October 26th, 1884.
Myrtle Elsie Maud Parnell, born at Erskine on May 9th, 1886. (Myrtle was lost on the farm now owned by Claude Parnell in the early days. She was found asleep in the back of a stripper, and hence the farm was named "Myrtle Farm.")
Richard Slee (Dick) Parnell, born at Yongala on February 4th, 1889.
George William Parnell, born at Yongala on June 26th, 1891.


 

 DICK, MARY & MYRTLE PARNELL               #2
 

The severe droughts in South Australia during the 1890s forced many farmers to sell up or walk off their land and seek new properties. These South Australian farmers constituted nearly all the early Tambellup and Toolbrunup settlers. In times of drought, Ned drove farmers' horses to Loddonatta to water and find better pastures while Mary raised fowls, milked cows, and grew vegetables to support the family.
Ned Parnell left his family in South Australia and in 1894 came west searching for suitable land. While he searched, he began working as a wheelwright in Brookton for Mr. A.E. Plesso at Katanning and for three years for a Mr. Wilson at Woodanilling. He looked over land in the Woodanilling, Toolbrunup, and Kojonup districts before settling on the freshwater Lake Toolbrunup property. It was the freshwater lake that made him decide on that property. At this time, the eldest son, Paddy, traveled from South Australia to assist in the clearing of the selection and the construction of a dwelling, which consisted of a simple "bough shed." They cleared 40 acres while Ned still worked at Woodanilling. He worked at Woodanilling during the week and then traveled by train to Tambellup and walked from the Tambellup Station to the selection at Toolbrunup to work on the farm over the weekend.
 

       GEOTGE & OLIVE PARNELL       #3
 

After the 40 acres were cleared, Ned returned to South Australia, leaving Paddy on the selection to bring out the rest of the family. Ned had selected a piece of land for William George Hams, and the Hams family traveled with the Parnell family from South Australia to Albany in the West. The boat, the Blimba, landed at Albany in 1898. Ned, Mary, and daughter Polly set out for the farm, while Myrtle, Dick, and George were left to drive the cows from Albany to Toolbrunup—a task that took over one month. Ollie remained in Albany to seek employment. Ned, Mary, Polly, Myrtle, and George slept in the bough shed while Paddy and Dick slept in a stripper. Polly later ventured to Katanning, where she too sought employment.
 As well as farming, Ned became the town undertaker whenever the need arose. He was a well-known figure around the district shows and was a capable judge of stock. His services were always in demand where there were sick animals. He was the owner of a number of top-class imported stallions and a noted breeder of top-class horses.
Together with William George Hams, Ned successfully tendered the carting of piles from Mt. Barker for the construction of the Deep Water Jetty in Albany. Millie Nicholas journeyed from Albany to Tingerup by train and then walked to Toolbrunup to tell William George and Ned of their successful tender.

 

The eldest son, Paddy, married Miss Elizabeth Emily Ann Marshall in about 1905, and they raised a family of four. Two of the daughters, Ivy and Florence, returned to South Australia and married, while their only son, Walter, remained in Western Australia. He owned and operated a highly successful Chamberlain dealership in Gnowangerup until his death in 1976. Another daughter, Elsie, died in 1934 at the age of 24.
The eldest daughter, Polly, married Walter Wolfe in 1906 at Katanning. They had three children: a son, Edward, who was accidentally shot and killed in 1931, and two daughters, Alice and Amy. Polly was very young when she died in 1915.
Ned's wife Mary died in 1909 due to chronic nephritis and a heart complaint of which she suffered for 18 months. He later remarried to Miss Sarah Barbara Ann Eunson, whom he had met while she was visiting friends in the Tambellup district, on April 11th, 1913. Their only child, Alexander David Parnell, was born on November 3rd, 1916, at Tambellup.
Ollie, the second daughter, married George Henry Burridge, and they produced four children: Wesley, Irene (who died at the age of , Grace, and Lloyd. Ollie also died young in 1919 of the Spanish Flu.
Myrtle, the third daughter, married George Burridge's brother Richard, and they had five children: Edgar, Leslie, Frances (who was accidentally killed at the age of 2), Dulcie, and Mary.
Dick, the second son, married Miss Florence Hilda Oxman in 1923 at Narrogin after his return from World War I. They settled on a Returned Serviceman's Block at Gnowangerup. Their son, Noel, farms the property. Their eldest daughter Myrtle lives in Albany, while a younger, Margaret, operates her late husband's Chamberlain dealership in Gnowangerup. Another son, Alfred, died in 1939 at the age of 10 years.

  AMELIA ELIZABETH OXMAN Nee Webb & DAUGHTER ADA             #4
 

       RICHERD "DICK" & FLORENCE PARNELL       #5
 

NOEL PARNELL, MAX WOLFE, MARGARET PARNELL, MAUD WOLFE, MYRTLE PARNELL       #6

 

George, the third son, married Miss Olive Maria Lloyd at Tambellup in 1919, and a son, Vivian, was born in 1926 before she died in 1930, caused by an intestinal blockage. George later remarried to Miss Vera Watson in 1935 at Gnowangerup, and they produced three children: William (deceased), Daphne, and Claude. George owned "Myrtle Farm," which is directly opposite the original "Holme Park," now owned by the Witham family.

Alexander, the fourth son, was a member of the ground staff in the R.A.F. during World War II. He returned to a Returned Serviceman's Block at Katanning West. He married Miss Amy Doreen Garnett in 1945, and they had three children: Cheryl, Rex, and David.


 

 HOLME PARK PLAQUE       #7
 

Ned had done well farming at Toolbrunup. He led a varied and distinguished career. He served on the Tambellup Road Board from its inception in 1906 until his death in 1934. Ned Parnell was honored by the Tambellup Road Board on his 78th birthday; the chairman spoke highly of him as a man and pioneer. Mr. A.E. Plesso MLA spoke in similar tones, as did friends and members of the Road Board. He was presented with a brown leather armchair that was suitably inscribed.
Ned was taken ill a few days later. He was ill for several months before dying on July 3rd, 1934. His wife died two weeks later on July 15th.”

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References:                 Article:          Written by Stuart G. McDonald and Leslie D. McDonald

                                  Image:        1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Parnell Family Collection
                                                   

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2025