On June 25th, 1840 the Runnymede sailed into Albany, where Captain Bolles, Lieutenant Egerton Warburton, a Sergeant and thirty one Rank and file disembarked, leaving a small detachment including John Pullen on board, bound for Fremantle
On disembarking at Fremantle, the detachment marched to Perth, and from Perth, they were conveyed to York to begin their tour of duty.
A story has been passed down through the generations that John was sent to Australia to assist in the management of convicts.
This could have applied only during the journey to Hobart Town, as convicts did not arrive in Western Australia, until 1850.
After a tour of duty that included service in York, Albany and Kojonup, John decided to seek his fortune as a private citizen.
On February 25th, 1845, at the town of Kojonup, one hundred miles north west of Albany, John Pullen received his discharge.
His paybook, which shows his number as 1317, shows the surname "Pullen" crossed out and the name "Wellstead" substituted.
It appears that John Wellstead was a hard worker, always seeking to improve his lot. While in the army he ran a flock of sheep on the town common.
He is known to have been a sandalwood cutter in the Kojonup area.
For a time he held the mail contract, which involved carrying mail and passengers between Albany and Perth. On a particular run in 1848, he transported Miss Ann Crawford from Aberdeen, Scotland who was travelling to Albany to take up a domestic position with Mr Hassell. Ann did not work for Mr Hassell for very long as on March l5th, 1848 she became Mrs John Wellstead.
John had assisted in the construction of St John's Church, in York Street, Albany and he and Ann were the first couple to be married there.
In the five years after his discharge, John made every effort to consolidate his financial position; he explored country around Albany, north to Kojonup and east to Bremer Bay.
He employed men to cut sandalwood for him, on land leased for that purpose in the Kojonup and Youghanup regions.
In the same month as he and Ann were married, John applied to lease 4000 acres (1619 hectares) of land in the Kojonup region to cut sandalwood.
In 1850 he owned land in Albany, on what is now Mercer Road, where the City of Albany offices are today (1998).
In 1858 he applied for, and paid a deposit on, land in Kojonup with the apparent intention of establishing himself there. However a more affluent applicant, in J. Spencer, outbid him in a rather contentious manner.
In 1860 he applied for 40 acres (16 hectares) of land in the Kent Land District at Bremer Bay, where he had been squatting with cattle for some time.
Indications are that he had been in the area on a part time basis since 1848, trying several sites with adequate water.
In 1850, he built a wattle and daub structure, with a stone fireplace and thatched roof, close to the site of the present Peppermint Grove homestead.
Before 1860, a second, more substantial house was constructed on the site of the present homestead to enable his family, now a wife and seven children, to take up permanent residence at Bremer Bay.
About the same time, he built a substantial outstation at Qualup (still standing) and a lesser dwelling at the Fitzgerald.
Over the next ten years a further five children were born to John and Ann, making a family of eight girls and four boys.
A third home was constructed, this time in stone and considerably larger. It was constructed over the previous structure. which was then dismantled and removed.
This proficient, pioneering family, living in isolation, on the south coast at Bremer Bay, worked very diligently, as any other attitude in such circumstances would have spelt disaster.
Each family member had his/her own particular work to do. These chores included milking up to 70 cows, making cheese and butter, tending the vast vegetable garden, cutting hay, hunting for food, caring for the farm animals, pigs, cows, sheep and horses.
The establishment of the East -West telegraph line in 1876 alleviated much of the isolation of living at Bremer Bay and indeed made life much easier.
The Government let contracts for ships to transport freight and personnel to the Telegraph Stations between Albany and Eucla and other localities.
This meant that the produce, such as wool, skins, sandalwood and dairy produce could be shipped to Albany, much faster than by land.
An overland journey to Albany in those days meant travelling far enough north to avoid the rivers, as they were impossible to cross in the wet winter months. On the return journey, the ships would transport stores, household goods, fencing wire and other necessities for the property.
Passengers, also, were able to travel and arrive at their destination in a matter of days. Life was indeed, so much easier.
The Government in 1875, legislated for the end of free grazing for Western Australian pioneers.
Thereafter land had to be purchased or leased.
The success of John Wellstead, remembering that he came to Western Australia aged twenty without money, was evident when on May 25th, 1892 he wrote his last Will and Testament. By working hard and investing his money wisely he was able to will to his family a town house, two town blocks and several farming properties.