Old Shed Exhibition in Balingup Latest Exhibition

The current exhibition in the Old Shed in Balingup shines a light into the lives, the hardships endured as well as the contribution made by the early settlers to the establishment of Balingup and the surrounding towns.

The early settlers came by horse and buggy and eventually by train to a community where there was very little infrastructure.

Word had got out that the land in the region was arable and of good quality and those looking for a new start in life arrived in Balingup taking up land for farming, orchard and dairying, and after the World War 1 some were granted land as part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme.

With that came industry and trades, blacksmithing, timber felling, garage service, general store, stage coach, and mining in nearby Greenbushes.

Those early settlers not only cleared and fenced their own land but had to become part of a small community and create a social environment for their families.

Stories on display are of: women having to travel by horse and buggy to Greenbushes or Nannup to deliver their babies or to have a home birth; families having to deal with miscarriages, childhood illness and death; having to bury their children on the properties, various accidents, broken legs and the like, but the stories are always looking ahead to improve their future and that of their children.

Their stories give an insight into how they lived and thrived on isolated properties, a completely different life to the one we live today, but showing, in time, we have come a really long way in a relativity short space in time.

One of those stories is about Charles and Emily Mauger and their arrival in Balingup in 1906.

Charles was held in such high esteem and regard as a Constable of the Parish of St John’s in Jersey, his home town, that on his departure he and Emily were awarded an album and ‘purse’ from the local community to ensure a good start in Australia.

Their eldest son, Charles Jnr, had married Mabel Gaugin just before leaving Jersey and she accompanied him and the rest of the family on the journey to Australia.

Charles, Emily, his seven daughters and three sons and daughter-in-law arrived in West Australia aboard the liner ‘SS Runic’ in 1906. Emily along with their seven daughters and daughter-in-law, remained in Perth for some months while a search for a suitable property in the South West was made by the men folk of the family.

In 1906 a Balingup property belonging to a Mr. T. Waddingham, ‘Allendale’ 4 kms from Balingup on Jay’s Road was decided upon despite a very inadequate house to meet the needs of the large family. There were many problems until extra rooms were added.

‘Allendale’ was most suitable for dairy farming and the nucleus of a fine dairy herd was purchased from a leading breeder of Jersey cattle named ‘Padbury’. The young girls of the family had to help milk the cows, sitting on stools and wearing bonnets. Their milk cans were enormous jugs with handles which they had brought out with them. An orchard was then planted containing a good variety of fruit suitable for marketing and the family made their own apple cider crushed with a machine that they had also bought out with them.

One of the fruits they grew was called a Medlar, an unusual fruit, brown in colour which had to be quite soft before being eaten as well as Pomelos, a large citrus fruit. The family also bought a considerable quantity of their English furniture including a beautiful grandfather clock.

Charles was the first President of Balingup Agricultural Society and became known, for his high standard of quality stock, and the introduction of ‘old-world’ methods of cultivation in many of the departments of farm activity.

He was a judge of Jersey cattle for the Royal Agricultural Society and his judging services were often required at other districts’ Agricultural shows.

Their daughters made a considerable contribution through teaching.

Jessica was an outstanding business woman and teacher, and she married Edgar Woolcott of Perth. They set up the first accounting firm to visit farmers on the land.

Constance Mary was a school teacher at Balingup School and also ran a small private school in Balingup and taught painting.

Ada Eliza was a music teacher who played the piano and sang beautifully.

Maude was a teacher who served in various high schools for many years teaching Domestic Science at Perth Girls School. On retirement she lived in Balingup with her sister Lillian. She did not marry.

Charles Mauger (Sen) died in 1917 and he and Emily are buried in the Greenbushes Cemetery.

The historical display in the old shed is a wonderous insight into the life of our early settlers.