Picture this: It is holiday time in the 1980s and a rural family are looking forward to some time away from farm chores. A telephone call to the Peaceful Bay Caravan Park secured them a camp site but there followed a rather unusual request: Would it be possible for them… Continue reading
With the 28th Pioneer Cup 2015 recently notched up at the Walpole Country Club, it would seem to be a good time to look back at the early days of planning a golf course. Three attempts were made in 1959, 1961, and 1963 to form a golf club with little… Continue reading
Memories by James A “Jim” Clarke, the eldest son of 1930s scheme settlers Edwin and Ida, is out now at the Walpole Community Resource Centre (CRC). An attempt to record his life story, Memories does not follow any chronological order; rather it is written “as I remember events”. “I have… Continue reading
Mike Murphy has returned to Perth after 16 years living in Crystal Springs. In 1995 the Perth-based journalist bought land at Crystal Springs. He and his wife Penney were regular visitors until 1999 when Mike retired and they moved to the area. With a rammed earth house completed on their… Continue reading
The building of the 34-mile (55 km) stretch of line from Denmark to Nornalup presented many difficulties. Manpower was no problem as the depression had just begun. Group settlers formed some of the workforce due to a need to supplement their farm income. The work was hard; deep gullies had… Continue reading
The Pioneer Cup, Walpole’s premier golfing event held at the Walpole Country Club, is much-anticipated on the golfing calendar. A famous incident took place probably in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s and the main character in the scenario was the late Bill Pearce. Picture this: Bill was coming up… Continue reading
One morning in mid-October 1975, Peaceful Bay residents awoke to the news that the 224-tonne Japanese tuna boat, the ‘Koshin Maru No. 1’, had run aground east of Irwin Inlet. There was an air of intrigue and mystery surrounding the ship right from the start as the crew of 20… Continue reading
As one travels down Rest Point Road, an intriguing sign captures the interest; “Saw Pit”. Walk down a short track and find only the second restored saw pit in WA. The first is in the Brockman Forest. The restoration of the saw pit here in Walpole took place in July… Continue reading
In February 1937 a raging bushfire fanned by gale force winds swept with fierce intensity through the Denmark district and westwards through acres of forest and farmland. At the same time the Manjimup district suffered severe losses and irrecoverable damage. Fires in both districts created destruction, tragedy and hardship. Fires… Continue reading
For a peaceable type who speaks with a quiet drawl and gazes with slow wonder at the world around him, you wouldn’t pick Paul Minchin for being a warrior. But modern-way warrior he is, and the target of his ire is the mountain of waste that spills onto urban verges… Continue reading
