History

HISTORY OF THE HARVEY SHIRE Early European settlement in the Harvey Shire dates back to the 1840’s when the first settlers arrived at Australind.  At about the same time settlers were also moving southwards from Pinjarra to the Harvey River. The Harvey district was considered a superior choice with the abundance of streams, a good climate and rich soils. By the late 1890’s the Harvey River area had become renowned for its orchards while the Australind hinterland was acknowledged as a mixed farming and dairying area.  In 1845 a bridge was built over the Brunswick River giving rural settlers easier access to the settlement of Australind. Timber was also recognised as a major industry in the Shire by the turn of the century. Harvey eventually outgrew Brunswick with the completion of the Harvey River diversion which enabled thousands of hectares of land, previously prone to winter flooding, to be cultivated.  The Harvey Weir was constructed and officially opened in 1916 and some time later, the Stirling Dam was completed by 1947. A major irrigation system was developed making Harvey an important agricultural centre for dairying, beef and horticultural pursuits which has continued into the present day.  Citrus fruit, table and wine grapes, emu farming and other agricultural products are continually developing within the Shire. Simcoa Operations is a fully integrated silicon smelting operation located in the kemerton Industrial Park. Bauxite and mineral sands mining developed as significant industries within a controlled environment, eventuating in the Kemerton Industrial Park, within the Shire of Harvey. These factors together with the management of native and plantation forests have made the Shire one of the fastest growing country localities and an interesting district for tourists to visit. Being such a diverse Shire with several population centres and major industries of agriculture, mining and timber, tourism has emerged as a new growth industry.  With new subdivisions in progress throughout the district and continious further industrial developments the Shire of Harvey is advancing dramatically, ready to take on the challenge of the next 100 years. HARVEY DISTRICT LOGO AND SLOGAN Project Coordinators: The Harvey District Tourist Bureau Inc. in conjunction with the Harvey Shire Council. Sponsored by the harvey Shire Council.  Launched Thursday 20/5/1999. To provide a dynamic, modern and positive promotional logo and slogan to represent the Harvey Shire District. GRAPHIC DESIGNER; Denise Mercer. SLOGAN: 'A Breath of Fresh Air.' The Harvey District has a sense of freshness about it. Fresh produce, fresh water, a clean and green landscape abounding with natures goodness. A unique district which offers a genuine friendly country attitude and a fresh, dynamic and invigorating lifestyle. A place to breathe deep and relax, surrounded by the best that nature has to offer. LOGO: At first glance the image is of a gumleaf, representative of forests, nature and fresh air. Within the leaf is a sweeping landscape, flowing river, rolling hills, pastures, crisp produce and a tantalising glimpse of coastline. The enduring sun sits on the horizon...is it rising over the hills or setting over the ocean? Take a different view and discover a hidden gumleaf - like the Harvey Shire District our logo is fresh, dynamic and full of wonderful surprises! MAY GIBBS Arrived in Australia aboard the ship S.S Hesperus in 1881, at the age of four. May's parents Herbert and Cecie Gibbs, has left England to try their hand at farming in Australia. After landing in Adelaide, the young family settled on land one hundred kilometres to the north west of the city, only to be driven back to Adelaide by drought. Herbert and his brother George formed a partnership with Dr. Henry Harvey and John Young and took up land on the 'Harvey Estate' in Western Australia. Herbert, with son Bertie and brother George sailed to 'The Harvey" in 1885, leaving Cecie to follow with May and Ivan. The family settled into life and "The Homestead" on the fertile banks of the Harvey River and stayed there for two years. The Homestead was built when the Estate WA owned by Governor Stirling - sometime in the early to mid 1800's. Features of the cottage were its hexoganal shaped paving blocks and sheoak shingled roof, fruit trees surrounding the cottage. May, along with brother Bertie and Ivan would take long walks through the bush, turning over stones, examining flowers and birds nests, and swimming in the river pools. At the age on nine, May was given a pony which she rode around the district, visiting the neighbours farms. As there was no school in the area, the children were given lessons by thier own mother at home. May displayed an early talent for drawing and was encouraged by her father, himself a talented artist. In later years May described her time in Harvey as "the two happiest years" of her life. In 1887, after struggling to run the farm at a profit, the Gibbs family moved to Perth. May's Uncle George and new wife Ellen decided to stay on in Harvey. May spent many holidays at her Uncle George's house - visiting her younger cousins and wandering through the bush. May continued to visit Harvey for many years, entertaining her young cousins with stories and caricatures. May went on to become one of Australia's best known and most loved authors and her illustrations have charmed children for many generations. It is believed that May Gibbs drew much of her inspiration for her stories and illustratons from her experiences in Harvey. STIRLING'S COTTAGE In the mid 1800’s, the first Governor of Western Australia, Governor Stirling, selected 12,800 acres of fertile land in Harvey called it the ‘Harvey River Settlement.  The only improvement he made to the land was to build a cottage, known as “The hut”. This convict built cottage, on the banks of the tranquil Harvey River, featured a shingled roof and ‘pit-sawn’ jarrah walls with hexoganal-shaped paving blocks fitted together to form firm flooring.  One of the original paving blocks can be seen in the Cottage history room today. Stirling’s Cottage is modelled on a homestead built by the first Governor of Western Australia, Governor Stirling, on his Harvey Estate in the mid 1800’s.  The Old The original cottage was also home to May Gibbs, creator of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, in 1885. May Gibbs books and illustrations are part of Australian culture, children growing up with her stories.  Her adventures are about 'gumnut babies', little bush babies with bush flowers on their heads and very cute bottoms! It is believed that May Gibbs drew much of her inspiration for her stories and illustrations from her experiences in Harvey. The original cottage was surrounded by gardens and fruit trees, and had a cellar which was often flooded in winter.  A blacksmiths workshop and stables were added.  Over the years, the cottage fell into disrepair, and by the end of the 1960’s only a few bricks and stones remained.  A lone pine tree marked the site of the Cottage, but this was blown down during a storm in 1985.  The New On Sunday 9th October 1994, the replica Stirling’s Cottage was open to the public. Modelled on the original ‘Stirling’s Cottage', this building, built by Pannett Homes, features the shingled roof, jarrah walls and hexagonal paving blocks of the original.  A balcony has been added overlooking the tranquil Harvey River. The 1994 version of the cottage is located 500 metres downstream from the original site and features extensive landscaped Heritage Gardens, a 19th century style fountain, a mini orchard, enchanting secret garden, a May Gibbs feature room and gift shop, a room on local history and ’Stirling’s Cottage Kitchen’ tearooms.  Enjoy a light lunch or afternoon tea on the balcony overlooking the peaceful River, or in winter sit by the cosy log fire and enjoy hearty homemade soup. Public toilets are in a separate building called ’The Stables’.  Disabled facilities are located in the Harvey Visitor Centre (next to the Cottage). Please feel free to wander around and enjoy your visit to ’Stirling’s Cottage’. HARVEY HERITAGE TRAIL From the 1830's the Harvey area was known as "Korijekup" the Aboriginal word meaning "The place of the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo." Early explorers named the Harvey River and by the 1890's the Korijekup Estate become known as Harvey Estate. As the township took shape near the turn of the century, it became known as Harvey. 1. Replica of Stirling Cottage A replica of a cottage built about the 1850's on land owned by Sir James Stirling near Harvey River about 500 metres upstream from this site. The original cottage was lived in by May Gibbs, creator of  Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, during the 1880's . Features of the original cottage were hexoganal paving blocks fitted together as flooring "pit sawn" Jarrah walls and a sheok shingled roof all recreated in this replica of Stirling's Cottage. 2. Internment Camp Shrine: Classified by the National Trust The Shrine was built in 1941 by Italian internees held at the Harvey Interment Camp during WWII. The camp held up to 1000 internees and 200 soldiers. For 50 years the Shrine stood in an open paddock. In 1992 a chapel was built around the Shrine to protect it from the elements. Hut: Each Hut held 30 internees 1940 - 1942.            Prison: The original prison cells for the camp. 3. Masonic Hall: Classified by the Nation Trust The rear section was built in 1914 with the front part of the building with its unusual architecture added in 1934. 4. Snells Park Established in 1936, a monument to Mr Alf  Snell through whose efforts the Harvey Town gardens were first formed. 5. C.W.A Room (Country Women's Association) Built in 1933. Situated in Snells Park. In the 1950's a group of women would congregate in this small Room. The club was known as the Virginian's Club. 6. Harvey House This brick shop as built in Hayward St during 1913. Harvey House served the town as tearooms until the 1940's. Since then it has been a Newsagency. 7. Challenge Bank: Classified by the National Trust Built in 1938 as the Bank of New South Wales. In more recent years it has bee modernised becoming the Westpac Bank in 1982 and the Challange Bank in 1997. 8. 11th Gate Cafe and Residence Built in 1932 as Feazey's Bakery and became Campbell's Bakery, later it became the towns tearooms, Part of the residence has been beautifully restored as a restaurant. 9. Harvey Council Chambers: Classified by the National Trust. This Art Deco style building was added onto the Town Hall in 1935 as the Council Chambers. 10. Harvey Town Hall: Classified by the National Trust The main hall was built in 1914 with money fundrasied by the people of Harvey. Soon afterwards WWII broke out and the Drill Hall was added in 1915 as a military hall. The main hall was extended in 1935 with the addition of the present stage. 11. Church of England Hall The timber church of England was built in 1906 on Young Street north of the Harvey Primary School. 12. Uniting Church Hall The timber building was built as the Methodist Church in 1924. 13. War Memorial Library Built in 1920 as a War Memorial to the Harvey soldiers killed in WA. 14. Harvey Grandstand and Entrance Gates Constructed in 1936 by J. Johnston. The grandstand was built for the purpose of viewing the Harvey Trots, which were first held under electric lights the same year. 15. Roman Catholic Church Built in 1932 and used as a church until a new (Our Lady of the Immigrants) Roman Catholic Church was built in 1972. The old church is still in its original condition with timber floor and dado. 16. R.S.L. Hall Built in 1938 showing a differenet type of architecture for that era at the front of the building. The interior is still in its original condition with timber floor and dado. 17. Harvey Primary School The small timber building on the east end of the long brick block was built in 1901. The first red brick was added on in 1909, with further additions of a brick classroom and teacher's room in 1927, and another classrom in 1934. The old school served Harvey as classrooms for generations. It is now Pre-School centre. 18. Railway Station The railway line from Perth to Bunbury was completed in 1893 and soon afterwards the Railway Station was built. In 1936 the Railway Station was extended and the building improved with the addition of rustic weatherboards to the exterior and the roof tiled. For many years tge Railway Station was the central point of activity for the district. By 1987, with the introduction of the modern "Australind" train, the Railway Station was no longer needed and closed. The Station now housed the Harvey Museum and is the only Railway Station remaining in the Shire of Harvey. The Museum is open to the public on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of Every month, 2pm - 4pm. Ph: 9729 1685 19. The Old Post Office Now the S.E.S. building, built in 1923 and used as the Post Office until 1957. 20. Harvey Hotel First known as the Korijekup Hotel, the business was established during 1898 in a timber building. A brick Korijekup Hotel was built about 1907, after the second story was added (about 1915) it became known as the Harvey Hotel. 21. Harvey River Diversion 1930 - 1935 (20km). A Goverment Scheme during the depression employed 2,500 men to dig the diversion to divert water directly to the sea as the old Harvey River flooded over land as it wound its way to its natural outlet in the esturary near Mandurah. The clay section of the Diversion (frist 10km) was dug by a coal fired drag line. The second section (second 10kms) was dug by hand. 2,500 men used shovels, wheelbarrows and horse and carts removed the sand to form the man made river. 22. Commemorative Plaques a) In memory of thousands of men who worked on the Harvey River Diversion. b) A plaque commemoration Sir James Stirling who explored and took possession of land in the locality of Harvey in 1837. INTERNMENT CAMP MEMORIAL SHRINE 200 meter walk, north of the Harvey Visitor Centre (Shrine entry key is available from the Centre).     At the beginning of WWII Mussolini and Hitler joined forces and declared war on Great Britain and France.  As a result all German and Italian migrants living in the allied countries were categorised as enemies. They were subsequently interned in camps.  One of these camps was situated in Harvey with about 1,000 Internees. One of the prisoners instigated the construction of an altar made of stone, depicting their Catholic faith.  This Shrine still stands today and was enclosed in a chapel in 1992.  It is believed to be the only roadside shrine of its kind in Australia. Housed in the chapel are several sculptures and an “Australia Remembers” static display. The Shrine is a popular tourist attraction depicting an important part of our history. The Shrine An original shrine or alter that was built by the Italian Internees during WWII. A shelter-come-Chapel was built around it, but the Shrine itself has never been moved. This Shrine is now listed as a National Trust Monument and is the only roadside Shrine of its kind in Australia. It is all that remains of Harvey No.11 Interment Camp which operated from September 1940 to April 1942. It was built by the internees and was originally conceived as a small chapel which was intended to be illuminated at night. Project Designer: Giuseppe Raneri, Stonemason:  Giovanni Boschetti, Construction Assistant: Gaetano Tomba. Materials were gathered from within the barbed wire enclosure and consisted of local field sandstone and selected granite. Semi-circular I form with two low walls supporting the well formed curve of its GOTHIC ARCH, it has its main feature a NICHE set into a high wall. This shelter's a crucifix fixed into a three-tiered, ziggurat shaped pedestal. A steeply pitched cement frieze was engraved upon it with the letters IHS. The symbolism of the inscriptions is complex: Look for these symbols; IHS:  Jesus (Greek) A.XX:  Annon 20 (Latin) The building was constructed in 1940, the 20th year of Fascism in Italy. I.H.S.V:  In HOC Signo Vinces (Latin) Translates as "In this sign we will conquer." A historical reference, to Constantine's vision of a cross in 312 AD which influenced him into becoming a Christian. LASCIANO: (Italian) Built to commemorate the Italian Internees at Harvey Camp No.11 HARVEY. Personal Experience Luigi Camporeale, a former Civil Internee, has written of his experience of this time. "I was a fisherman and I was 400 miles north of Fremantle and 100 miles north of Geraldton, when War was declared. After twelve days travelling by boat we arrived at Geraldton. I didn't have time to anchor the boat before Police came aboard to tell me and the crew that we have only two days of freedom left. We had to turn ourselves into them." We were put in prison until all those selected for internment from surrounding districts has been gathered together. We were then taken by train to Fremantle. We were kept in prison there for four days or five days, and then on to Rottnest, This was temporary, because it was too small for the 1400 Internees and there was not enough accommodation for all of us. Our misfortune was that winter arrived. It was a really bad season, raining every day, cold and with strong winds. They treated us very well. We were accommodated in tents of eight, six and four people. In November, 1940, we were moved again. At 10.00 am we arrived in Fremantle, and a train was ready to take us to Harvey, with Australian soldiers that were posted there. We arrived in the dark and they put us temporarily in big huts because camp was not ready. Altogether 1,200 men arrived in Harvey, 200 of them being Army Personnel, while the remained of the Internees were sent to South Australia and the Northern Territory. In the Harvey Camp, know as Camp No.11, the food and water were in abundance, and of excellent quality. Some of the men had relatives in Harvey, who were permitted to visit and bring gifts of food. However, they had to remain outside the enclosing fence, so that no personal contact was possible. During their presence there, over two years, the Internees were not Idle, but, neither were they forced to work. The surroundings bush was cleared, so that logs were made available for use by outside Government Authorities. Three large Market Gardens were established, and the resulting vegetable produce was sent to Western Australia Military Camps. Shoemakers and Carpenters were kept busy, as were the Blacksmiths since both men and horses needed to be shod. Transfer of Internees Because the lights which illuminated the Camp during the night were clearly visible from the ocean, it was deemed necessary to transfer the Internees further inland. Thus Camp No.11 was vacated by the Internees in 1942, but was used for training purposes for some time after. Before the Army Authorities closed the Camp it was finally dismantled. An Auction was held with many saleable objects, together with buildings and equipment went under the hammer. At least two of the Huts were acquired by the Agriculture School and are still in use today. The detention Cells are now being used as storerooms. THE HIDDEN VALLEY A History of the Harvey Valley before the Dam   This records the story of three historic homesteads - Nicklup, Jardup and Glentana. The houses and surrounding farmland were inundated by water when a new dam was built on the Harvey River in 2000-2002 as part of the Stirling-Harvey Redevelopment Scheme. The original Harvey Weir, built in 1916 and raised in 1931, was also inundated by the new dam. The history of the weir and the first irrigation scheme is also recorded here. The Water Corporation is committed to preserving the heritage of Western Australia, and provided a display to record the story of these places and their contribution to the history of the Harvey district. Nicklup Homestead c 1860 William Clarke, son of Ephraim Clarke of Jardup, established Nicklup in the early 1860s. Like other early settlers, he built the homestead with materials available on site – jarrah framing clad with dressed jarrah slabs, lined with clay plugging. The roof, probably originally thatched, was later replaced with corrugated iron. Also like other settlers, finding that the land was not entirely suitable for sheep, Clarke diversified into cattle, produce gardens and fruit trees. In 1887, Nicklup was sold to James Taylor, a contractor from Victoria who was working in Harvey. Taylor returned to Victoria for his wife and their six children. The family travelled to Bunbury by sea, and built a dray to carry their goods over land to Nicklup. Six more children were born at Nicklup, and the entire family lived in the original cottage built by William Clarke. The Taylors were enterprising farmers. They established a large orchard and vegetable garden, growing apples, pears, plums, oranges, lemons, figs, olives, loquats, persimmons and mandarins. They also produced wine from their 10-acre vineyard. The farm supplied fresh produce to railway gangs working on the South West Railway in the 1890s, and the timber workers at Mornington Timber Mill in the 1900s. In the early 1930s Bart Taylor benefited from the expanded irrigation scheme by purchasing land for irrigated pasture for summer grazing. This made his dairy farm even more productive. During the Depression the Nicklup dairy was able to supply fresh milk in the Sustenance Employment project workers, as well as the usual twice-daily deliveries to the Harvey Milk Factory. Jardup Homestead c1890 Jardup settled in 1859 and was one of the earliest farming properties developed in Harvey. Its earliest history linked with two well – known Harvey pioneering families the Clarke’s and the Suttons Ephraim Clarke arrived in the Harvey district in 1841, with his wife Sarah, and three children. Their first house, Hampdem, was located on the coast road. Ephraim Clarke ran an inn and was later overseer at the Bunbury Convict Depot. In 1856, Ephraim bought 10 acres of land on the Harvey River. He left his son in charge of acres from the Crown to graze sheep and cattle, while also developing his home lot. The first cottage built at Jardup for Ephraim and his family was demolished, but remnant of fruit trees and domestic plants survived as evidence of its existence.  Ephraim Clarke retired in 1890, selling Jardup to William Sutton. Sutton and his wife Florence built a new house on the property and this was the homestead inundated by the new Harvey Dam. It was a modest cottage, constructed of hand-made clay bricks, which was subsequently lime wash. The original roof was timber shingles, which were later covered by sheets of corrugated iron. The house had four rooms with lathe and plaster ceilings, timber skirting and door frames and brick a fireplace with plain timber surrounds. The windows were eight-pane, casement sashes. The front of the house had a shady front verandah. European Heritage Jardup and Nicklup homesteads were located in an area below the waterline of the new Harvey Dam. The homesteads had heritage value to the local community as some of the earliest in the Harvey agricultural district. The Water Corporation, in consultation with the Heritage Council of WA, the Shire of Harvey and the Harvey Historical Society, developed a Heritage Management Plan that incorporated cultural heritage assessments and archival photographic recording before inundation. Glentana homestead had potential for conservation and restoration. It was purchased from the Water Corporation and relocated. Some unique and interesting buildings materials from Nicklup and Jardup were salvaged and preserved for display in the Water Corporation funded extension to the tourist precinct. Taylors The family of Robert and Elizabeth Taylor and their two surviving sons, Robert and James, sailed from Deptford, England in the sailing ship 'Sacramento' on 25.12.1852 and the ship was wrecked on point Lonsdale, Victoria on 26.4.1853. Records show the family to be numbers 131, 132, 133 and 134 on the passenger list and a note says only seven passengers died during the voyage. The record also list Robert as a labourer and say he and his Wife were able to read. The family having lost almost all their possessions in the wreck, left the ship of their own accord and moved to accommodation in Collingwood, Victoria on 12.5.1853. James married Isabella in a Methodist Church ceremony at Teminick (Isabella's country town) on 10.4.1876. He ventured to Harvey in Western Australia about 1886 or 1887 and worked at contract clearing for future farming and orange growing. Whilst in Harvey he arranged to purchase 'Nicklup' from William James Clarke. This meant he had to return to Taminick to wind up his affairs, collect up his goods and chattels and family and return to the West. They disembarked at Bunbury late in 1889 and before heading for Nicklup, had to have a dray made to carry their worldly possessions. On the way to Harvey they reached the Brunswick River which was in flood. A tropical Cyclone had come down the coast, dropping much rain and causing a summer flood. A Mrs. Sharp, nearby, offered the family shelter in a shed until the flood water receded. There being no roads or bridges at that time, they had to ford the river. As a result of delay whilst the dray was built and the holdup at Brunswick River, the family spent that Christmas day on the south bank of the river and reached Nicklup just before New Year's Day 1890. Upon arrival at Nicklup they found Clarkes still in residence and consequently had to arrange temporary shelter until the house became vacant. Nicklup, at that time was the original Homestead with almost no land cleared so James and his older sons has to set to, clearing land to get their farming ventures under way. The absence of mechanical facilities at that time meant that any progress was achieved with horse and man power only. From the beginning the main objective was to clear land for growing oats to make chaff. The big mouse and rat proof shed, built by the family in early times, remains as a noteable landmark in 1988. It was built for storage of chaff; sale of the produce became the source of income which got the Taylor family farming venture off the ground. As progress was achieved the family established a vegetable garden and an orchard with remarkable variety of fruit; i.e. apples, pears, plums, oranges, lemons, citrons, pomellos, persimmons, mandarins, figs, grapes, loquats and olives. Further progress saw the introduction of a variety of poultry and milking cows and prior to 1900 the family was producing wine from a ten acre vineyard and the wine together with fruit and vegetables and chaff was readily marketable at Mornington Timber Mill which was only six miles through the bush and at that time had a timber milling population of about two thousand people. THE HARVEY RIVER DIVERSION AND DRAINAGE SCHEME From 1930 on when the Depression was hurting so many, one of the biggest community employment programs imaginable began in Harvey. This was a Government sponsored plan to divert the Harvey River to an outlet at the ocean near Myalup, which removed the fear of flooding downstream and brought much valuable agriculture land into production. No less than 2,500 men were camped west of Harvey, and at time 3,500 men lived in the camps at Myalup and nearby Stonehouse. The work was physically demanding as the west end of the Diversion Drain was dug with shovels and the sand removed in wheelbarrows. Nearer to Harvey, a mechanical drag line was used in the heavier clay soil. The work was done by rostering the men; to make work for other men, they only worked two days a week for a "sustenance" wage. Tents were hire to the men for about a shilling a week (10c) and they brought their own food, cooking it on individual camp fires. With their food costs at about one pound fifteen shillings ($3.50 approx) it left between then ($1) and fifteen ($1.50) shillings for the worker. Some of the men brought their wives and families to the bush camps and their homes were well cared for, while some of the single men lived in a very rough way. With so much idle time, a few went fishing to augment their diet and to save money, by many joined in the constant gambling which flourished at the camps. Though working under difficult conditions, the plan proposed by the Public Works Department could not be varied and had to stay within a very limited budget, No extra concessions could be made to the men, nor extra days of work given. The money for the scheme had been wrung out of a reluctant Federal Government and in the depths of the Depression - no more was forthcoming. Jack Scadden, the then Minister for unemployment was under great pressure from all sides. Heavy immigration from the United Kingdom in the 1920s and the collapse of many farming ventures had made thousands of men unemployed. The Harvey River Diversion and Drainage Scheme was only one of the public works begun by the government to help these unemployed men. In 1931 men were clearing the site for the Canning Reservoir and building a road for it. This became the main catchment area for the metropolitan water supply. Many men were employed to repair and maintain the Goldfields Water Supply main, while works on the Waroona Dam (1931) and the Harvey River Diversion (1930) were going on in the South West. Most men were employed by the Diversion Scheme than on any of the other works, The completion of all these works in the Waroona, Harvey and Collie districts enabled irrigation to be extended and more land brought into production by being drained in winter and watered in summer. Dairying expanded after the 1930's until it was estimated that these irrigation schemes served an area of approximately 76,000 acres. When these employment schemes began, it was estimated that one third of the States breadwinners were out of work and quite a lot of the rest had only part time work. The official figures show 11% unemployment in 1929 with a rise to 30% by the second quarter of 1932. Through the years 1931, 1932 and 1933 most of the State Budget went to public works for the unemployment. By spending the money on water supplies the whole of Western Australia benefited - the Goldfields, the South West and the metropolitan area. A memorial to the thousands of men who worked on the Harvey River Diversion and Drainage Scheme has been placed in Stirling Park at Harvey, beside the Diversion on which they laboured. Sustenance Employment at Harvey Thousands of men were out of work during the Depression in Western Australia. The Government initiated special public works projects, mainly in the south west, employing thousands of men on a sustenance allowance. The reduced wages made these projects affordable, the presence of the workers to the south west stimulated the local economy, and the sustenance allowance supported many families during the 1930s. One of the Sustenance Employment programs was the Harvey River Diversion Project. It comprised a huge channel that, when completed, would divert winter floodwaters from the Harvey River to the Ocean at Myalup. In 1931, a camp was established at the former Myalup mill. It had over 500 canvas tents arranged along 10 streets. Each man was issued with a billy, mug, plate, fry pan, blanket and Hessian bed. Money for food and stores was taken out of wages to give more people the chance of employment. The channel was dug by hand using shovels and wheelbarrows wheeled on planks. The work took more than a year, with excavations finishing in December 1932. The watercourse opened in mid 1933. The Camp at Myalup accommodated thousands of men who worked a few days a week in return for sustenance allowance. THE HARVEY WEIR Regulating Water Supplies The 1901 Drainage Act dealt with winter flooding of the Harvey flats. Channels were dug to connect with enlarged drainage channels on the Harvey and Wellesley Rivers. This significantly increased land available for cultivation of citrus orchards, but it was no use regulating water supply in winter and not summer. The people of Harvey began to campaign for an irrigation scheme. 1910, President of the Harvey Citrus Society, Frank Becher, attended a Citrus Growers’ Conference in Melbourne where he met the Minister for Agriculture, James Mitchell. As a result of this fortunate meeting, Becher was asked to report on the Mildura irrigation scheme in Victoria, and examine the possibilities for a similar project at Harvey. In 1911, the government appointed surveyor, Roy Eckersley, to examine all the rivers from Serpentine to Collie. He conducted tests on water capacity and speed of flow, searching for possible dam sites. He pegged out three sites on the Harvey River. The Rights in Water and Irrigation Act was passed in Parliament in 1914 to enable work to proceed on a site called ‘Harvey Irrigation No.1.’ Raising the Weir Wall 1931-32 Also in 1931-32 the Harvey Weir wall was raised from it’s original 12 metres to 18 metres, increasing the storage capacity to 2,275 million gallons [10,342 million litres]. The new weir was opened in 1933 by Premier Sir James Mitchell for Agriculture when the weir was first built in 1916. Irrigation In the South West of WA, irrigation by Government dates from 1906 when Sir James Mitchell, as Minister for agriculture, conceived the idea of installing an irrigation scheme on the new State Dairy Farm at Brunswick- 16 Hectares of land comprising river flats and high land. In 1906 there were only 8 farmers known to be irrigating in the State, but by 1914 the number increased to 300. The success of small private irrigation stimulated moves for larger schemes. Indeed, the first irrigation scheme was constructed in 1915 to 1916 to serve 1,350 hectares of land in the central Harvey area. A unique feature of the area was that drains were constructed first to reduce winter water-logging. Irrigation supply channels were constructed later. As years progressed, the steady increase in demand for water saw as acute shortage by 1929, after which construction of a series of dams to feed irrigation districts took place. By 1932 the Harvey Dam was built and just a year before, the Drakesbrook Dam was completed near Waroona. In order to supply the Brunswick-Dardanup area (known as the Collie River Irrigation District) Wellington Dam was completed in 1933. Significant construction, for example the Harvey Diversion Dam, was carried out during the depression years. In 1941 an earth and rock fill dam was built across Samson Brook and in 1948 Stirling Dam was built across the Harvey River. Further augmentation of supply to the Harvey District occured in 1963 with completion of Logue Brook Dam - followed by the Waroona Dam in 1966. Water was available to local farmers in the summer of 1915-16. Water flowed from the main weir along the river, and was diverted at the intercepting weir into the main irrigation channel. It was then delivered via gravity through five open channels to the highest point of each settlement block. From here, distribution of water to the orchards was the responsibility of the landowner. HISTORY OF AUSTRALIND Australind was the site of an ambitious but unsuccessful land settlement scheme in the 1840s, when the London-based Western Australia Company planned to settle a large number of pioneers who would breed horses specifically for shipping to the Indian Army. The first settlers arrived in 1841 and by the end of 1842 the total had reached 440 people. Unfortunately, the scheme soon collapsed due to financial problems and the unsuitability of the sandy soil for agriculture. Many of the original settlers left, mostly moving elsewhere in the district. A monument to those hardy pioneers stands in the reserve on the shore of the Inlet. The original name of Port Leschenault was changed by the promoters of the early settlement scheme to a name combining ‘Australia’ and ‘India’. The West Australian Company was formed in London in 1840 to promote a Land settlement in Western Australia under the Wakefield System.  This prescribed that land in the Colonies should not be granted but sold and the proceeds used to bring migrant labour to the Colony. The Company purchased 165,000 acres from Colonel Latour and Sir James Stirling in the Leschenault region and set out to find investors/settlers. The "Island Queen" in 1840 was the first ship to arrive at Australind with a party of surveyors to mark out the townsite and rural allotments. In the meantime in England, hearsay reports regarding the land, had the company in turmoil and the directors decided to abandon the scheme and re-locate to Port Grey (now Geraldton) Marshall Waller Clifton, Chief Commissioner for the scheme, left London with 93 passengers on board the "Parkfield" with the intent of collecting the surveyors and head for Port Grey.  The surveyors had not yet received any dispatches regarding the change of location.  After much discussion with Governor Hutt, Marshall and Pearce Clifton and the Government Surveyor it was decided to proceed with the original scheme. The following two years saw more settlers arrive to take up land but by 1843 the Company was no longer financial and operations ceased.  Many settlers left the area and the few that remained took up abandoned blocks and laid the foundations of the rural settlement. Many of the early settlers originated from the failed land settlement scheme at nearby Australind. In 1893 they formed the Brunswick Farmers’ Association, which was instrumental in having the town site surveyed and declared in 1902 and in establishing many public facilities. Now known as the Brunswick Progress Association, it still plays an active role in the town’s development. The town was named after the Brunswick River on which the town is situated.  The river was named after an English Duke from the 1800's. Today you can see that the hopes and dreams of those early pioneers have finally come to fruition. AUSTRALIND HERITAGE TRAIL The name Australind was coined by its founders, the Western Australian Company, from a contraction of Australia and India. 1.  Henton Cottage- Paris Rd Opposite St Nicholas Church is of historic interest. Built in 1841 by William Dacres Williams as the "Prince of Wales Hotel". Its Original two rooms came from England as a prefabricated building. Heritage Roses that add to its appeal surround the gardens. Henton Cottage now houses a Tourist Information Centre, arts crafts and collectable antiques.  2. St Nicholas Church- Paris Rd An interesting reminder of the early days is the historic Church of St Nicholas opposite Henton Cottage. Built by James Narroway circa 1840's as a residence then converted to a Congressional Chapel prior to 1860's and dedicated to the Church of England in 1915. Made of Jarrah and measuring only 3.8 × 6.7m, it claims the distinction of being the smallest church in Western Australia. Built as a workman’s hut in 1840, it was the only building then available for settlers to use as a place of worship. The hut was converted into a church eight years later by John Allnut, whose home can be seen nearby. 3. Upton House- Upton Pl Built in 1844/5 for Mrs. Elizabeth Fry. The original building bricks are believed to have been cargo or ballast on the "Trusty" during her second voyage to Australind in 1844. Private residence. (not open to the public) 4. Memorial Seat- Old Coast Rd Situated on the site of the landing of the first settlers.  A plaque showing the original town plan and memorial to early pioneer's and ships. 5. Pioneer Park - Opposite memorial seat First planted circa 1843 by Lucy, Rachel and Caroline Clifton.  Two of the three peppermint trees still stand plus a fig tree brought from Tenerife Island in 1841 6. Cathedral Avenue- Scenic Drive 3.4 km Scenic Drive - 3.4 km.  This was the original Old Coast road.  Although the road has been altered in parts, the paperbark trees can still be admired arching over the road in a cathedral like manner. 7. John Boyle O'Reilly- Buffalo Rd- 11.6km Buffalo Road - 11.6 km.  In 1803 Lieutenant de Freycinet on board the ‘Casurina’ sighted a rocky point which was part of what is known now as Koombana Bay.  On entering the Bay he discovered an inlet which he named ‘Leschenault’ after the expedition's botanist. John Boyle O’Reilly was one of 62 Irish Political prisoners among 279 convicts who arrived at Fremantle in 1868.  He was a member of the Fenian Movement, an organisation dedicated to achieving an independent Irish Republic.  O’Reilly escaped from this area whilst working as a member of a convict road crew near Bunbury.  He hid in the dense peppermint woodland with the help of a local family.  O’Reilly made his escape aboard an American Whaler, the ‘Gazelle’ on 3 March 1869.  Before settling in Boston he assisted 6 Fenian political prisoners in their escape from Fremantle Prison aboard the ‘Catalpa’.  He became a well known humanitarian, poet, writer and orator.  A granite monument erected to O’Reilly stands at the northern entry to the Leschenault Peninsular Park.   Following European Settlement the Peninsular was mostly used for stock grazing.  In 1838 Thomas Little purchased 741.4 hectares on Leschenault Peninsula on behalf of Charles Prinsep, and named the homestead Belvidere in honour of the Prinsep mansion in Calcutta.  Little managed the property to raise horses and cattle for the Indian Army.  In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Belvidere became a commune for alternative lifestyler's, with up to 14 houses. A granite monument to; John O Reilly, Irishman, soldier, convict, poet, author and lecturer.  John Boyle O'Reilly Wetland Trail - Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park Length:  1km return - Surface:  Bitumen and Boardwalk - Difficultly: Easy - Users:  Walkers, Prams, Wheelchairs - Facilities:  Information Shelter, Tables, Toilets. Learn more about the plants and animals of this park as you meander through tuart, peppermint and paperbark trees. At the information shelter, discover how the Irish convict John Boyle O'Reilly made his daring escape into the bush here from a ship named the Gazelle in 1869. 8. Australind Cemetery- Old Coast Rd - 2.2km Old Coast Road - 2.2 k.  Situated on the crest of a limestone hill, the first burial took place on the 13th March 1842, that of Dr Anthony French Carpenter, Medical Officer on board the Barque "Parkfield". OTHER HISTORICAL PLAQUES Benjamin & James Piggott - near Shire Office in front of Library, early pioneers. Australind State School - 1.4 km Cathedral/ Scenic Drive Catholic Church Site- Circa 1870- 1970 2.4km Cathedral Scenic Drive Parkfield School - 10 km - Buffalo Road, just past the stand of trees.   BRUNSWICK JUNCTION Many of the early settlers originated from the failed land settlement scheme at nearby Australind. In 1893 they formed the Brunswick Farmers’ Association, which was instrumental in having the town site surveyed and declared in 1902 and in establishing many public facilities. Now known as the Brunswick Progress Association, it still plays an active role in the town’s development. The town was named after the Brunswick River on which the town is situated.  The river was named after an English Duke from the 1800's. Brunswick Cow Statue - Daisy The Friesian Cow was built by the local lions club as a tribute to the dairy industry. Daisy has now become the town's mascot. She Was officially unveiled by Tom Pearson and arrived on the 11th of July 1973. Produced by Mrs. Netti May-Smith, Daisy is 2 metres in length and 1.530 metres high, standing 1.2 metres off the ground. Daisy is made of concrete with steel rods  re-enforcing through her. Alverstoke - Heritage & Function Centre Situated on Clifton Road, Brunswick Junction. An allotment of land on the banks of the Brunswick River was purchased in 1841 by Marshall Waller Clifton, who named the property after his birthplace in Hampshire, England. The first farm in the district, Alverstoke has been tended by the Clifton family now for six generations. Historic buildings include an original cottage and barn (c.1840s), stables, saddle room and dairy (c.1875), the homestead (1886) and the Clifton School (c.1921), Olive and Pear trees planted on the property in 1844 continue to bear fruit to this day. Alverstoke is a historic farm hamlet that is now open as a venue for corporate and private functions in a tranquil country setting is steeped in history. An extensive collection of vintage farm machinery, tools and memorabilia is housed in various outbuildings around the farm. The school contains a display of many treasured artifacts common to schools of its time. The historic barn setting is rich with agricultural charm with wide wooden verandah surrounded by 2 acres of grassed areas. Alverstoke is also home to a collection of over 200 heritage roses including Bourbon, Gallica, Tea, Portland and Rugosa varieties. Several Clydesdale horses, as well as other farmyard and native animals. If you are planning a visit, booking's are essential: Call John or Mary Clifton on 08 9726 1073. White Rocks Farm (Brunswick) South Western Highway, Benger.                                                                                                                       A working dairy. (08) 9726 1085 - Entry Fee White Rocks Museum and Dairy is teeming with history. Founded in 1887 by John Partridge, it is now run by the fourth generation of the Partridge family. Visit the museum depicting pioneering days and see the collection of horse-drawn farm machinery and old dairy equipment. The Dairy is an example of the latest industry technology — a 50-stand rotary dairy with computerised feeding. Please phone to book your visit. HISTORY OF YARLOOP Rediscover the age of steam and timber as you step back in time at this perfectly preserved country town. Reminisce about an earlier age when the local general store was the place to meet and the air pulsated with industrial toil. Yarloop was established in the late 1800s as a timber milling town and became the centre of a thriving timber industry, following the construction of the South West Railway which began in 1893. The accessibility of shipping from the ports of Bunbury and Fremantle let to vast quantities of timber being shipped overseas, with many millions of dollars of jarrah being exported to most areas of the world. By the early 1900s, Millers Timber and Trading Company (now Sotico) virtually owned the town as the major local employer and landowner. The company set up engineering workshops to service the needs of logging mill towns in the surrounding forests. At the town’s peak, the workshops employed approximately 500 men. Sotico is now a very modern timber mill and the old historic engineering workshops that spanned the steam and horse-drawn era are being restored. Conducted tours of both places are available by appointment. The original mills were built far out in the Jarrah Forests and Yarloop originated from the "Yard Loop' from the Wagerup siding, where the town was started by Millar's Timber Company in the 1890's when the wood was but out in the Darling Rangers around the Kelmscott - Roleystone - Kalamunda area. A considerable number of their employees transferred to Yarloop, where many families still have connection with the Darling Range Towns. The timber that was produced from the mills was transported on a complex system of railways through the bush. It is of interest that the original tracks were selected by local farmer and timber cutter, the late Mr. Don Eastcott. When Millar's obtained the service of a surveyor and railway expert from England, the tracks were found to be almost perfectly laid out for grades and construction. This Railway system became the largely privately owned railroad in the world, and finally closed in 1956 through the last locomotive was used in the Yarloop yard until 1975 when the boiler finally wore out. It has now been fully reconstructed, and there are many old buildings still remain: for example, the original timber workers houses, the old railway workshops, Millar's yards and the old bakery. Many workers at the yard which was then the largest timber yard in the Southern Hemisphere began to successfully farm around Yarloop. The Coming if irrigation led to many thriving dairy farms in the area. Timber milling actually began in Yarloop with building of an electrically operated mill in 1962. The workforce for this mill came from men who had worked at Nanga Brook, until they were burnt out in the Dwelling Fire Disaster on the 23rd of February 1961: Hoffman Mill which closed on the 21st of December 1961: and Mornington Mill which closed on the 28th of June 1966. Road trucks now bring the un-sawn logs in from the bush, mechanical log loading and chainsaw falling have made the work much easier and speedier. The mill has an impressive safety record and high degree of productivity. Yarloop, population 874, has been registered as a conservation area and is deemed a historic precinct by the local council. Stroll through streets lined with historic timber workers’ cottages and enjoy the close-knit community feel. Yarloop is located 125kms south of Perth on the South Western Highway and is serviced daily by the Australind train from Perth and Bunbury. YARLOOP HERITAGE TRAIL 1. Replica Store - Railway Parade The present building was constructed in 1987/88 by the Yarloop Workshops Restoration Committee and is a faithful external reproduction of the store that was on this site for many years. Photographs of the original building can be seen in the display in the Yarloop Workshops. The original building was constructed in the 1980s as the Works Manager's house and converted to a store approximately 20 years later. 2. Mill Cottages - McDowell Street These cottages are typically of those built throughout the South West at the peak of Western Australia's timber industry. With the exception of number 165, which is only about 50 years old, all the timber cottages in McDowell Street were constructed in the 1890s for mill workers. 3. Old Wooden Pub - McDowell Street Constructed in 1903/04, the Old Wooden Pub (also known at one time as the Palace Hotel) was the first hotel in Yarloop. The section that remains (now a private home) was the residential part of the hotel. The bar area was attached to the remaining structures by a passage way and stood on the land opposite the reserve. The pub also included a billiard room attached to the north side between the bar area and Post Office. The Old Wooden Pub was directly linked to the railway station by a wooden bridge and was the scene of an ant prohibition rally in 1926. 4. Old Mill Post Office - McDowell Street The Post Office was built around 1898 complete with attached residence. Externally it remains essential unaltered except for the addition of a carport. The Post Office was closed in the 1950s and since then the building has been used as a private home. 5. St Joseph's Catholic Church - Johnston Road The church was designed by Mr. Finlay, built by Mr. Campbell and blessed and opened by Father Donagher on Sunday June 24, 1906. 6. Mill Doctor's Residence - Barrington-Knight Road Not long after Millar's began operations in Yarloop they built a hospital to treat employees only. They engaged a Dr Lovegrove as the first doctor in the town. He had no right, under the terms of his employment, to practice privately, but could give emergency treatment had to be sought in Bunbury or Perth. This house was built for the Mill Doctor early in the century and has been used as the Doctor's residence ever since. 7. Mill Hospital Group - Barrington-Knight Road The original hospital built in the 1890s, had an eight bed male dormitory and a small nursing staff. Demand for a service to families resulted in the addition of a female ward and at first Millar's charged all employees a small amount to cover the resultant costs. After several years Millar's passed the system over a local committee and the provision of medical and hospital care to the people of Yarloop was made possible by contributions of the Timber Mill Agreement Funds. Initially the fund was subsidised by Millar's by rising costs necessitated a government contribution. With the introduction of Medibank, and the resulting need for administrative staff, the fund had to be discontinued and the doctor became a private practitioner with control of the hospital being handed over to a local board. 8. Old Stables Site - School Road Horses were essential to the Mill in the early days of its operation and the Millar's stables were located on this site. 9. Mill Managers Complex - School Road These homes were built on the hill possibly during the first decade of the 20th century, They are considerably larger than the workers cottages have higher ceiling and other amenities and are better finished. The building to the right has been the home of the Mill Manager since construction. The cottage in the middle was built to provide suitable accommodation for visitors from Perth to the Mill and the building to the left has been the home of the Assistant Mill Manager since construction. 10. The Huts - Single Men's Quarters - School Road These single residence huts were built by Millar's in the 1890s for single men working at the Mill. They are still used by people working for Bunning's and in recent years were re-named 'Happy Valley', presumably because no women were allowed to reside there. 11. Mill Cottages - School Road These timber workers cottages are the only ones that remain from what was once a densely populated housing area. Remains of many of these houses and their gardens can be seen on the left behind the Anglican Church. Just east of these cottages is the Yarloop School complex, marked by the large pines near the old School site, and the schoolmasters house opposite the pines. The original three-roomed school stood on the site of the car park. 12. All Saints Anglican Church - Railway Parade Dedicated on All Saints Day 1909 by Bishop Goldsmith, this church was built by Mr. Thomas Jackson, (a licensed lay reader appointed in charge of Yarloop and adjacent timber mills by the Bishop in 1908) assisted by friends and faithful followers. Millar's probably contributed the bulk of timber and materials with the remainder, including the stained glass windows, being donated by members of the local community or purchased through fund raising efforts. The panels in front of the altar were hand carved by Mrs. Wickham, wife of an early farming settler in the district. Mr. Jackson became Reverend Jackson on Trinity Sunday in November 1910, when the Bishop made him Deacon in charge of Yarloop. Tragically, he died in the church he had built, during a confirmation service on November 20th, 1910. The rectory was probably built at this time. 13. Mill Boarding House - Railway Parade Built in the 1890s as the original Mill Boarding House, this construction is virtually unchanged externally with the exception of the two buildings on the south side that are recent additions. Now known as Peg's it was used by Millar's executive staff and visitors from Perth, with all meals and a cleaning service provided. 14. War Memorial - Railway Parade Designed by Pietro Porcelli, this dressed granite obelisk featuring four carved lions of Augustan marble from the Barossa Valley was erected by local residence and unveiled by Lieutenant Colonel Manning, D.S.O., O.B.E. on Anzac Day 1922. Born in 1872, Porcelli was Western Australia's first local sculptor and completed many fine sculptures of Western Australia's most prominent citizens. The best known of these works are his bust of Sir John Forrest now in Parliament House, the 3.2 metre statue of C.Y.O' Connor at Fremantle Harbour, and the slightly larger than life bronze figure of Alexander Forrest on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street in Perth. 15. Yarloop Mill Workshops - Railway Parade Situated on the sire of the first, 1895 mill in the Yarloop area, these workshops began operations in 1901 and closed in 1978. Originally housed in the remains of the Old Mill buildings, they were gradually developed until they became the centre of Millar's milling operations in the South West TOWN NAME MEANINGS The meaning of town names in the Harvey Shire. HARVEY              Named after Major Harvey who first surveyed the area in the early 1800's. MYALUP              Aboriginal name, meaning 'place of the paperbark tree'. BINNINGUP              Aboriginal name meaning 'place of the mosquito'. WOKALUP              Aboriginal name meaning 'place of the carpet snake'. BENGER              Aboriginal name for swamp. BRUNSWICK JUNCTION              Named after the Duke of Brunswick in England (1830's). COOKERNUP               Aboriginal name meaning 'place of the swamp hen'. YARLOOP               A loop railway line situated in the town, 'yard loop'. AUSTRALIND              Named so by its founders 'The West Australian Company' from a contraction of Australia and              India (They thought the two places were ideally located for a flourishing trade between them). COOKERNUP Cookernup comes from an Aboriginal word meaning the 'Place of the Swamp Hen Cooki.' The first white settlers were reported to have settled at Cookernup in 1858. Amongst the first settlers were J. Clark, W. Adams, L.F. Logue, W. Marriot and R.S Meredith. Early homes were built of spilt slabs for walls, paperbark roofs and calico windows, fire places large enough to roast a whole sheep on the bars with room to spare. The timber railway at Cookernup in 1882 (being the first siding in the area) brought prosperity to the district. Before 1894 the Wellington Roads Board controlled the Cookernup District. On the 7th of September 1894 Cookernup was officially declared a town - R.N. 209. According to education records Miss S. Mitchell started work on the 22nd of July 1895 with the school officially being open on the 12th of August 1895. Being the first school in the district pupils came from Harvey and Yarloop. Cookernup's first hall was built by Edward Cook and was officially open on the 24th of May 1896. On the 12th of July 1898 the Cookernup cemetery was opened. By this time there was a Post Office, two general stores, one warehouse, one butcher shop, two surveyors, two mills and a growing number of farmers. In 1900 the population numbered 300. It was in 1904 that Cookernup church was built. The first citrus industry started in 1909. In 1948 Cookernup's high school students were bused to Harvey High School until the closure of Cookernup Primary School in 1953. In the early 1950's came the advent of electric lights (S.E.C.) During the 1960's came the introduction of bulk milk tankers on the 6th of March 1983 Cookernup has its first reunion. MYALUP TIMBER MILL A privately owned timber mill was built at Myalup about 1922 before the diversion was dug. It was positioned on the south side of the present day diversion (across the river from the cement water tank on Myalup Beach Road). The heavy mill engine was brought from Bunbury by a team of horses. The first night they camped at Springhill then went on to Myalup. Young Ted Handley rode his horse alongside the team of horses to help get the engine to the mill. The mill site had a mill manager's hut, married men cottages and single men quarters. A well was dug and water pumped out for use. A tramline was laid going north of the mill to bring logs on the tram trucks back to the mill for sawing. An old motor truck then took the cut timber into Harvey to be transported by train. The road from the mill ran north to near the present day Myalup Cottages then eastwards to Harvey. A plank road was made over the low swamp areas from the sand hill towards today's Lawn Cemetery to bring the timber to Harvey. The local farmers also used the Myalup Mill timber to make dwellings, sheds and pens. They mainly used the face cut boards off the side of logs for these constructions. The Myalup Mill closed down about 1928 but the buildings remained there. In 1931 the old mill became the Myalup Campsite for 1,500 men working on the Government Harvey River Diversion Scheme. At the Mill Campsite the mill manager's house became the head office for the P.W.D. staff with the back of the house used by the cook who provided meals for the office staff. Three engineers (Punch, Forrest and Park) lived in tents with their wives near the horse yards and 1,500 men camped in tents nearby in a group surrounded by a barbed wire fence to stop animals getting into the tent area. The married men's cottage's at the old mill was used as the first aid post and the mill single men's cottages housed the various shops. There was a butcher's shop, two fruit and vegetable shops, cake shop, the hop beer shop and Jack Lowe's grocery shop. A big marquee was used as a boarding house for any men who didn't want to cook for themselves. Some men who didn't like the sandy and dusty cramped conditions of the tent area moved into the surrounding bush and made their own bark shelters. These men had pulled big slabs of bark off trees and made little huts with them. The Mannings who lived 1.5 miles south of the campsite sold meat, milk, eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables to the cook and the men in the bush. The tent men bought their food from the shops. All the bread was baked in Harvey and a truck carted bread all day out to the Myalup and Stonehouse campsites to provide bread from 2,500 men and Laurie Jensen delivered the mail. On pay night the men played Two Up all night outside the barbed wire fence alongside Manning's track and were still playing at daylight. After the camp finished the buildings were sold and taken away. The site is now covered with pine trees.

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