Gnowangerup History

Albert Edward Senior arrived with his wife Emma Alwina (nee Doust), and three children had sailed from South Australia aboard the "Gabo" on 23 February 1899.
Albert’s two brothers and their families had sailed earlier on the “Gabo” and had arrived on 26 of September 1898.
Both Emma and Albert had previously been living at Sandy Creek, SA.
Emma’s 2 year old daughter Emma, her second born had died prior to them leaving for Western Australia.
When they arrived in W.A. Albert and Emma’s family consisted of Albert Edward Jnr ((“Ted”) , Annie Gloria and new baby Florence Elsie whose arrival had delayed their departure.

Among the items the families brought with them were a:

stump jump plough
1.5 metre stripper
hand winnower
Two furrowed plough
German wagon
5 working horses
25 fowls and
Forty swarms of bees contained in 8 hives.
The bees had escaped from their hives during the rough sea crossing causing great consternation among the crew but to their surprise and relief returned to the ship two days later.
On landing the family proceeded to Toolbrunup, 14 miles east of Tambellup to a block the brothers had selected in 1897. It was the site of a railway siding and Lake Toolbrunup, a fresh water lake surrounded by masses of native trees.
The Mallee and Yate blossoms proved to be excellent food for the bees and the plentiful water supply from Lake Toolbrunup ensured good quality honey.
From the original 8 hives in 8 years they had increased to 300 hives.
In a good year 12 tons of honey would be sent to Albany.
The land was cleared by hand with axe and mattock and a small dam hand dug.
The Aylmore’s original block is still known as the “Bee Block”.
Angora rabbits were also kept and clipped every two years and the fur sold.

On 6th August 1901 Albert and one of his brothers Arthur purchased the first block in an area that was later declared the town of Gnowangerup (1908).
Highlighting the danger of living miles from medical aid, 7 year old Annie became ill with enteritis and she tragically died in their cart en route to Albany. (c.1904)
Annie is buried at Toolbrunup alongside her two year old cousin, also a victim of lack of medical aid.
A son Herbert was born in Albany in 1905.
In 1907 Albert moved his family to a mud bat dwelling at the 16 hectare property named “Cadelup Well”.
It was the site of a fresh water spring which had been owned by early settler Andrew Moir.
It had been used as a watering point for his travelling flocks.
It was renamed “Kiddy’s Well”.
At that time Emma was the first or second white woman to live in the vicinity of what was later Gnowangerup town.
Another son, Leonard was born in 1908.
Emma’s son Leonard died of pneumonia aged 4 years, (c.1912) immediately after Christmas.
A doctor had been summoned from Katanning (about 60km) and arrived by sulky but too late to help the child. Family members later recalled the small body laid out under the Christmas tree in the parlour.
An orchard was planted on an adjoining flat which went on to bear fruit prolifically.
In 1912 Albert has hired a Mr Hamdorf to build them a colonial style home.
In 1913 they moved into this home and Albert became the sole owner of the property.
Emma had lost three of her first six children so when her sons Ernest and William were born in (1912) and (1914) she refused to let them go to school until they were nearly teenagers.
Ernest and William also did not start work on the farm when they were young, whereas Ted and Herb worked from a young age.
Emma died at Gnowangerup on 10th November 1941 just short of her 69th birthday.
At the time of her death she had 13 grandchildren.