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- 1928 'Phillips River District
Phillips River District
REMINISCENCES OF R. DUNN
Pioneering Days Discussed
There will shortly be a reunion at the picturesque old Woodburn homestead at the foot of the Porongorups , 25 miles from Albany, when Mr. Robert A. Dunn and his sister arrive from Ravensthorpe, lt is there the couple were brougnt up, and where their eldest brother Mr. William Dunn lives with his family, they have realised their interests at Ravensthorpe, and will now settle locally.
Mr. Dunn settled in the Phillips River district in October, 1872, and with his brothers started sheep farm ing on the banks of the Phillips River. The Phillips River district was always thought a likely looking place for gold, but none payable was found until 1896, when payable gold and copper were found by the Dunn Brothers.
Early Memories.
I carted the first parcel of copper ore to Hopetoun, Mr. Dunn told an interviewer before his departure. We sent it to Wallaroo Smelters for treatment, and it gave a return of 25 per cent, and a little gold. I did all the carting from Hopetoun until after the town started to build.
There is good land here to grow wheat, and there are a good many farmers now on the land, awd there is a large number of blocks taken up some taken up for upwards of two years, and not yet surveyed. Then our Government say this district is fairly treated.
It will be another year before the blocks already taken up are surveyed. It's very aggravating when men take up land and cannot eitiher clear or fence their blocks; no wonder they are talking of giving up their hold ings. Without a good banking account, they can't stand such treatment. [1]
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d. 1875, Porongorup Western Australia