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STUTLEY Charles

The Stutley Family in 1993

Charles Herbert Stutley and Eliza Jane Hobb were married in 1886 and lived on a 20 acre block at Murray Town, South Australia. Charles was a teamster mostly, but was also an officer of the law for a short time. Charles, his brother-in-law, Herman Gunther and Herman's brother, Bill, travelled to Western Australia where they chose blocks of land near Gnowangerup.
Like many others, they then returned to South Australia to bring back their families and stock.
Stutley selected 1000 acres in the Jackitup area, 29 miles south east of Broomehill and named it "Rockview." The family, stock and equipment arrived by sea at the Port of Albany. Albany must have been a sight to see in those days with so many people arriving by boat to start new lives in the west.


CHARLES & ELIZA STUTLEY               #1

 

    THE ORIGINAL FIRST HOUSE BUILT AT "ROCKVIEW"   1919         #2

 

The remains of CHarles and Eliza's First house at "Rockview".

 

REMAINS OF FIRST HOUSE BUILT AT "ROCKVIEW"          #3
 

The Stutley's arrived in April 1905 with 8 children, 3 horses, a wagon, plough and harrows as well as some chickens and six pounds to their name.
They were accompanied by Herman Gunther who later married their daughter, Florence.
As time passed and Charles and Eliza's farming progressed, Charles purchased a further 600 acres from Eliza's brother, Ern. Hobbs. Charles worked on road construction as well as producing wheat, wool, oats and hay.
Hay was a very important commodity at the time. Roads were also very important as Eliza would have known as, for a time, she had a short mail run.
 

THE STUTLEY HOUSE ON "ROCKVIEW"          #4
 

THE STUTLEY HOUSE ON "ROCKVIEW"           #5
 

REMAINS OF SHEARING SHED          #6
 

 REMAINS OF SHEARING SHED           #7
 

REMAINS OF THE STABLES          #8
 

REMAINS OF THE BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP           #9
 

FAMILY GATHERING 1913       #10
Back Row L - R:  Rev. BEDFORD, BILL GUNTHER, JACK EASTON, CHARLEY STUTLEY, HERMAN GUNTHER, BRICKY BENNETT,
Mr. MOORE, Mrs. MOORE, CHARLIE MOORE
Middle Row L - R:  CHARLIE STUTLEY Snr, ELIZA STUTLEY, STAN DOLLY, GLADYS STUTLEY, WINNIE BYERS (School Teacher), MAGGIE MOORE,
MARGARET STUTLEY
Third Row L - R:  FLORENCE GUNTHER (nee STUTLEY)  nursing Florence, GRANNY ARTHURS, CAROLINE STUTLEY, ALICE WISE (nee STUTLEY) nursing Ruth,
EVA COLLINS, Mrs. DAVE COLLINS, nursing Dora, MAY BAXTER (nee STUTLEY) MARTHA BAXTER.
Sitting in Front L - R:   ESTER STUTLEY, ETHEL WISE, IVY WISE, ARTHUR WISE (hands over eyes), DORA STUTLEY,  WALTER STUTLEY

 

She also sold eggs and home made butter. This was a luxury that only farmers with cows had. Eggs, milk and butter were much sought after by the townsfolk as well.
Another product that was very hard to obtain by the townsfolk was meat.
The enterprising Stutleys, with the help of their eight children, became butchers. Grococks were also in the business and the friendly rivalry between them provided some amusement in the town.
Stutleys erected a sign over their shop saying "Stutley and Son" with the head of a bullock painted in the centre of it.
Not to be outdone, James Grocock erected a sign saying " Grocock and Daughter" with the head of a cow painted in the centre of it

 CHARLIE STUTLEY SINKING A DAM          #11
 

REMAINS OF WHAT WAS FRANTOM'S BUTCHER SHOP          #12
 

The Stutleys would travel by buggy to church services held in the old Yougenup house. (Jack and Louisa Black lived in this house at the time whilst waiting for building material to arrive from the Broomehill rail head). The children would walk or run behind the buggy.
Charles also found the time to build the Jackitup hall in 1912 and the church hall, school, etc. in 1917.
Stutley's butcher shop was eventually sold to his son-in-law, Albert Frantom.
The premises still stands much the same as it did then though, in recent times, it has been used as an hairdressing salon.
Charles built himself a new home in 1924.
Charles and Eliza eventually retired to Albany leaving one of their sons, Walter, in charge of "Rockview."

 

The Stutleys would travel by buggy to church services held in the old Yougenup house. (Jack and Louisa Black lived in this house at the time whilst waiting for building material to arrive from the Broomehill rail head). The children would walk or run behind the buggy.
Charles also found the time to build the Jackitup hall in 1912 and the church hall, school, etc. in 1917.
Stutley's butcher shop was eventually sold to his son-in-law, Albert Frantom.
The premises still stands much the same as it did then though, in recent times, it has been used as an hairdressing salon.
Charles built himself a new home in 1924.
Charles and Eliza eventually retired to Albany leaving one of their sons, Walter, in charge of "Rockview."
Walter married Margery Thornton and they had four children, Peter, Herb, Netta and Haidie. Walter still lives on the property today.
Charles and Eliza were both buried in the Gnowangerup Cemetery, Charles in 1940 and Eliza in 1949.
Many of their descendants still live in the district today.
One of their sons, Charles Junior married Rubina Beeck, who was the daughter of Maurice and Martha Beeck of Maracoonda, Katanning, and had six children, Joyce, Mervyn, Isobel, Ross, Lionel and Beth.
Joyce (Hesse), Ross and Lionel still live in the district. Ruby and Charley junior grew fruit trees, nuts, grapes and vegetables on their property and Ruby won many prizes at the local show for her cooking of preserves, bread, etc.
Herman Gunther, who married Charles Senior's daughter, Florence, worked at many different jobs. He was in a surveyor's team and also worked on the clearing of the Gnowangerup townsite with William and James Black and Oliver Wood.
Florence and Herman were hard working, well respected people who helped carve the town out of virgin bush.
Florence died in May 1924 and Herman in December 1933. They had five children; Arthur, Nita, Herman, Dora and Gweneth, who, with the exception of Nita, who moved to Busselton, stayed in Gnowangerup.”

 

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:         ‘Gnowangerup The Town My Story’ by Pearl Marshall 1993

                                  Image:       1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11  Les Cuneo
                                                   

 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024