Charles Piesse Sons. Charles Piesse Sons. Charles Piesse Sons. Charles Piesse Sons. Charles Piesse Sons.
From “The Cyclopedia of Western Australia” 1912/13
PIESSE BROTHERS – Arthur River:
Gerald Austin William Piesse, Vernon Frederick Piesse, and Charles Oxley Piesse.
The three brothers now owning and managing the station all first saw the light in the old homestead, and are therefore natives of the district.
Gerald Austin William Piesse
Gerald Austin William Piesse
The eldest, Mr. G. A. W. Piesse, was born on September 3, 1885. He was educated at the High School, Perth, and at the conclusion of his studies returned to his father’s property, “Tillellan,” near Wagin, where he assisted in the duties of the estate until 1910, when “The Arthur” was transferred to him and his brothers by their parent, since when he has devoted his time and attention to the development of this valuable holding, in which he has been ably assisted by his brothers.
He is a member of the West Arthur Roads Board and gives his support to all organisations for the promotion of clean forms of sport and outdoor athletic exercises. He married in 1909, Ruby Alice, daughter of Mr. George Watson, J.P., a Scotchman who was settled in South Australia for over half a century and for the past decade has been identified with the agricultural industry at Yornaning in this State.
Vernon Frederick Piesse
Vernon Frederick Piesse
The second son of the Hon. C. A. Piesse, Mr. Vernon Frederick Piesse, was born on August 23, 1889, and pursued his scholastic studies at the Guildford Grammar School, afterwards serving a few years in his father’s mercantile office, where, under the able tuition of the manager, Mr. R. Sinclair, he acquired practical clerical knowledge.
Subsequently he followed in the footsteps of his elder brother in his decision to carve out for himself a career in connection with pastoral and agricultural enterprise. He interests himself in military affairs, and holds rank as second lieutenant in C Squadron, 25th Light Horse.
Charles Oxley Piesse
Charles Oxley Piesse
The third, and youngest member of the firm, Mr. Charles Oxley Piesse, was born on April 8, 1891, and since the conclusion of his scholastic course at the Perth High School has been associated with his brothers in the building up of “The Arthur” Estate. He is at present managing the “Tillellan” property on behalf of his firm, they having leased the same from their father.
THE ARTHUR
“The Arthur” is the name by which is known the property owned by Messrs. Piesse Brothers on the Arthur River, where, many years since, under the personal supervision of the Hon. C. A. Piesse, J.P., M.L.C., one of the founders of the old-established firm of F. & C. Piesse, were erected premises for a combined store and dwelling-house, which now forms the homestead occupied by the present proprietors.
At that time “The Arthur” was the district township, and the homestead is situated 18 miles in a westerly direction from Wagin on the Perth to Albany Road and about 124 miles from the metropolis. The property owned by Messrs. Piesse Brothers consists of 20,000 acres in all, that is situated on the Beaufort River, being about 16 miles south-west of “The Arthur” homestead.
The country undulates pleasantly, and at intervals occur the outcrops of granitic rock which are a feature of the district, where also are indigenous numerous varieties of useful timber trees, including jam, York-gum, white-gum, red-gum, sheoak, etc. Both propositions are watercourses having large permanent pools of excellent fresh water. In addition eleven dams have been constructed in suitable spots, thereby completing an excellent water supply.
Originally the whole territory was infested with the noxious poison weed so fatal to stock, but by the unremitting labours of the Hon. C. A. Piesse, this pest has been entirely stamped out and little attention is now necessary to keep the properties free from what has proved so serious a drawback to many an enterprising settler in these regions.
Natural herbage flourishes in great abundance on both the properties, affording excellent feed even on those portions which have only been ringbarked, while the areas which have been cropped compare most favourably with any in the State as grazing pastures. A portion of the country that has been cleared and cultivated is capable of carrying a sheep to the acre, and the Messrs. Piesse Brothers anticipate a great extension in the stock-carrying power of the estate as clearing operations progress.
Of the 20,000 acres fully three-quarters are well adapted to agriculture, and it is probable that with the proper amount of attention the remainder would give good results as a cereal-growing proposition. About 1,500 in the Arthur River district containing 12,000 acres, while a separate holding known as “Riverslea” of about 8,000 acres equally well watered and possess about nine miles of frontage to the respective rivers upon which they are situated, both of these acres are devoted annually to this purpose, and in especial a large amount of oats are cropped, the district being particularly favourable to the production of this cereal.
The entire area is ring-barked and over 6,000 acres, chiefly on the home property, are completely cleared, thus giving scope for cultivation on a fairly large scale on the fallow system which is adopted by the gentlemen under review. Both of the holdings – which are conducted under one management – are protected chiefly with vermin-proof fencing constructed with three barbed wires and netting, while sub-division has been made into numerous paddocks, varying in size from 3,000 acres down to several ten-acre enclosures, made small for the more convenient handling of the sheep.
The fencing costs from £28 to £32 for plain and £38 to £42 for netting per mile, the posts used being cut from the jam timber on the property, and precautions are taken against fire by making it a practice to clear the timber and scrub away for 12 ft. on either side of the fence.
Pride of place is given by Messrs. Piesse Brothers to pastoral operations, sheep-raising being the chief branch of this department of their enterprise. About 12,000 sheep are put to shears annually, and with a lambing average which, taking a fair range of good and bad seasons, is estimated at not less than 85 per cent., this number, notwithstanding heavy drafts which are sent away every year, is easily maintained.
The merino breed predominates in a marked degree, it being the aim of the present firm to continue to build up a first-class type from the flock which was taken over with the property some three or four years back. All but the best stock is now being weeded out, and stud sheep are being imported from the Eastern States, by means of which introduction of superior blood manifest improvement in the flock has taken place.
In 1910, 1,000 stud ewes were obtained from the famous “Booboorowie” flock of South Australia, and pedigreed rams from the same source have been introduced from time to time, while the renowned “Boonoke” strain has also been levied upon from New South Wales. In addition, representatives from local flocks, the reputation of which stands high in the pastoral circles of the State, have been purchased, and there is little doubt that in the near future the “Arthur” sheep will be able to hold their own among any other flocks in Western Australia.
The wool is dispatched to London, and for some time past has commanded top prices for the State, the 1912 clip bringing Is. 2d. per lb. for over 100 bales, while the lambs’ wool brought over Is. per lb. The shearing shed commands the best position in the district and is one of the most prominent landmarks of the pastoral industry on the Perth to Albany route.
It is furnished with eight Wolseley shearing machines, recently installed, the driving power for which is provided by a 64-h.p. Tangye oil engine, and the general outfit and appointments are equal to any shearing shed in Western Australia. It may be mentioned in this connection that besides shearing its own flock the firm of Messrs. Piesse Brothers undertakes this work on contract terms for many of the larger sheep owners in the district.
Tillellan Shearers Quarters – Arthur River
Tillellan Shearing Shed – Arthur River
Tillellan Shearer’s Quarters and Shearing Shed
from Shire of West Arthur Municipal Inventory.
In addition to the shearing shed there are other outbuildings, including excellent shearers’ quarters,which are new and, in every respect, up to date, being built in accordance with the latest designs in vogue for such structures. Stabling is provided for 18 horses, the chaff shed has accommodation for the storage of from 30 to 40 tons of chaff, a good machinery shed shelters the various costly machines in use on the property, and all the etcetera’s necessary to the upkeep of an estate of the kind will be found each in its place.
The homestead, which, as has been mentioned, was built before the town of Wagin was laid out, is in the centre of the large pastoral and sandalwood area extending from the Williams River to Kojonup. It has been altered and renovated in more recent times, and is a comfortable ten-roomed house, with the usual extra offices, etc., into which many modern luxuries have found their way.
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