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Narrogin Pioneers
Extract from the Narrogin Review published in 1936
Additional information compiled by Mr M White
I have made every effort to be as accurate as possible. If you find any errors, please
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MICHAEL BROWN
In Narrogin from about 1888, when he ran the Wayside Inn. By late 1890s he had erected the Hordern Hotel and other premises. First chairman of Narrogin Road Board, an early Mayor of Narrogin and a president of the Narrogin Agricultural Society. His belief in the town's potential, his encouragement to settlers and his support for all progressive programmes led to his being dubbed the "Father of Narrogin".
NICHOLAS ("Charlie") BUSHALLA
In Narrogin from 1897. He created many business enterprises, including a store, the Duke of York Hotel, a skating rink (later the Amusu picture theatre), the National Hall, a brewery and a cool drink factory. He was very kind to children and a warm supporter of the Convent sisters and the Catholic Church.
WILLIAM GEORGE CORNWALL
In Narrogin from mid-1890s, after moving his business interests from Williams once the railway was built. He established businesses and other interests along what was then the main road through town - his home "Carnegie", Cornwall Buildings (the 1904 stores), Cornwall Buildings (the present "Mardoc"), the Cornwall Hotel, the Empire Hall...
DR DAVID WILLIAM HARTNELL MACKIE
In Narrogin from 1911. A highly respected doctor, accepted social leader, Mayor of Narrogin during World War I, warm supporter of most local organisations and president of several. He was seen as friend and adviser by people of all social levels, and was so esteemed that the ambulance hall (present History Hall) was erected to his memory after his death.
EDGAR SYDNEY ("Syd") HALL
In Narrogin from 1905 when he established "The Narrogin Observer". A committed Anglican, a man of principle and integrity, of vision and energy. His major interest was the advancement of Narrogin. He served as Councillor, Mayor during the Depression, foundation chairman of St John Ambulance Association, original secretary of the Narrogin Co-operative Butter Company.... A talented artist, his designs for Show displays were famous in the 1920s.
HUGH MARSH
In Narrogin from 1903, he was a major builder and contractor, erecting the Town Hall, the War Memorial, both the original and the later flour mills, etc. He was a foundation Town Councillor, a keen Rifle Club member, active in the founding of the butter company, a very active worker for the Narrogin Agricultural Show....
GEORGE GEOFFREY("G.G.") LAVATER
In Narrogin from 1903. He was a leading architect, whose designs included the Town Hall and the War Memorial. He was a foundation Town Councillor and secretary of the Narrogin Road Board (1915-1935), and very active with many sporting and other organisations.
THE REVEREND WILLIAM KENNEDY
In Narrogin from 1902, he was the Baptist minister of whom Michael Brown said, "Me and Mr Kennedy built Narrogin!" He was a prime mover in getting the Baptist Church and the Collie-Narrogin Railway built, in getting the sanctified areas of the cemetery opened to the deceased of all creeds (not just Anglicans) and in promoting public welfare and positive community life.
NURSE GRACE MENZIES
At Boundain as a farmer's wife and maternity nurse from 1903, she then established a maternity hospital in Grant Street, Narrogin from 1916 to 1940. Speaking at her farewell, Dr Jack Savage said that she had never had a single maternal death during her long career. She is now commemorated on the Pioneer Women's Memorial in King's Park, Perth.
NURSE ELIZABETH ANN ("Grannie") NESS
In Narrogin from very early 1900s, she began operating as maternity nurse from a cottage in Doney Street then established a maternity hospital at 6 Williams Road (later Nurse Barrington's "Malahide"). Also a fine horsewoman and noted participant at the Narrogin and district Shows.
EDWIN ("Teddy") HOWELLS
In Narrogin from 1903, he was Narrogin's much-loved first chemist. He left Narrogin in 1931 a poor man because, an example of service above material gain, he often received no payment for what he dispensed. He was also an expert gardener, the beauty of the flowers compensating him for the deafness which afflicted him.
ARTHUR E LIDDINGTON
In Narrogin from 1903 as headmaster until his departure in 1918, firstly at the present Old Courthouse than at the present Narrogin Primary School. A devout Baptist, a man noted for standards of discipline, morality and duty, and a dedicated supporter of the British Empire, he had a marked effect on local enlistment and fundraising in World War I. He also strongly supported sporting teams and school cadets.
WILLIAM EDWARD CAREW MOSS
In Narrogin from late 1890s, he was a surveyor who did much to lay out and develop the town's streets, avenues of trees, etc. He sponsored the Narrogin Road Board, then worked for the creation of a municipality, being elected as first Mayor with an overwhelming majority in 1906.
JOHANNES HERMANN SCHILLING
(Anglicized as John Herman Shilling after World War I)
In Narrogin from 1906, the storekeeper who developed his shop into the well-known Shillings Store in the 1920s. He was a devout Methodist and was father-in-law of Mayor Moses Hubert ("Moses") Mowday.
THOMAS PATRICK ("Tom") O'CONNOR
As a result of meeting Michael Brown on the Goldfields, Tom came to Narrogin as blacksmith in 1897. His business expanded to include wheelwright, coachbuilder, farm implement maker and undertaker. He was a firm Catholic and supporter of the Convent sisters, a member of the Road Board and later a Town Councillor. He was a director of the flour mill, a keen sportsman and promoter of sport for youth, especially athletics and boxing.
ALFRED JAMES ("Alf") OXMAN
In Narrogin from at least 1892 as railway ganger and may have been on the original construction team for the railway between Beverley and Albany. His shack was on the site of the present iceworks building (across the creek from the Link Road route). He later built his family home, the stone building in Falcon Street, in 1906. In later years Alf worked for Council and became respected gardener of Memorial Park which then had large flower beds, and where his son's name is on the memorial plaque for World War I.
WILLIAM FREDERICK ("Will") WIESE
Arriving in Narrogin in 1894 he established his "Balaling" property several miles east of the town. This became a model farm by 1910. Will became president of the Narrogin Agricultural Alliance, then of the Narrogin Agricultural Society, and was the Major exhibitor of the annual show. He founded the original show in 1899 and was a foundation director of the Narrogin Co-operative Butter Company in 1919.
VIOLET MARY ANDREWS
The wife of solicitor Walter Frederick Andrews, she came to Narrogin in 1902. A devout Anglican and great supporter of Red Cross, she was a key figure in establishing stable social and public life in early Narrogin. Her obituary noted that she "..knitted the womenfolk into a harmonious relationship.." and with the support of leading townspeople, gained the title of "Queen" in the fundraising Queen Carnival during World War I.
JOSEPH ALPHONSE ("Joe") GRAINGER
Born near Williams in 1866, Joe was in Narrogin from the early 1890s. He was an early porter at the railway station and was also employed to do much of the physical labour to establish the Narrogin township - clearing for and forming Fortune Street, fencing of the Sportsground on Clayton Road, etc. In old age he wrote significant articles on his memories of life in early Narrogin and Williams.
BERTRAM HERIOT DODS
In Narrogin from 1897 as an early settler on land now part of Narrogin Agricultural College. Following a visit to South Africa he resettled at 14 Mile Brook in the early 1900s and continued with his profession of architect - for the Duke of York Hotel, Baptist Church, Cornwall Buildings (present "Mardoc"), etc. He was an energetic supporter of movements for railway development and a soldiers' memorial institute before his sudden death in September 1916.
JOSEPH JOHN ("Jack") JAMES
In Narrogin from 1901 as a carrier. He was a Councillor from about 1907 for 41 years, with several periods as Mayor. He was very devoted to improving Narrogin and had significant input into achieving the original water supply scheme, Memorial Park, the Greater Sports Ground, the original sale yards and community pride in the town.
CHARLES ("Charlie") STREET
In Narrogin from 1896 to 1909, the first stationmaster here after the State Government took over the Great Southern Railway from the private WA Land Company. the present station buildings were built and opened in 1907-1907 while he was here. He was a staunch Anglican, and the font in the church is dedicated to his memory. He is remembered as a very honest upright citizen who supported many organisations in the formative years of the town.
JOHN HENRY BROWN
A builder who moved to Narrogin in 1910, but had been here earlier - for instance, he built the Union Bank (Old ANZ bank cnr Park St) in 1904. In Perth he constructed the Mint and the Government Printing Office, and, in
Katanning, "Kobeelya" and Piesse's Building. In Narrogin he built Cornwall Byuildings ("Mardoc"), the "Vailima", the Anglican rectory, the original Catholic presbytery, 13 Havelock Street, etc.
DENIS JOSEPH ("Dan") KELLIHER
At Nomans Lake in 1904 and in Narrogin, next to the Cornwall Hotel, as blacksmith with brother Bill from 1910. He had the "Vailima" built for his sister, Nurse Bessie Kelliher, in 1913-1914. His business became an early agency for T-model Fords, and his ship yard became a camping spot and convivial gathering place for waggoners and townspeople. In 1921 he returned to Nomans Lake.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARTHUR CHARLES HIQUET OLDEN
In Narrogin from 1906 as dental surgeon in Egerton Street. He played a leadership role in local society - captain of the Golf Club in 1908 and 1909, member of the first polo team and the revived Turf Club (1911), Town Councillor (1912-1914), president of Narrogin District Council of Primary Producers Association and of local branch of Farmers and Settlers Association. Before World War I he commanded local troops of the 25th Light Horse, and during the war rose to the command of the famous 10th Light Horse Regiment.
OTHER PROMINENT PIONEERS
Arthur Patrick ("Paddy") McCORMICK- Builder, Mayor.
Nurse Bessie KELLIHER- Maternity Nurse.
Walter Frederick ANDREWS- Solicitor, flour mill director.
John DODD- Very early settler, ex-convict.
George S B BONNEY- Cartographer.
John Thomas Whidby CHIPPER- Ex-mail coach driver, storekeeper.
Stanley ("Stan") CONNOR- Flour mill manager.
Dr J B LEWIS- Early doctor, president of Agricultural Society.
James ("Jimmy") GIBSON- Blacksmith, dairyman, trotting enthusiast.
Isaac GILES- Well-respected early settler and labourer.
George GOULD- Carrier.
Tom and Edward HARDIE- Sportsground developers, polo players.
William Henry INGRAM- Prominent Baptist and farmer.
Edward Bertram JOHNSTON- Land agent, later major politician.
William MICKLE- Hairdresser, developer of Doddum Farm.
Henry BACON- Prominent farming settler.
John Edward CLAYTON- Prominent farmer, supporter of town interests later.
John P. ("Jack") MYERS- Garage owner, mayor, ambulance driver.
Frederick J NORTHWOOD- Storekeeper.
Edward ("Ted") TOWNSEND- House painter, signwriter, prominent memeber of Operatic and Dramatic Society.
Ernest John BUTLER- First jeweller, prominent Mason.
August Heinrich TREFORT- Prominent farmer.
Albert Wheatland MANNING- Founder of Mannings Store.
Nicholas Rogerson ANDERSON- Newsagent.
Charles Douglas MITCHELL- Agricultural Bank officer.
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©2008 Lorraine Larment -
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