| Name |
Walter Pearce |
| Nickname |
Wattie, Watty |
| Birth |
1865 |
| Gender |
Male |
 Droving |
1 Jun 1909 |
Mulga Downs station Western Australia  |
| One thousand cattle have left Mulga Downs for The Murchison in two lots, in charge of Drovers McCarthy and Pierce respectively. |
| Droving |
3 Aug 1911 |
Minginew Western Australia |
North West Stock
3000 ewes and wethers in wool, in charge Drover W. Pierce, delivery Mingenew during August. |
| Droving |
20 Nov 1913 |
Roy Hill Station Western Australia |
ROY HILL TO CUE STOCK ROUTE. DROVER'S REPORT.
In a recent issue reference was made to the state of the wells along the stock route from Roy Hill to Cue. The following is a report supplied by Drover Wattie Pierce, who has just come over the track with cattle : —
From Roy Hill to No. 15 well (17 miles distance) there is a good supply. At No. 14 well (15 miles) there is a supply sufficient to water 300 cattle; No. 13 (24 miles) no supply, and a well is badly needed between these two wells. At No. 12 (12 miles) the supply is good, and at No. 11 (15 miles further on) the well is 90 feet deep but the supply is poor. On wells No. 10A (17 miles) and No. 10 (17 miles), the former wants more storage and the latter has no gear on the well and gives a poor supply. No. 9 (16 miles) is good, but at No. 8 (15 miles) the water is unfit for stock and the troughs are all broken, and the well in a bad state.
At No. 7 (17 miles) and No. 6 (17) the supply at both is good, but the troughing is eaten away and practically useless. No. 5 (16 miles) the supply wants strengthening. From No 5(Baid Hill) to No. 5 the distance is 38 miles and no water between these stages. A bore was at some time put down near Jiboon Pool, about midway between the two wells, but the well was only put down, to 20ft and left unfinished. This well should be sunk further to split this dry stage.
Jiboon Pool is dry. From No. 5 to No. -1 is 17 miles and to No. 3 (18 miles), No. 2 (10 miles). No. 1 (14 miles). All these wells are in bad order and considered too far apart. From No.1 well to Bulloon Pool is a 16 mile stage. From here to the first well is 14 miles and described by drovers as a trap to them. To the next well, 15 miles nearer to Meekathara the supply is stated to be worse than the preceding well.
The third well gives a good supply and is 90 ft deep. That is practically another 29 mile dry stage. From the last mentioned well there is no stock well for 34 miles, and drovers have to depend on squatters for the water they require. From No. 1 to Cue 19 26 miles and there is no stock well.
It might be mentioned here that the Water Supply Department have secured Moreton's well (about, 3 miles out of Cue) for stock watering purposes. This will be a great benefit to stockmen, as the cattle can be held in the locality until trucking. |
| Droving |
13 Jun 1914 |
Winning Pool Western Australia |
| DROVER WITH PLANT would like to hear of any stock to be lilted. Address- WATTY PIERCE, Winning Pool. |
| Droving |
8 Jan 1916 |
Cue Western Australia [1] |
PASTORAL NOTES.
Drovers Watty Pearce and Martin Bourgoin arrived at Cue last Sunday with a fine mob of cattle from Mt. Clear station in the north-west. The trip down was successful as was evinced by the splendid condition of the cattle, which were trucked to Dalgety and Co Fremantle, on Sunday night.
The drovers reported that the wells at Marlabumba and the 26-mile were not in good order, the troughing at the latter being washed away by flood waters.
The Water Supply Department at Day Dawn was informed of these facts, and Mr. Keene, the officer-in-charge, informs us that a repairing gang was sent out on Thursday to make the necessary repairs and following mobs will find the conveniences at the wells on this route in good order. Only a portion of the above mob was sent on to the market (about 150), the balance are at present grazing on Messrs. Clarkson Bros, run, near Cue. |
| Mining |
18 Apr 1919 |
Meekatharra Western Australia |
BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE. LEAVE FOR THE NORTH WEST.
Where are the boys of the old- brigade ? is a question that is often asked nowadays in the ruining world. They are the men who cut the track for those of whom a great many now sit in Luxury and refuse to help the prospector on his way who afterwards followed in their trail they are the men who risked life and limb in opening up the gold-fields of this vast State.
Many of them are to be found in different parts of West Australia today, but not all engaged in "chasing the weight." Owing to the fact that some of them could not meet with assistance from the proper quarter to do further pioneering in mining they have been forced to follow other means of livelihood.
On Sunday three of the " old timers" left Meekatharra with a turnout for the North-West mineral country, which they intend to thoroughly prospect. The party consists of Bill Grant, Fred Bowen and Watty Pierce all genuine prospectors. Bill Grant was on the Murchison when mining in W.A. was in its embryonic state, being in Nannine in 91. He did a lot of gold hunting there with varying results.
Fred Bowen is another very old Murchisonite. He was on Bayley's Island in 92 and afterwards at Mt. Magnet. Fred was one of the first at Black Range when alluvial was reported there and has been engaged in mining in other parts.
Watty Pierce Is an Eastern Goldfields pioneer, having arrived on the scene early at Lawlers and Lake Darlot. When things got quiet in the mining line in those parts, he took on droving for some considerable time, until the other day he decided to get back to the "old game" again, hence his trip to the north. The party has our wishes for the best of luck, as it is a new venture in many respects. Hats off to the " boys of the old brigade." |
| Mining |
18 Jul 1919 |
Meekatharra Western Australia |
| During, their trip north-west of this field Bill Grant, Watty Pierce and Fred Bdwen located a big lode of copper ore of good value. The find is a considerable distance from here, but nevertheless it may be heard of in the near future. The gold met with by the party was of very low value. |
| Droving |
6 Aug 1919 |
Munarra Station Western Australia |
Drover Watty Pierce arrived in Meekatharra on Tuesday with a mob of 400 cattle from Munarra Station. They were trained from Meekatharra on Wednesday
afternoon. |
| Droving |
16 Oct 1921 |
Perth Western Australia |
| Two of W.A.'s champion stockmen Watty Pierce and Fred Merry, are in Perth on business. Their hours are Billy Flynn's between a.m. and p.m |
| Droving |
4 Nov 1921 |
Webb's Patch station Western Australia [2] |
| Messrs. T. Merry and Wattie Pearce, the well-known drivers, set out from-Webb's Patch station last week to lift about 250 horses for Messrs. Clarkson Bros from their run near Darlot and Leonora, to take through to the North-West |
| Droving |
10 Sep 1924 |
Cobra Station |
| Drover Watty Pierce lifted about 500 sheep at Cobra for Merlinleigh |
| Droving |
21 May 1926 |
Perth Western Australia [3] |
| Nor wester Watty Pierce ls In town after a long overland. |
| Death |
19 Jun 1928 |
Port Headland Western Australia [4] |
- Passed out at Port Hedland, in the middle of June, Watty Pearce, one of tho best known stockmen of the Nor West and North of this State.
Watty will be remembered as a tall Well-set up man for his. years (he was close on seventy when he heard the last cooee), blue-eyed, breezy, and full of the milk of human kindness.
He was always a favourite, no matter in what company be found himself. Straight-going in all his dealings with men and women, white or black he could always go back to where he had been before and could travel parts of the country peopled only with semi wild blacks who would not allow more than one white man In a hundred to do so.
Watty Pearce's reputation amongst, all classes, creeds and colors making him. immune from the majority of what other men would encounter if they left the beaten track. There is scarcely a district, plain, mountain, river, lagoon, gulf, bay or camp in the whole of Nor Western and Northern Australia that was not intimately known, to W.P., nor was there a prominent squatter, stockman, overlander, storekeeper or' Government official unknown to him.
Welcome being stencilled for him on every door mat, verandah, bungalow, path, station gate, camp site 'and home hand rails. When in Perth "Watty" was a tremendous favourite with all classes, his tastes, as a confirmed bachelor, mostly running to theatre parties, crayfish suppers, prawn swarries, afternoon teas and more-or-less matinees.
His delight when down for one of his very much needed spells was to take out to the theatres, picture shows, etc, not the hotel star barmaids but the cooks, the housemaids, the waitresses and others who had not at other times a chance, of occupying the best seats in tho best show houses
"Watty" "Pearce lived and died, a good, resolute white man and a. brother, and left behind him a multitude, of sorrowing friends.
|
| Person ID |
I441 |
Drovers |
| Last Modified |
24 Mar 2024 |
1865 - 1928 (63 years)
