"Charlie" Charles William John TURNER
Born 18 October 1886 in Fremantle, Western Australia [P96]
Son of William Hamilton TURNER and Ellen Eliza LANGLEY [15]
Grazier of Mt Wittenoon Station at Yalgoo in the Murchison 1908-1916 [P11] [61]
Resided on Mt Wittenoon Station with his father and siblings Percy, Rob, Syd, Harry, Doris, May and Alf [P96]
His brother Percy enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 and was Killed in Action in Belgium on 12 June 1917 [94]
Mt Wittenoon Station's pastoral leases which were held in the names of himself, his brother Harry and their father [61]
Their leases for the station included Crown Pastoral Leases 488/96 and 1329/96 [61]
After purchasing farmland in Carnamah he left Mt Wittenoon Station, with his brother Harry continuing with the station [P11]
Married Clara Rose PROCKTOR nee COX in 1916 [66]
Travelled from Perth to Carnamah by train on 6 March 1916 to inspect the farms the Midland Railway Company had for sale [34]
He was shown the farms in Carnamah by Robert L. GILBERT before returning to Perth by train on 10 March 1916 [34]
On 5 May 1916 purchased 794 acres of farmland in Carnamah from the Midland Railway Company for £3650 [27]
The 794 acres consisted of Lots M954 and M955 of Victoria Locations 1934 and 1936, and was payable by instalments [27]
Due to being severely overpriced the total cost of his farm was later reduced from £3650 down to £2190 [27]
He named the farm Karragee which is believed to have been a word meaning water [P96]
The Midland Railway Company employed the services of Mr STEAD and had a house erected for him on Lot M955 [34]
Farmer of Karragee Farm in Carnamah 1916-1956 [44] [19]
The Midland Railway Company planted and harvested his first crop in 1916, which amounted to 516 acres [34]
His farm on occupation was supposed to have had scrub cut, a fence around the house and its stables erected [34]
He cut the scrub, erected the fence and the stables on his farm and was paid £67/12/- by the Midland Railway Co for doing so [34]
During his second season on the farm, in 1917, he grew 300 acres of wheat crop [10: 19-Jun-1917]
On purchase the farm came with a large dam near the front gate, which later went salty and was filled in [P96]
Later obtained water for livestock from dams along a creek line, however they eventually went salty as well [P96]
Member of the Winchester-Carnamah branch of the Farmers & Settlers' Association in 1917 [34]
Signed the petition and financial guarantee in 1917 for the Midland Railway Company to provide a resident doctor at Three Springs [34]
Purchased some of his general supplies from general store "The Supply Stores" in Yarra Street, Carnamah in 1917 [92]
In addition to farming, he was also a Butcher in Carnamah in 1917 and 1918 [6]
Had a cutting cart which he brought from his farm into Carnamah town loaded with meat which he sold off the cart [7: page 144]
Also delivered meat to people using the cart and in addition to meat also sold sausages which he made himself [P96]
His carting was disrupted for a time in 1917 after he broke his collarbone on Saturday 3 March 1917 [9: 9-Mar-1917]
On 10 February 1920 extended his farm with the purchase of an adjoining 660 acres of virgin land from the Midland Railway Co [27]
The 660 acres was Lot M1256 of Victoria Location 1934 and 1936 and came at a cost of £313 [27]
Attended the Picnic Race Meeting & Agricultural Show in Carnamah on Thursday 22 September 1921 [9: 30-Sep-1921]
Exhibited, winning 1st prizes for Early Cabbage and Lettuce and receiving 2nd prizes for Peas and Chaff [9]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
Member of the Carnamah Race Club 1924-1932 [10: 17-Apr-1924] [9: 8-Apr-1927] [4: 12-Mar-1932]
He was the Carnamah Race Club's Starter in 1924, Vice President in 1927 and again Starter in 1932 [4] [9] [10]
Served on the Carnamah District Road Board representing the Carnamah/Central Ward in 1925 [9: 24-Apr-1925, 1-May-1925]
Obtained the telephone at his home on Karragee Farm in 1925 - was telephone number Carnamah-11S [60]
Financially assisted his brother Sydney L. TURNER in obtaining farmland in Carnamah in 1925 [P96]
Also aided his brother Syd with a tractor and other such items and helped him begin clearing his land [P96]
Exhibited in the Sheep section of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1925 [9: 15-Oct-1926]
Won 1st prizes for Best Merino Ewe (strong wool), Best Merino Ewe (medium wool) and for Fat Merino Lamb [9]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball held at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
Won 2nd prize for Carrots in the Vegetable section of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1929 [4: 28-Sep-1929]
Sold four bales of wool through Westralian Farmers on 18 October 1929 - three at 12¼d. and one at 11½d. per pound [4: 19-Oct-1929]
In the Sheep section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1930 he was awarded 2nd prize for Three Fat Lambs [4: 27-Sep-1930]
Attended the funeral of "Father of Carnamah" Donald MACPHERSON at the Winchester Cemetery on 14 August 1931 [4: 22-Aug-1931]
Committee Member 1931-1934 & Vice President 1933-1934 of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society [4: 25-Apr-1931] [5: 17-Nov-1933] [13]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Mrs Jane ROBERTSON at the Winchester Cemetery on 15 May 1932 [4]
Made a donation to the Carnamah branch of the Country Women's Association in 1932 to help them purchase premises [5: 29-Jul-1932]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Carnamah Road Board chairman Richard ROBERTSON on 9 July 1932 at the Winchester Cemetery [4]
In 1932 was the owner of a Essex car with license plate CA-384 [4: 12-Nov-1932]
During the year 1932 had a new house built out of stone next to the existing house on Karragee Farm [P96]
In September 1932 spent a short period as an inmate of the Carnamah Private Hospital at 14 Boojerabba Street [5: 9-Sep-1932]
Won 1st prize for Shorn Fat Wethers in the Sheep section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1932 [5: 23-Sep-1932]
On 9 February 1933 attended the meeting in Carnamah at which Federal Member A. E. GREEN, M.H.R. was entertained [5: 17-Feb-1933]
Ringmaster at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show at Centenary Park, Carnamah on 14 September 1933 [13]
Also entered exhibits in the Horse and Sheep sections of the Carnamah Agricultural Show, winning one 1st and two 2nd prizes [5]
Won 1st prize for Draught Gelding or Filly and 2nd prizes for Border Leicester Ram and Three Crossbred Ewes [5: 22-Sep-1933]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Robert Clark FORRESTER at the Winchester Cemetery on 18 September 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
Purchased four good Border Leicester rams from Leslie KEAMY of Watheroo in October 1933 [5: 10-Nov-1933]
Committee Member, Vice President and Ringmaster of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society and their Show in 1934 [5: 17-Nov-1933]
The local newspaper reported on 27 April 1934 that there was a parcel for him at the Carnamah Railway Station [5: 27-Apr-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Sold 392 sheep through nine consignments to the Midland Market between July 1935 and October 1935 [5: 26-Jul-1935]
Each consignment was of around 43 sheep and was sold through Westralian Farmers Ltd or Elder Smith & Co Ltd [5: 26-Jul-1935]
The 392 sheep consisted of 51 shorn ewes (1 at 7/-, 50 at 5/4 per head), 10 ewes (9 at 13/1, 1 at 9/-), 2 lambs at 14/10, [5]
and 329 suckers (31 at 20/5, 5 at 19/7, 36 at 18/10, 66 at 18/4, 45 at 18/1, 10 at 17/7, 37 at 17/4, 2 at 17/-, 70 at 16/10, [5]
9 at 16/-, 14 at 15/10, 4 at 14/- per head) [5: 2, 16 & 30-Aug-1935; 6, 13, 20 & 27-Sep-1935; 18-Oct-1935]
Sold ten bales of wool on Monday 7 October 1935 - two bales at 12¼d., three at 10½d. and five at 12d. per pound [5: 11-Oct-1935]
Won the Hidden Number Prize at the Carnamah Parents & Citizens Association's Card Evening on 17 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Attended the public meeting on the question of Saturday Afternoon Closing in Carnamah on Thursday 19 March 1936 [5: 27-Mar-1936]
The proposition was to replace the half-day holiday on Thursday afternoons with a half-day holiday on Saturday afternoons [5]
The driving force was some of the local sporting bodies, who wished to play their organised sport on Saturday instead of Sunday [5]
He raised objection to the proposal as it would be a large inconvenience to farmers living in outback parts of the district [5]
Many of such people went into town Saturday afternoon, did their shopping and then collected their mail Saturday evening [5]
He said if the change happened they would then have to come in to their shopping and again Saturday evening to get their mail [5]
Sold 685 sheep through Westralian Farmers Ltd and Dalgety & Co Ltd with 13 consignments to Midland Markets in 1936 [5]
The sheep consisted of 233 wethers (48 at 17/7, 40 at 17/1, 28 at 16/4, 30 at 16/1, 39 at 16/-, 12 at 15/-, 36 at 12/4), [5]
121 lambs (6 at 20/4, 29 at 20/-, 34 at 19/1, 6 at 18/10, 7 at 17/4, 16 at 18/7, 12 at 18/4, 10 at 16/7, 1 at 16/-), [5: 1, 8 & 22-May-1936]
132 suckers (45 at 19/11, 32 at 19/10, 13 at 17/4, 42 at 14/5), [5: 17, 24 & 31-Jul-1936; 7, 21 & 28-Aug-1936]
88 ewes (2 at 30/10, 2 at 21/4, 23 at 17/4, 18 at 16/4, 4 at 15/1, 22 at 14/4, 17 at 12/7), [5: 11 & 18-Sep-1936, 2-Oct-1936]
68 sheep (hoggets at 22/1, ewes at 19/11, wethers at 18/1), 1 ram at 22/7 and 42 lambs and suckers at 18/5 per head [5: 4-Dec-1936]
In July 1936 the Carnamah District Road Board decided to make trafficable a surveyed road bounding his property [5: 10-Jul-1936]
The road, which became Turner Road, ran between his farm and the farm next door belonging to John S. ROOKE [5: 10-Jul-1936] [62]
He was among the 200 farmers who attended the meeting in Carnamah on 31 July 1936 about local Bulk Wheat Handling [5: 7-Aug-1936]
Sold 196 sheep through Westralian Farmers Ltd with five consignments to the Midland Market in 1937 [5: 15 & 22-Jan-1937, 23-Jul-1937]
The sheep consisted of 104 lambs (20 at 24/10, 21 at 19/7, 13 at 15/10, 27 at 14/4, 7 at 13/10, 14 at 11/10, 2 at 11/4), [5]
35 ewes (22 at 11/4, 2 at 9/1, 11 at 8/7), 101 suckers (31 at 24/7, 8 at 24/1, 36 at 23/4, 25 at 23/11 at 19/7) [5: 6 & 20-Aug-1937, 17-Sep-1937]
Vice President of the Carnamah Athletic Club in 1937 [5: 19-Mar-1937]
Inaugural Vice President of the Carnamah Cycle Club in 1937 [5: 21-May-1937]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club in 1937 and 1938 [4: 9-Jul-1938] [5: 9-Jul-1937]
Steward in Charge of the Ring Events and Sports Program at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1938 [13]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1940-1948 [13]
In 1941 had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son [53]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Mrs Mary LANG on 22 February 1942 at the Winchester Cemetery [0]
In February 1944 was in inmate of the North Midlands District Hospital suffering from muscular rheumatism [0: 11-Feb-1944]
His son Bert took over the running of Karragee Farm in 1952 [P96]
In 1952 his son Bert offered to buy himself and Clara a house in Carnamah town; he would move but Clara didn't want to [P96]
In the 1950s sold the original house on the farm to Maurice S. AUNGER who moved it to 3 Caron Street in Carnamah town [P96]
During the 1955-56 financial year ownership of the farm was transferred from his name into the name of his son Bert [3]
Remarked to have been "a very nice man" but also "a big rough old bugger" [P9]
Resided in the stone house on Karragee Farm in Carnamah until just prior to his death in 1956 [P96]
Passed away at the age of 69 years at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs [4: 13-Jul-1956]
Father of Mary, Daphne, Charlie and Bert TURNER; and stepfather of Bill, Emily and May TURNER [P9]
Died 8 July 1956 in Three Springs; buried at Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah, Western Australia (Row B, Plot 5) [1]
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Friday 13 July 1956:
Farmer's Sudden Demise - Death of Mr. Charles Turner
"Under somewhat sudden circumstances, the death occurred in the North Midlands District Hospital at Three Springs on Sunday last of a well-known resident of Carnamah in the person of Mr. Charles William John Turner, who had followed farming pursuits in that district for a period of about forty years. The deceased gentleman, who was sixty-nine years of age, was admitted to hospital as the result of a heart seizure, and after being under treatment for about ten days preparations were being made for him to return to his home when there was a recurrence of his disability which caused the intervention of death. The late Mr. Turner was married at Carnamah, and of the union there were two sons - Messrs. Charles and Albert Turner - the former being deceased while the latter is on his late father's property, Mrs. Turner having predeceased her husband about two-and-a-half years ago. Other surviving adult relatives are Mr. William Turner and Mesdames M. S. Aunger and L. Schier, all of whom reside at Carnamah. The funeral of the deceased took place in the Anglican Cemetery at Winchester on Tuesday last with the Rev. F. L. Armstrong, of Three Springs, officiating at the graveside in the presence of quite a large number of district residents. The pall-bearers were Messrs. E. Griffith, A. Forrester, W. Bothe and R. Lucas while the casket was borne from the hearse to the grave by Messrs. R. Niven, R. Davidson, E. K. Wells, R. Bowran, C. Robertson and G. Ferguson."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Charles William John Turner' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/charles-william-john-turner [reference list] |
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