Gnowangerup History

Arthur had arrived in Australia in 1910 he had worked helping his brother set up a farm In Dumbleyung and then moved his gocus ti buying a farm in the Gnowangerup area.
He worked for Mr Smith, the local grocer in Gnowangerup, delivering groceries as far as Borden and Jerramungup by horse and cart.
In 1916 Arthur joined the army and served in WW1 in France/Belgium as a Tunneller.
Dorothy Margaret Louise nèe Wentworth had been acting as an (unqualified) teacher to her siblings and other local children in Uffington at that time.
In order to help her parents after the school day had finished, she delivered eggs and butter and other farm produce to local families.
It is believed that his mother Granny White (Sarah Jane nee Hathrill) played match-maker during Arthur’s time at their Oxleaze Farm on leave, telling Dorothy about her “lovely son”who was in the AIF in France:
"You will have to meet him when he comes on leave”.
Soon afterwards, Arthur visited his family in England whilst on leave.
She told Arthur about “the nice young woman who delivers eggs and butter”
As Dorothy’s daughter, Nancy said - “Granny White knew best, because a romance did start.”

Dorothy was a small woman, just under 5 feet (150 centimetres) and weighing only 6 stone (38 kilos) when she arrived in Australia. It is easy to understand why Arthur sometimes referred to her as “My Little Girl”.
After Peace was declared on 11 November 1918, it took some time for soldiers to return from the front and be ‘de-mobbed’.
The oceans were still mined, and shipping was disrupted.
Some Australian soldiers were de- mobbed in England; others chose to return to Australia first.
Arthur went back to England in February 1919.
He then worked for a Mr. Fuller in Worminghall, in Aylesbury. This meant he had moved away from the area where Dorothy lived.
Arthur wrote to Dorothy from an address as follows “The Farm, Kineton, Warwick”.
In the letter he describes how is involved in hay making and harvest, and that he asked for and received a five shilling rise after being employed for just one month.
Arthur also mentions that he ‘has never been better’ and has been playing a lot of tennis during the summer.
However he soon writes another letter “I think it must be Australia now as things are very bad in this country”.
In September 1919 he returned to Australia on the SS Plassey.

It is unclear as to why Arthur returned to Australia for a few months and then went back to England again a short time later. 
Perhaps one of the reasons why he returned to Australia was due to his health - he had been advised by a doctor to return to the warmer and drier conditions in Australia. 
Arthur then went back to England again as we have the records showing that he sailed from London to Fremantle, arriving in Australia for the third time aboard the “Ormuz” disembarking at Fremantle on December 14 1922. 
"I had a lovely voyage & arrived at (brother) Frank’s the Monday before Xmas & I feel First Class...... I seem quite at home out here”. 
Frank’s property was about 14 kilometres out of Dumbleyung, and due to the distances involved and the lack of transport, Arthur had not progressed far in his pursuit of seeking out a piece of land for himself. 
Frank had wanted him to stay and help, but Arthur told Dorothy he would keep his eyes open for a place of his own. 
He wrote to Dorothy in April 1923: 
"Of course this life here is not like England & it’s rather a lot to ask a girl to come out here but if I get some decent land & I can see my way clear should be only too pleased if you came out to me but of course I do not want to raise your hopes till I can see my way clear Of course in any case if a man takes up land the money all goes on the land for a few years till you can turn round & of course there’s lots of expense to be thought of getting married etc but still I want you to understand it’s not England although I know of no one else who would be able to settle down to the life better than you would & the work I don’t think would be half as bad as what you are doing I have wished many times since I had been out that I had brought you with me, but it still may be for the best as I say think the matter well out.” 
In May 1923 he wrote “Well little girl fact is I need a housekeeper but have not got a house suitable for a wife yet but am hoping to get one next year, if you are still in same mind about coming out you can consider yourself engaged from now on. I should have done the proper thing before I came away & given you a ring but did not know how my health would stand…. I love you...” 
In November 1923 he wrote: “ it’s out of the question for me to be able to pay your fare just now, but if you really intend coming & are willing to pay your own it will cost 22 pounds if I nominate you out & I think you may as well come by the Osmuz in May as it gets here in June I suppose let me know what you think and I must see about a House, My neighbors (Mr & Mrs Freegard) say if my house is not ready they will be very pleased for you to stay with them till it’s finished” 
Arthur had hoped that Dorothy’s brother Philip (Phil) would accompany Dorothy on an Assisted Immigrants Scheme but  it was too short notice.
In April 1924 he wrote to Dorothy “Fancy I have been a farmer 12 months next month and lived alone most of the time shall be very glad when we get settled down.” 
Arthur was 40 years old and Dorothy was 27. 
Arthur contacted the Emigration department in 1923 and nominated Dorothy. The final arrangements were made over a period of time throughout early 1924. 
Arthur wrote to her in December 1923 advising her the fares needed to be paid in London and that although boats were filling quickly, she may be able to book on the Orvieto: “I came on her when I first came out and she’s a good boat” Dorothy was notified she was booked to arrive in Fremantle in August 1924 on the ship RMS Orvieto. 
She left England about the 21st of July, 1924. Granny White (Sarah Jane) wrote a letter to Dorothy just before she left to wish her a safe voyage.
"I think you are a real brick, leaving your Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters to go to an almost unknown country to marry and start a new life all by yourself” 
Arthur arranged to travel from Gnowangerup to Perth with John Rowe and Rowland Bottrill ‘R.B.’ Davies to Perth to meet Dorothy. John was a storekeeper and was one of few who owned cars in the district at that time.
"R.B.”Davies was a stock agent and a friend of Arthur’s from Army Days. 

Arthur was at Fremantle harbour to greet Dorothy.

She had been terribly seasick on the voyage out, the ship encountering very rough weather around the Cape of Good Hope.
To disembark after such a long journey, be married to a man she hadn’t seen for two years, without any family present in a new country must have made it quite a memorable experience for many reasons.
Once baggage arrangements were made they would have had a brisk walk of a few hundred metres to the beautiful St John’s church in King’s Square.
They were married within 2 hours of Dorothy stepping ashore.
Dorothy wore ‘a dress of ivory Schappe silk, with silver ribbons and a lace hat with a spray of white heather, which was a gift from a friend’. (Newspaper item which appeared in the local paper in Uffington)

There were many gifts to the married couple which Dorothy had bought from England.
It is recorded that Archdeacon Collick gave an impressive address.
The day had been stormy, but as they left the church the sun shone brilliantly.
The wedding breakfast was held at the National Hotel the happy couple afterwards leaving for Perth, where they spent their short honeymoon’.