CORBETT Michael

Michael Corbett, known as ‘Mick’ was born 3 August 1860, the second child of James and Anne nee Hughes. James, a carpenter by trade was charged with cow stealing and arrived in Australia in 1853 as a convict. In 1858 he married Ann who was the daughter of a convict. Both families subsequently prospered and were well respected in Western Australia.

Michael’s siblings were John (1859-1916), James (1863-), Thomas 1866-1904), Ellen (1868), Patrick (1873-1950) and Joseph (1877-). There are two other siblings who are recorded as having died before the age of three.
 

MICHAEL CORBETT            #1

THE CORBETT FAMILY  1902     
Rear  L - R: THOMAS, MICHAEL, JOHN, JAMES (Jnr)
Front L - R: PATRICK, EDEN, JAMES (Snr), ANN, Joseph           #2
 

After working for three years in his father’s building business and on the family farm at Wandering, Michael went to the Port Hedland District in 1884 aged 24 to seek his fortune. He first took up a share in Warragwine Station, and later went into partnership with Chas Ball to buy Muccan Station in the De Grey River area. This station carried about 17,000 sheep. Michael enjoyed his ties with Muccan and kept it until his death.

Michael purchased Telyarup, a property of about 3,000 acres of first class land from Eli Quartermaine in 1906 as a breeding property for stud sheep. Telyarup is 11 kilometres out of Gnowangerup on the Gnowangerup-Broomehill road.

It is said that Eli Quartermaine bought Telyarup for one of his sons, but after the son told his father he did not want to live there as he would be “too lonely” so Eli decided to sell it. There was no house on the property; only 100 acres cleared and very little fencing at the time of the purchase.

Michael built a large homestead in 1910 from bricks made on the property; the timbers were imported from England. He assisted the residents of Gnowangerup in building a Hall, known as the Agricultural Hall. Michael laid the foundation stone with a trowel bought for the occasion. (The location of the trowel is unknown by the family).

In 1911 Michael travelled to Europe and America for nine months to acquire blood lines. He stocked Telyarup with stud sheep, horses and pigs and brought back the French bred Percheron Stallion ‘Invincible’ which stood to stud at Telyarup. (Photo below by C.W. Walker)
 

TELYARUP  1912          #3
 

 TELYARUP  1912          #4
 

GeNERAL VIEW OF TELYARUP  1912          #5
 

 GeNERAL VIEW OF TELYARUP    1912          #6
 

TELYARUP HOMESTEAD  1912          #7
 

Michael married Mary known as ‘Molly’ nee O’Gorman who was the book keeper at the Palace Hotel in Perth where he often stayed. There were no children of the marriage. Molly had the homestead and grounds added to following their marriage in 1916.

Molly was a devout Catholic and had a small Chapel built, a feature of which was the stained glass windows which had been blessed by the Pope. They are now located at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, in the Aftercare Chapel. The Telyarup Chapel could hold about 12 people and was only ever used by the Corbett family. Father Reidy, then Parish Priest at Broomehill, often travelled by motorbike to Telyarup Chapel to say Mass, travelling on to say Mass in the Agricultural Hall in Gnowangerup.

Molly enjoyed friendships with local residents and was a great entertainer at Telyarup. She enjoyed organising extensions to the home, and the fruits of their wealth in general. However Molly seems to have offended people with her extravagant ways; she always had a cook and two maids whilst others struggled to put food on their table for their families. Locals were horrified to hear she insisted on having cream in the mashed potatoes! And to think a few years previous she was ‘just book keeper’! Although Michael also enjoyed extravagances – he bought a Buick and employed a chauffeur – he did not suffer the same criticism. Perhaps it was balanced with the knowledge of his generosity towards the community and individuals in terms of time and money, and that it was ‘his’ money not ‘hers’.

It is said Molly soon tired of the farm and country life. Michael moved in powerful circles in Perth and a residence there was most likely an attractive option. So after less than five years of married life in Gnowangerup, Michael put Telyarup on the market. They had decided on an extended tour of Europe before settling down. When Telyarup was sold to H.O. Timms in 1920 the property was one of the best developed in the district.
 

TELYARUP  HOMESTEAD  1919         #8
 

 FRONT OF TELYARUP HOMESTEdD   1919         #9
 

REAR OF TELYARUP HOMESTEAD  1919          #10
 

 TELYARUP HOMESTEAD  1919          #11
 

OUT BUILDINGS AT TELYARUP  1919          #12
 

 WORKERS HUTS AT TELYARUP 1919          #13
 

TELYARUP SITTING ROOM  1919          #14
 

CORBETT  FAMILY AT TELYARUP         #15
 

 CORBETT  FAMILY AT TELYARUP         #16
 

In 1921 Michael was the President of the Perth Royal Agricultural Society. He founded and became the first President of the Western Australia Stud Breeders Association in 1922, a position he also held in 1923. He had also been the Chairman of the Gnowangerup Progress Association; a member of the Gnowangerup Road Board and Chairman of the Broomehill Racing Club. (Broomehill was thriving in those days and even Gnowangerup had horse races)

On one occasion he was invited by both the Liberal Party and the Country Party to be their candidate at an election for the Southern Province in the legislative Council. As he had always supported the Liberal Party, he chose to stand for them. It was apparent at the time that had he stood for the Country Party he would have won the seat easily as the Country Party was strongly supported by the agricultural communities and he was immensely popular and respected throughout the Great Southern Districts.

Michael was a devout Roman Catholic and generous contributor to the church; a Justice of the Peace; and gave practical and financial support to both the Agricultural Hall and the Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall was built by the community to honour lives sacrificed in WWI. Building continued through 1922 on land granted to the Returned Soldiers League. Michael had several family members who had served and was also a great supporter of the R.S.L. He returned to Gnowangerup to lay the foundation stone in February 1923.

In March he and Molly departed for a lengthy trip to Europe. Michael died suddenly in November 1923 of ‘suspected heart failure’ at the age of 63. His body was brought back to W.A. for burial. Molly died just three months later.

 PAT WITH SON JACK            #17
 

Michael was wealthy, politically savvy and dynamic. His actions show him to be a devoted family man and a respected leader within the community. He was remembered by many as kind, generous and considerate, who did much to help others which included assisting farmers in the Gnowangerup District establish themselves in those hard times. Corbett Street in Gnowangerup was named after him as a tribute for his many contributions to the residents, the town and the district.

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:      Research by Merilyn Stewart

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023