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VAUX Stanley

Stanley Frank Vaux, of Wigboro Farm, Ongerup, is a native of England and came to New South Wales in 1911.

Shortly afterwards he came West and commenced farming at Katanning.

In 1913 he settled with his father on his present holding. In addition to carrying an excellent flock of sheep, a large area is under wheat and oats annually.

A pioneer of the Ongerup district, Mr. Vaux was one of the first to use a producer gas unit on his tractor in that area, and he has demonstrated in a practical manner the economic advantages of this class of fuel. He represents the East Ward on the Gnowangerup Road Board, and also takes a prominent part in local district affairs.

His sporting activities embrace tennis and cricket".

Ref: Newspaper article.
 

         
 

ADA VAUX AT THE 1927 FLOODS            #1
 

THE VAUX FAMILY BY SPOT LAMONT:

Stanley Vaux came to Australia in 1910 to decide if the climate would suit his mother, who was advised to seek a warm, dry climate due to ongoing bronchial infections.

Five months later his parents arrived in Western Australia, and decided Needilup was the place to stake a claim. However, there “was no sign of life” at Needilup - the settlers hadn’t yet taken up the blocks, so the Vaux family changed their minds and decided to settle at Ongerup.

1913: In 1913, goods were delivered by rail, along with building materials for a house. The Vaux family had to struggle to get the ton of iron for the roof through the scrub.

They (The Vaux family) built a house - three rooms in a row, timber and iron, with white washed hession linings. “The living room had a stone fireplace big enough to take a wheelbarrow and a half of mallee roots”. A lean-to area for a kitchen had a stove, and “all floors were simply levelled earth, packed down and topped with linoleum”

 

THE STEAM TRACTOR BY STANLEY VAUX:
"A great big affair it was; and he brought out a wagon and he tied behind it a roller. We assembled it when he got here.
He came down the rabbit proof fence and down a track about the 64 mile peg, a gate was there. He came down this track, he was a wonderful bushman, but he reckoned he was opposite this block and he got straight through. We heard him come one night”.
"…he got within 4 miles and he had a breakdown with the tractor.” The quote from Stanley Vaux comes from an Oral History tape made in 1966.
THE STORY CONTINUED BY MERLE BIGNELL:
"Bill Sergeant borrowed a horse; and rode the horse to Katanning and came back with a part for his tractor. …..He rolled 960 acres with that tractor. He and one other man only. They used to put a blooming good day in. I think they rolled from memory from up to 35 and 40 acres in a day. So they did pretty good, two men. Did their own camping as well”.
Merle Bignell “Fruit of the Country” pp 202-203.

ALBANY ADVERTISER ARTICLE: 2013
Vaux's celebrate 100 years at Ongerup
Albany Advertiser
Tue, 26 March 2013 5:23PM
They have watched their small Great Southern town lose its general store and footy team and its population dwindle to a mere 60 residents, but this month the Vaux family will celebrate beating the odds and mark a centenary on their Ongerup farm.
Kingsley Vaux took over his family’s wheat and sheep farm, about 150km north of Albany, just over 30 years ago.
He was the fourth generation of the Vaux family to head up the property. But increasing costs, poor seasons and a rapidly declining population have put any plans for succession on hold as his three children pursue different careers in the hope of building a future for themselves.

 DON & KAY VAUX  & FAMILY           #2
 

In the past five years, Mr Vaux has watched his beloved Ongerup lose much of its community spirit and farewelled many neighbours and friends. He said the newfound isolation was the toughest part about his life on the land.
"A lot of people have moved away, that’s the hardest thing these days,” Mr Vaux said.
"Everything is leased out or bought by foreign ownership.
"If we had a fire I don’t know where we’d get the help from.
"Maybe things will change but I don’t know how.”

The family have seen incredible changes to the region since Mr Vaux’s great-grandparents and English immigrants John and Ada Vaux first cut through the dense bush and selected “Wigboro” as their farm back in 1913.
The intrepid pair knew little about farming but eventually built a modest home and established ties to the region which remain today.
In records the two made about their early days on the property, they spoke of the hardship they faced.
"When we first cut our way through the bush to mark out our selection, we camped at ‘Walker’s flat’ overnight,” they wrote.
"The next morning was so cold, we had to light a fire in our tent to thaw it out so that it could be folded and loaded on the pack horse.” before setting off back to the Ongerup siding.”
The Vaux family will celebrate their centenary at Wigboro at the end of this month with a weekend of catching up with extended family, friends, community members.
They will also exhibit displays and offer bus tours of their rural property.
GRAVE INSCRPTION ONGERUP CEMETERY
Grave 25. VAUX Donald Stanley
01/06/1920 - 12/02/2000
Son of Stan & Jessie. Early Pioneer of the Ongerup District. Always Willing to Lend a Hand.

 

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References:                 Article:      Various

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024