Site Map


    About Harvey
    History
    Ships and Homesteads

    In 1841, the "SS Parkfield" landed near Australind.  This ship brought Mr. Marshall Waller Clifton, his family, and many other early settlers.  The Clifton family has been known throughout the State since those early days, and direct descendants are still at Australind, Brunswick and Harvey.

    "SS Parkfield" Photo courtesy of Parkfield Primary School

    Ben Piggott Senior and his brother, James, came to Western Australia on the "Trusty" in 1844, and later took up land at Springhill where he is buried in a small cemetery close to the old house there.  It is still standing and his descendants are still in the District.  Upton house at Australind and Springhill are very much alike, and it is probable that they were built by the same builder and carpenter who landed near Australind. Of the children of James, John and William remained in Brunswick Junction while Jseeph settled on "The Long Swamp", Myalup.

    In 1844, the first actual settler in what is now known as Harvey took up a 160 acre block at Lake Preston, north west of Harvey.  He was Maurice B. Smith, grandfather of Mr. John Giblett.  This selection was called Gigginup.  Mr. Smith later took up a small block at Uduc, which was later owned by Mr. Albert Taylor.  Later he took up a much larger area at Uduc, where he built the old Uduc homestead.  In those days there were no fences, except split slabs, near the early homesteads to keep the pigs in or to protect the vegetable plots.  Mr. Smith brought a lot of very heavy gauge wire to the country and erected post and rail fences with two wires to protect his property.  This earned him the name of "Cast Iron Smith".  Other early settlers knew, when they saw fences, that it was Mr. Smith's land.  He and his family were also known for many years as the Uduc Smiths, although there were no other Smiths in the district until the late 1890's.  Mr. Smith came from Dublin as tutor to Marshall Waller Clifton's sons.

    Historic "Myalup Farm" (C 1920) Some buildings date back to 1853

    Shire of Harvey 1885 - 1995 Proud to be 100 P 80

    Among the pioneers of the coastal side of Harvey from 1844 to 1860 was William Crampton, who took up land at Myalup and Uduc.  The family built two of the homesteads in the Harvey District - Myalup House and the original house behind the present Roselea Farm, near Uduc.

    In 1849, Mr. E. Clarke took up land on the Coast Road and in 1860 bought land at Jardup where he built the brick house, which is still standing.  Jardup has been restored by Mr. & Mrs. G. Morris of Harvey, and opened to the public as an Art Gallery every Sunday.

    In about 1890, James Taylor came to Harvey from Victoria with his wife and children.  He bought Nicklup from Mr. E. Clarke in 1894.  Mr. Taylor carted supplies from Bunbury for the railway construction gang, and was the butcher, baker and grocer.  He also farmed for many years at Nicklup and was famous for his vines, which produced fine wines.

    Mr. Thomas Offer took up land in Benger, then known as Mornington, in 1891.  His family have farmed there ever since.  He was the first to grow potatoes in the Benger Swamp and was a member of the Harvey Road Board for many years.

    In the early 1890's the population of Cookernup was much greater than Harvey.  It had a telegraph office and school several years before Harvey.

    Before 1841 the Harvey District was controlled by the old Wellington Road Board.  The Brunswick Board was gazetted in 1894 and the first election was held on 11th February 1895.  It was not until 1908 that the name was changed to Harvey Road District.

    Print Friendly

    Shire Updates
    14 Aug 2008
    Public Notice Of Council Meetings
    14 Aug 2008
    Four O'clock Reports Available Here
    02 Aug 2008
    Community Safety And Crime Prevention Survey
    Shire Events

    No Events found.

    ADMIN
    Copyright ©2005
    All rights reserved.

    Content, images, comments and links published on this site
    are in no way endorsed by Connect South West Association Inc.

    This site provided by
    mysouthwest.com.au