BROOMEHILL NEWS

Broomehill News

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There are many aspects that make up the fabric of a community and Broomehill is no different to any other town in that respect. It is the people, the places, and the events over many years that make a town and community what it is today.

In this segment I will be adding interesting reports from various newspapers over the years that don’t fit in any particular category. You will see some reports with a long list of names at the end of it. Why have I included them? Because generally they are the people who pioneered your district and town and it gives today’s readers an opportunity to see what their ancestors were up to.

NOTE: Broomehill was originally named Broome Hill

This page will be updated regularly so do come back
and see what has been added.

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SETTLEMENT AT BROOMEHILL

Great Southern Herald
12 August 1905 – P3

The Lands Department has received the following report from the agent at Broomehill. A great deal of fresh land has been divested of its timber, ready for the plough. By the end of last month all the creeks were running strong, and farmers since have been crying out that the land is too boggy to do anything with.

I am sorry to say that the same state of things still continues, and the result is that not nearly as much land will be under crop in this district this year as was the case last year. All the old settlers declare that it is one of the wettest and earliest seasons experienced for years. Although I am personally sorry for the new selectors, it may benefit them in the end. It will, anyway, open their eyes to the many advantages to be gained by having as much land in fallow as possible ready for next season’s cropping, which, if well worked up in summer, may be sown in April or early in May, thereby ensuring a strong and vigorous growth before the cold weather sets in. 1 hope to see a much bigger quantity fallowed up this year ready for  next year’s early sowing.

This has been a splendid season from a grazier’s point of view, rain coming early, with mild, warm weather. A splendid growth of grass soon made its appearance, with the result that before lambing set in the ewes were in very fair trim and a good lambing has been the result. The wool, also, will be in much better and stronger condition at shearing time than is generally the case. I am pleased to say that settlers are turning their attention more to grazing now than in the past, the high price of both wool and meat convincing them that there is less work and more profit in it than confining themselves purely to wheat-growing.

Many miles of netting fencing are going up, this being the only fence that seems to resist the dingo, who has made his presence felt in many quarters lately with sad havoc to the flocks visited. As many as 30 lambs have been killed in one night.

Things generally are very quiet, this being the quiet time of the year. The mallet bark industry, which gave employment to hundreds of men and teams this time last year, is not at present moving with much spirit. It may, however, do so later on.

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BROOMEHILL POLO BALL

Great Southern Herald
5 September 1928

Many wonderful balls have been held by the Broomehill Polo Club, but it is doubtful if any has been more enjoyable than the brilliant function which took place on Thursday last, August 30th, in the newly renovated Broomehill Hall. There was a delightful air of informality about the dance which made it particularly jolly, and everybody managed to have a gay time.

Special attention was given to the decorations. Groupings of tall spiked paper hollyhocks, reminiscent of an English cottage garden, were at each end of the ballroom, whilst radiating from a central canopy were the club’s colours, red and white. The music was irresistible, and a delicious supper was served from tables gaily dressed with a profusion of Iceland poppies. After supper favours were distributed, comprising weird and grotesque masks and caps, and the efforts to sustain the character impersonated caused much merriment.

In charge of affairs, and to whose credit must be placed the successful organisation of the ball, were Mesdames G. L. Hardie, W. E. Rischbeith, W. Stewart, N. Anderson, C. E. Cockram, J. G. Stephens, Miss Gwen Hardie, and Messrs. N. Anderson, W. Stewart, C. E. Cockram, Archie Hardie and J. G. Stephens, who ably carried out the secretarial duties.

Mr. G. L. Hardie, president of the club, and Mrs. Hardie welcomed the guests at the entrance of the hall, under an archway of crossed polo sticks, Mrs. Hardie being gowned to advantage in black georgette beaded with silver. She held an old-world posy of wall-flowers and primroses.

Lovely tracking was a feature of the ball, amongst those noticed being:
Mrs. W. Stewart, handsome silver frock on princess lines, showing a hem of gold; Mrs. M. Anderson, old world frock with petals, of shaded mauve, set off by a tulle bow at side; Mrs. J. G. Stephens, powder-blue beaded georgette; Mrs. C. E. Cockram, lemon georgette sewn with crystal; Mrs. W. B. Rischbeith, oriental georgette; Miss Gwen Hardie, cherry georgette adorned with silver lace; Mrs. T. Anderson, graceful frock of black and white georgette; Mrs. F. O. Gare, eau-de-nil georgette studded with beads; Mrs. E. C. Pope, gold satin with overdress of maroon lace; Mrs. F. S. Thompson, black georgette with handsome embroidered shawl; Miss Doris Thompson, apricot crepe-de-chine; Mrs. L. C. Rae, graceful peacock frock in biscuit coloured lace;

Mrs. R. Standford-Bluntish, handsome frock of cerise velvet; Miss Nell Stewart, dainty frock of phlox-pink georgette sewn with crystal beads; Mrs. V. Cockram, black panne velvet touched with gold lace and bow; Mrs. H. V. Piesse, black georgette studded with rhinestones; Mrs. J. H. Calman, overdress of black lace with rose pink foundation; Mrs. B. Burnside, black satin with lace overdress; Mrs. D. Murray, blue georgette with panels of lace; Mrs. Morrell, white beaded georgette; Mrs. E. N. Bateman, blue crepe-de-chine with oriental fringe; Mrs. Allardyce, black georgette; Mrs. T. Clune, lemon georgette; Mrs. E. E. Ball, black georgette; Mrs. J. P. Hillman, blade crepe-de-chine; Mrs. L Tuckett, green georgette scattered with tiny pink rosebuds;

Mrs. Formby, blade georgette; Miss Joyce Formby, dainty frock in shrimp georgette; Mrs. George House, black satin with handsome shawl; Miss Kitty House, early Victorian frock of floral pink taffeta; Miss Enid House, lemon taffeta with hemline of net; Miss W. Bostock, coral beaded georgette; Mrs P. C. Wingrove, jade-green georgette powdered with beads; Mrs. E. N. Walker, powder-blue georgette with uneven hemline and diamanté buckle; Mrs. R. Scott, effective black lace frock with uneven hemline; Mrs. G. Anderson, dainty black lace frock relieved with red rose; Mrs. A. D. Smith, russet coloured georgette adorned with opalescent beads; Mrs. Hedley Anderson, black georgette; Miss Agnes Anderson, autumn-tinted lace touched with silver;

Miss. Muriel Anderson, blade georgette; Miss M. Rooney, flame-coloured crepe-de chine Miss. M. Grover, chenille georgette with rose embroideries; Miss M. Wilson, pale pink beaded georgette; Miss Bennecke, blush-pink georgette embroidered with roses; Miss Faith Davis, rose-pink georgette; Miss Girlie Charsley, amethyst tinted oriental lace; Miss Jean Anderson, gold taffeta draped with lace; Miss Jean Leggoe, black georgette over rose-pink; Miss. Dreyer, French-blue beaded georgette; Mrs. I. Synnott, blue satin and georgette, set off with diamanté buckle; Mrs. I. Lockwood. cinnamon georgette heavily beaded; Mrs. E. W. Summers (Rangoon), Parisian gown in white beaded georgette, with side draperies;

Miss Mary Richardson, beautifully beaded delphinium blue georgette touched with silver; Miss Margaret Richardson, dainty mauve crepe-de-chine with vandycked hemline; Mrs. T. Wellard. cherry georgette with tiny side frills; Mrs. R. B. Davies, pervenche-blue beaded georgette; Mrs. N. Davis, gold satin with touches of fur; Mrs. P. C. Wickham, dainty frock of blue georgette splashed with silver beads; Mrs. A. R. Ladyman, handsome black beaded georgette; Mrs. R. Norrish, graceful frock of silver lame; Mrs. R. M. Ladyman, blue georgette studded with brilliant; Miss Dorothy Treleaven, old gold lace set off with oriental beads; Miss. Ena Cockram, old-world frock of black taffeta with baskets of roses adorning the bouffant skirt; Miss. Brownie Carroll, black lace fashioned with uneven hemline;

Miss Hutchinson, fawn embossed georgette; Mrs. I. B. Roberts, black satin relieved with white; Mrs. A. A. Guy, dainty frock of pink georgette with cream lace overdress; Mrs Bickford, black georgette embroidered with gold beads; Miss Audrey McDonald, smart black and silver georgette; Miss. Edith Sheridan, silver brocaded bodice with tiered skirt of georgette relieved with red rose; Miss Sadie Hassell, dainty frock of pale blue crepe-de-chine; Miss Alison Hardie, green beaded georgette with black hemline; Miss. Gladys Hardie, blush-rose sequined georgette with uneven hemline; Miss Louden, purple georgette; Miss Jean Louden, black taffeta; Mrs. J. C. Richardson, black georgette; Mrs. Newcombe, green crepe-de-chine with an over dress of fine lace.

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CHARLES CUP (POLO)

From the West Australian Polo Association Website

(1927) The Charles Cup is Western Australia’s premier polo cup. The beautiful silver current cup is actually the third cup donated by Joseph Charles esq. Joseph Charles presented the first cup many years prior with the proviso that should the cup be won for three years in succession by the same team then that team would win the cup outright. On two occasions this phenomenon was achieved and both times by the then famous Broomehill Polo Club. On the second occasions the team as captained for the three years by the late Edgar Richardson. It was only after these events that Joseph Charles who was not only an extremely staunch supporter of polo in WA, but also President of the WA Polo Association, presented the third Charles Cup in 1929. The cup was presented as a perpetual cup to be played for in WA and stipulated to be played from scratch, (no handicap advantage). The hand beaten figure on the sterling silver masterpiece is from an actual match photograph taken from a contest between teams from Broomehill and Mingenew.

Broomehill Team: Bob Louden, Ivor Roberts, Edgar Richardson (C), Bernard House
Mingenew team: Reg Percy, Charlie Readhead, Colonel Irwin Burges, Harold Readhead
It is worthy to note that the majority of the players mentioned were ex members of the celebrated 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

NOTE: Despite the report above, the only members I could find as being part of the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment were
Colonel Irwin Burges who was actually Lieutenant Irwin Burgess and Edgar Frank Richardson.
Robert (Bob) Louden was a driver with the 5th A.M.T.S.. I can find no other war records to confirm the above statement. (ed.)

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FIRST BROOME HILL AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Western Mail
21 November, 1891

The first annual show of the Broome Hill Agricultural, Horticultural, and Pastoral Society was held on November 12^th at Broome Hill. The show was a great success, and, in spite of the exceedingly hot weather, the town was thronged with visitors from the surrounding country and about 200 people arrived at Broome Hill by train from Albany.

The exhibits on the whole were good. In the sheep section there was a fair number of exhibits. Horses were exceedingly good, especially in the draught class. There were six entries for the best team of four horses in wagon harness, and the judges had considerable difficulty in awarding the prize.

There were not many entries for cattle and the poultry was inferior. Farm produce was good and there was a good selection of vegetables and cut flowers.

In the implement and agricultural machinery section R. S. Climie & Co. took most of the prizes, including the prize for the best collection. Messrs. F. & C. Piesse’s exhibits of aerated waters and cordials also deserve special mention. This firm sent 800 dozen bottles of their cordials, etc, to the show and sold the whole lot. In the evening Fitzgerald’s Circus performed to a crowded house, 982 people paying for admission.

Reported as Broome Hill as that was it’s name at the time (ed.)

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BROOME HILL TO ONGERUP

An interesting article from Perth’s Western Mail newspaper dated 10 November, 1914. It reports on the state of agriculture between Broome Hill and Ongerup during that time.
Read the story HERE

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FATAL ACCIDENT AT BROOME HILL.

A POLICE CONSTABLE KILLED.

The Inquirer and Commercial News
2 August, 1895

[By Telegraph.]
Broome Hill, July 28.
A sad accident occurred here this (Sunday) morning. Police Constable Nicholson, whilst out riding and exercising his horse on the road between Eticup and Broome Hill was killed. It is supposed that he must have struck his head against the overhanging branch of a tree. The deceased officer was a general favorite, and much respected. Great sympathy is felt for his wife and three children.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT BROOMEHILL.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
A DANGEROUS HORSE.

West Australian
30 July, 1895

By Telegraph
(From our correspondent.)

BROOMEHILL, July 29.
At an inquest held today by the Resident Magistrate and a jury, on the body of P.O.Nicholson, who was killed yesterday, a verdict was returned that deceased came by his death through his horse running him against the branch of a tree. The jury added a rider to their verdict to the effect that the animal was a dangerous one and should not have been employed in the service.

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FIRE AT BROOMEHILL.

A STORE BURNT TO THE GROUND.
NOTHING SAVED EXCEPT THE BOOKS.

West Australian
23 October, 1893

By Telegraph
(From our Correspondent).

BROOMEHILL, October 22.
Mr. R. T. Krakouer’s general store has been burnt to the ground. Nothing has been saved except the books, and these were nearly burnt through being kept in a bad safe. The latter entirely collapsed. The material of the sides was only galvanized iron. Colonial ovens are made of bettor material. The fire was first discovered about half-past one a.m., and it had then gained too much headway to allow of anything being saved but the books. The place is supposed to be insured in the Union Insurance Company.

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TRAGEDY AT BROOMEHILL

Young Man Entangled in Combine

Great Southern Herald
24 April, 1940

It was reported to the Katanning Police on Monday morning that the body of Leslie James Townsend, 26, single, a farmhand employed by F.S. Thompson & Co., Broomehill, had been found dead in a paddock where he had been operating a combine.

The deceased left the homestead early in the morning with a five-horse team, and at 10.30 a.m., one horse returned to the stables. Mr. D. G. Usher, Manager, went to investigate, and found that the combine had been dragged 350 yards across the paddock and had come to a stop with Townsend lying entangled in the mechanism, and one of the horses from the team dead underneath the combine.

It appears that the deceased was filling the seed box from a cart drawn up alongside the machine when he slipped and startled the horses. Throughout the dash across the paddock Townsend’s body never touched the ground at all, and he was terribly mutilated. The doctor who went down to the scene of the accident expressed the opinion that death had been instantaneous. The coroner has been notified.

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SMASH NEAR BROOMEHILL

Three Vehicles Involved.

West Australian
20 February 1939 – P18

KATANNING, Feb. 19. An unusual accident occurred a mile from Broomehill, on the Broomehill-Katanning Road, at 9 o’clock last night, when a utility truck being driven towards Katanning by H. Haddleton, of Katanning, and carrying as passengers Phillip Tanner and Phil Morrison, collided with a utility truck being driven towards Broomehill by L. Gairen, of Katanning, and carrying as passengers James Hoddel and Misses Sadie Roberts, Betty Johns and three other women, whose names are unknown, all of Katanning.

After the collision, Gairen’s vehicle continued on for 30ft. and then turned over on its side. The only person injured was Phillip Tanner, who was taken to the Katanning Hospital by Mr. Morris Blake, of Katanning, who was travelling a short distance behind Gairen, where he was admitted for treatment suffering from head injuries.

About ten minutes later a heavy sedan car being driven towards Broomehill by Harry Harper, of Katanning, and carrying as passengers Jack Poole, J. Maloney and A. S. Thompson, all of Katanning, collided with the other vehicles, which were still on the road. The front and rear left side of Harper’s vehicle was badly damaged. The car finally came to rest with the rear right wheel resting on the rear left wheel of Haddleton’s utility truck, which was turned round facing the way it had come by the second impact.

Poole and Maloney were injured and taken to the Katanning Hospital where they were admitted for treatment suffering from a bruised leg and lacerated nose, respectively.

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OBITUARY

Great Southern Herald
27 April, 1940

The Late Leslie James Townsend

His friends in the Broomehill and Katanning district were grieved to learn of the tragic death of Leslie James Townsend, who died as the result of injuries received on the property of Mrs. F S. Thompson, Broomehill, on Monday April 22, when he was thrown into the works of a combine, the horses of which had bolted.

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, April 23rd, the cortege moving from the Presbyterian Church Broomehill, after a short service, to the place of interment the Presbyterian portion of the Broomehill Cemetery. The last rites of the Church were administered by the Rev. E. F. Greenfield, funeral arrangements being in the hands of Messrs. C. E. Courtis and Co. of Katanning.

The duties of pall bearers were carried out by the following: Messrs. W. Usher, D. G. Usher, F. McGuire, G Dowling, J. Darcy, S. Potter. Chief mourners at the graveside were Messrs. Harry and Reg Townsend (brothers) Mrs. H. Townsend (sister-in-law); Mr. F. H. Townsend, (uncle) and Messrs. J. and A. Wornum (cousins).

Amongst those gathered at the graveside were the following:
Messrs. R. Anderson; B, Batchlor; A. Batchlor; C. Burridge; H, Craig; T.J. Clune (representing P. and C. Association); R. Clayton; J, F. Darcy; G. Dowling; G. Green, senr; W. J. J. Green; L. M. Gilbert; L. M. Gilbert junr; H. Hall; A. Holzkneckt; J. F. Hillman; A. T. Hillman; T. Johnson; F. E. Jones; O. P. McGuire; T. Miley; F. McGuire; E. Moir; T. J. McGuire; J. Miley; S. Moir; H. Priest; S. Potter; W. Royce; S. A. Robinson; A. T. Reid; J. Stubbs; R. S. Tindale; Don Usher Jnr; W. Usher; D. G. Usher, (representing F. S. Thompson and Co.); J. Watts; Roy Whitton; Mr. and Misses Fowles: Mr. and Mrs. Wes Jones; Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Newbey; Mr. and Mrs. J. K, Newbey; Miss Graham.

Floral emblems were received from the following:
Mum, Dad, Harry and Reg Townsend; Broomehill Football Club; Austral Football Club, Katanning; Aunt Hattie and family; Geoff, Len and Rae; Violet, Jack and family; Don and Phyllis; Roy, Kathie and family; Wes, Ellen and family; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hillman; Mrs. T. Norrish snr; Mrs. Forsyth and Joan; Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Thompson and Jack, and Jack Garrity; Mr. and Mrs. Williams and family; Mrs. Darcy and Eileen; Mr. and Mrs. Greenslade and family; G. Dowling; Mr. and Mrs. N. Potter and Les Whelton; Ciss and Henry Richardson, Margie and Dudley; Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Gilbert and family; Mr. and Mrs. Wolf and family;

Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor snr and Esme; Mr. & Mrs. E. Edwardes and family; Mr. and Mrs. Burridge and Cyril; Mrs. Newby and Reggie; Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Newbey; Mr. and Mrs. J. Watts; W. Usher; Mabel and Gordon Beeck; Mr. and Mrs. Moir, Tom and Syd; Mr. and Mrs. J. Hall, Hamish and Peter; Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Newbey; Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and Betty; Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Meyn and family; Mr. and Mrs. H, Craig; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McGuire; A. L. Radbourne and family; Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Usher snr; Mrs. Jones, Doff and Sheila; Sid and May Potter and boys; and others.

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