St Peters Church Eticup
PLAQUE UNVEILED AT ETICUP
Historical Society Commemorates Foundation of Church
Great Southern Herald
Fr4iday 25 June 1954 – P1
Two descendants of early settlers in the Eticup district on Saturday, June 12, unveiled a plaque on a cairn which indicates the spot where the first Anglican Church had been built in the district. They were Mr Horace Tylor, member of the Katanning Branch Historical Society of W.A., and six year-old Tony Nelson, a fifth generation descendant of the Nelson family.
The plague bears the inscription:
— ETICUP —
On this site in 1885 was built
the first Anglican Church in
these districts
This plague was erected by
The Katanning Branch of
The Historical Society of W.A.
June, 1954
The unveiling ceremony was held during a tour of the Broomehill district by 30 members and friends of the Katanning Branch of the Historical Society of W.A. When the party arrived at the spot where a cairn indicates the Eticup Church had been built in 1885, the president of the Katanning branch, Mr C. R. Garstone, said the erection of the cairn was an indication the Society was fulfilling its duty by marking historical sites. He expressed thanks for the excellent work which had been done gratuitously, by Messrs A. Burridge and Bain, and then called on Mr J. F. Hillman to speak on the history of the district.
Mr Hillman said the church, which had now been demolished, had been consecrated by Bishop Parry in 1885. It was used both as Church and school until 1892 when, owing to the building of the Great Southern Railway, the decline of Eticup begun.
After the unveiling ceremony by Mr Tylor and Tony Nelson, the party, under guidance of Mr Norman Beeck, then visited several places of historical interest, including the original home of Thomas Norris and the old Eticup cemetery.
Proceeding to Langwell or, as it is now known “Shiloh College”, the party had tea followed by the usual bi-monthly meeting at which the reading of the monograph “The life of William Henry Graham” was concluded.
After the meeting the party was entertained by Mr Tinsley Beeck who showed films of the Queen’s arrival in Sydney; the life of Albert Namatjira, the aboriginal artist, and a beautiful picture of underwater marine life. Mr Gars tone then expressed sincere appreciation to everyone whose efforts had made the tour such an outstanding success.
On the way to Eticup the party stopped at Fairfield, the home of Mr and Mrs L. Lucas who showed the party over the old home, which was built by William Henry Graham in 1865. Many interesting features of the two storied house and the outbuildings were noted and discussed.
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William Henry Graham
In the 1860’s, William Henry Graham had 10 000 acres with a 40-acre homestead block at Nanamillup. By the 1870s W. H. Graham had added 100 acres next to his homestead block. Graham was frequently called upon to measure other settler’s selections for them. As well as a chain (which others no doubt had) he had circumferentor (an instrument fitted with a compass) which ensured accuracy of angles. However, there is some evidence that in the early days the land was usually remeasured by an Assistant Surveyor. In later years, much of the survey work was done by H.S. Ranford.
St Peters Church Eticup