1982 marked the end of an era in Walpole & Districts when the last two manual telelphone exchanges were connected to the subscriber trunk dialling (STD) network. Nornalup was the first to go in April 1982; Jarrah Glen in June 1982. Mrs Kirree Shaw manned the Nornalup exchange for 21… Continue reading
One fateful day in October 1978, the community of Walpole & Districts woke to the news that Tinglewood Homestead, the renowned guest house, had been destroyed by fire. Feelings of shock and disbelief spread throughout the region at this news. The beautiful, historic property on the Deep River was an… Continue reading
The Norwegian barque Mandalay left Delegoa Bay in Africa in 1911 to take on cargo in the Western Australian port of Albany. Good weather favoured the ship and as she sailed gracefully over the Southern Ocean off the south-west corner of the Western Australian coast Captain Emile Tonnessen and his… Continue reading
In June 1929, an event of great significance for the settlers of Nornalup and Walpole and the group settlement areas took place when the first train steamed into the little town of Nornalup. Imagine the initial excitement of the settlers as they watched this link with the outside world steam… Continue reading
What was it like in Walpole before 1934? Life was very difficult for the earliest settlers of Walpole & Districts. They lived in tin shacks surrounded by forest. Many couldn’t cope and walked off their farms hoping to find an easier life elsewhere. 1934 was an important year for those… Continue reading
These pictures were taken at Peaceful Bay during perhaps Walpole & Districts’ original Blessing of the Fleet. Molly Smith can’t believe she didn’t put the date on the back of the photos but thinks this event took place in the 1980s. The service was organised by Peaceful Bay Sea Rescue,… Continue reading
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
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
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
