"Bob" Robert PALFREYMAN
Born 18 March 1861 in Tideswell, Derbyshire, England [20] [33]
Son of William PALFREYMAN and Hannah Jane DAKIN [33]
Baptised on 4 August 1861 at the Parish Church in Tideswell, Derbyshire, England [33]
In 1861 was living with his parents and his brothers William and Clarence in Tideswell, where his father worked as a Blacksmith [20]
Ten years later in 1871 was living with his widowed mother, brothers William, Clarence and Frank and sister Ellen in Tideswell [20]
In 1881 was an apprentice saddler to George TAYLOR and was living with him at Bridge End in Baslow with Bubnell, Derbyshire [20]
Departed Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on the ship Lusitania and arrived in Plymouth, Devon, England in July 1891 [204]
He again left England and settled in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia where he worked on the tramways [4: 20-Aug-1939]
Later shifted to Western Australia where he ran a transportation business between Southern Cross and Coolgardie [4: 20-Aug-1939]
He worked for the well-known carriers Wilkie Bros in Coolgardie prior to the arrival of the railway [10: 11-Jul-1916]
Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Marloo for the Eastern States of Australia on 8 September 1900 [120: 15-Sep-1900]
Returned to England and in 1901 he was self-employed as a Harness Maker [20]
He was living with his mother and stepfather Joseph DAWSON at Bridge End in Tideswell, Derbyshire, England in 1901 [20]
Departed from Plymouth, Devon, England on the steamship Omrah on 8 June 1901 bound for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [203]
By 1903 he had settled in Moora, Western Australia [4: 20-Aug-1939] [10: 11-Jul-1916]
Carrier in Moora 1904-1908 [19]
In the 1906 Commonwealth Electoral Roll he is listed with an address of Moora and an occupation of "Dealer" [50]
He was living in the Moora townsite in August 1907 [39: 17-Aug-1907]
Farmer and Grazier of Edale Farm in Moora [19]
Through agent James GARDINER he had purchased 950 acres from the Midland Railway Company on 27 November 1908 [27]
The 950 acres was Lot M579 of Melbourne Location 909 in Moora and cost 6/- per acre or a total of £285 [9: 25-Dec-1909]
With an additional two purchases of land from the Midland Railway Company he increased his farm in Moora to 2,768 acres [27]
On 8 February 1910 purchased the 750 acre Lot M575 of Melbourne Location 909 for £150, payable over 15 years [27]
On 29 July 1911 purchased the 1068 acre Lot M247 of Melbourne Locations 909 and 910 for £934/10/-, also payable over 15 [27]
By September 1914 he'd written off the 1914 season, which was a drought, and was working towards the 1915 season [10: 29-Sep-1914]
He was part of the jury at the inquest into the mysterious disappearance of Moora farmer John HARDING in 1906 [39: 28-Mar-1906]
Remains thought to be HARDING were found smouldering on a fire near his homestead after he failed to collect his bread [39]
With the other jurors he believed the bones found were HARDING's but found no cause of death due to insufficient evidence [39]
Master of Ceremonies at the Spinsters Ball held by the Spinsters of Moora at the Moora Hall on Friday 13 November 1908 [9]
During one of the intervals at the ball he, on behalf of the bachelors, took the opportunity of thanking the spinsters [9: 20-Nov-1908]
He had a subscription to The Midlands Advertiser newspaper, which was published in Moora, in 1908 [9: 11-Dec-1908]
Steward of the Horse section and Master of Ceremonies of the Show Ball at the Moora Agricultural Show in 1908 [9: 2 & 16-Oct-1908]
Took out a contract to purchase the one acre Lot 112 of Victoria Location 2022 in the Three Springs townsite on 7 July 1909 [27]
The one acre lot was purchased from the Midland Railway Company for £15, payable by instalments over 18 months [27]
During the 1923-24 financial year sold his one acre Lot 112 in Three Springs to Mrs Hannah TODD of Three Springs [44]
President of the Annual Bachelor's Ball in Moora in 1909 [9: 16-Jul-1909]
Donated 10/- to the Farmers' Relief Fund for distressed Quairading farmers in 1914 [10: 1-May-1914]
In 1916 he decided to leave Moora for England to see whether he could "help her in some capacity against the Hun" [10: 25-Jul-1916]
Prior to leaving Moora he was tendered a Farewell Social & Dance at the Road Board Hall in Moora on Friday 30 June 1916 [10]
The many people at his Farewell were "a remarkable demonstration of the exceptional esteem and friendship" he was held in [10]
The Rev. Frederick W. GUNNING remarked in a speech that there had never been a straighter man in Moora [10: 4-Jul-1916]
During the evening he was presented with a suitably inscribed gold watch from his many friends throughout the Moora district [10]
Left Moora on Saturday morning 8 July 1916 and travelled to Perth, shortly afterwards leaving for England [10: 11-Jul-1916]
Having sold his farm in Moora, he travelled to England and worked in a munitions factory during the First World War [4: 20-Aug-1939]
He'd intended to enlist in the transport department of the Imperial Forces, however he was too old [4: 20-Aug-1939] [10: 11-Jul-1916]
At the end of the war he left England and returned to Western Australia [4: 20-Aug-1939]
Departed from Plymouth, England on the steamship Rugia on 18 July 1919 bound for Australia [203]
After arriving back in Western Australia he proceeded to Moora on Friday 5 September 1919 [10: 12-Sep-1919]
It was reported he nearly had "his right hand wrung from his wrist in the many grips he received from his friends" [10]
He remained in Moora for a short period, during which time he stayed with Annie and Frederick R. PEARSON [10]
By November 1919 he had left Moora and was living in Carnamah [10: 14-Nov-1919]
Initially resided in a one roomed humpy at 7 Macpherson Street in the Carnamah townsite [P10]
Resided mostly in retirement in Carnamah from 1919 until his death in 1938 [2] [10] [44]
By April 1920 he was the freehold owner of 5 & 7 Macpherson Street in Carnamah (Lots 33 & 34 of Victoria Location 1936) [44]
The two quarter-acre lots had previously been owned by local teacher Alexander MACLEAN, who died at the Gallipoli landings [27]
Carrier within the Carnamah townsite through the use of a horse and cart [P9]
It was said that he had moved from Moora to Carnamah as the district was in need of a carrier [P399]
He would meet trains in Carnamah, load goods onto his cart and deliver them to people and local businesses [P5] [P9]
His first clients included local storekeeper Louis P. PARKER and carting flour to local baker A. Leslie TROTTER [P399]
He walked down the footpath to the railway station, and his horse would walk unattended down the road alongside him [P99]
When they got as far as the War Memorial he would go around the south side of the memorial, and his horse the north side [P99]
At the station he walked the steps to the porch and his horse, on its own, would go up, turn around and back up to the platform [P99]
He appears to have sold 5 & 7 Macpherson Street to Louis P. PARKER [44], who built a house and shop on the respective blocks [P6]
His humpy, along with his horse and cart, is said to have initially remained at 7 Macpherson Street in front of PARKER's shop [P399]
Purchased 23 acres on the east side of the Carnamah townsite from Donald MACPHERSON (Lot 3 of Lot M1123) [3] [27]
The 23 acres was a triangular piece of land situated in between the start of Carnamah-Perenjori and Carnamah-Bunjil roads [P399]
Proceeded to move his small house half a mile up Macpherson Street to a location on his new 23 acre block [7: page 151]
His home was being moved by local farmer John BOWMAN on a couple of salmon gum poles [P399]
Halfway there his house gut stuck in a gully or creek on the road just past where the Carnamah Hotel was later built [7: page 151] [P399]
The result was that he lived in the middle of the street for two days before the house was moved to its final destination [7: page 151]
More horses had to be recruited to pull his house out of the creek - in the end it took about ten horses [P399]
Master of Ceremonies at the Euchre Party & Dance held at Mrs DAVIESON's home in Carnamah on 8 November 1919 [10: 14-Nov-1919]
Member of the Carnamah Race Club 1920-1929 [4: 21-Dec-1929] [10]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Race Club in 1920, and Chairman in 1921 and 1922 [10: 13-Feb-1920, 27-Jan-1922]
On 13 April 1920 he had purchased 13 & 15 Macpherson Street (Lots 69 & 70 of Victoria Location 1936) [27]
Purchased the two blocks from the Midland Railway Company for £30 - a deposit of £6 plus six instalments of £4 [27]
Appears to have sold 13 Macpherson Street in two portions to John BURNS and George H. DAVIES [3] [5: 28-Oct-1932]
Appears to have sold 15 Macpherson Street to the Bank of Western Australia (later the Bank of New South Wales) [3]
On 31 May 1920 purchased 16 Macpherson Street (Lot 68 of Victoria Location 1936) for £15 from the Midland Railway Company [27]
Appears to have probably sold 16 Macpherson Street to Rupert H. LAFFAN who erected business premises on the block [3]
Master of Ceremonies at the Official Opening of the Carnamah Hall on Thursday 17 February 1921 [10: 4-Mar-1921]
Member of the Three Springs Race Club - was one of their Stewards in 1921 [9: 25-Feb-1921]
In early 1921 his kipsie, or home, in Carnamah was referred to as "the Weld Club of Carnamah" [10: 1-Apr-1921]
His small home was also referred to as the "Carnamah Club" or the "rendezvous of the high and mighty" [10: 17-Apr-1924]
His home served as a social meeting place for locals in the days before the building of the Carnamah Hotel [10]
Presided over the farewell to departing railway stationmaster James J. STARLING in Carnamah on 18 June 1921 [9: 8-Jul-1921]
Proposed the toast at the wedding of Robert A. CALDOW and May I. BYRNE in Three Springs on 5 October 1921 [9: 21-Oct-1921]
His horse True Gun ran at the Carnamah Race Club's Annual Race Meeting in Carnamah on Thursday 10 April 1924 [10: 3-Apr-1924]
Travelled to Perth in January 1928 during which time he saw the Railway Stakes and the Perth Cup [4: 7-Jan-1928]
Attended Charles ROBERTSON and Winifred M. LANG's wedding and reception in Carnamah on 27 March 1928 [4: 31-Mar-1928]
In 1928 he was one of the local shareholders of the Carnamah Brickworks Company [4: 8-Sep-1928]
The company had produced about 17,000 bricks of excellent quality from local clay by September 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball held at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
Founding Member of the Carnamah Masonic Lodge No.150 WAC on 21 March 1930 [96]
Won 2nd prize for a male White Leghorn and 2nd prize for White Hen Eggs at the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1930 [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]
Rendered a vocal item at the dinner following the Official Opening of the new Carnamah Post Office on 30 June 1932 [7: page 183]
Won 1st for female and 2nd for male White Leghorns in the Poultry section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1932 [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1932-1937 [13]
Won 2nd prize for a White Leghorn pullet in the Poultry section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
Vice President of the Carnamah Cricket Club in 1933-34 [4: 2-Dec-1933]
Travelled to Perth on Wednesday 14 February 1934 as a passenger in local storekeeper Andrew SMART's car [5: 16-Feb-1934]
Along with Mr W. GETHING travelled from Carnamah to Perth by car on Tuesday morning 27 March 1934 [5: 30-Mar-1934]
Vice President of the Carnamah Football Club 1934-1937 [5: 20-Apr-1934, 19-Apr-1935, 17-Apr-1936, 16-Apr-1937]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Smoke Social held in Carnamah on Thursday 26 April 1934 [5: 4-May-1934]
Won 2nd prize for male White Leghorn in the Poultry section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 6 September 1934 [5: 14-Sep-1934]
Suffered a heart attack in mid September 1935, for which he received treatment at the Carnamah Private Hospital [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Spent several days in Perth after motoring to Perth as a passenger in William B. SHERIDAN's car on 8 November 1935 [5: 15-Nov-1935]
Returned to Carnamah from Perth on Tuesday 19 November 1935 [5: 22-Nov-1935]
Travelled from Carnamah to Perth by train on Thursday 19 March 1936 [5: 20-Mar-1936]
Following a visit to the Eastern States and Tasmania he returned to Carnamah during the last week of April 1936 [5: 1-May-1936]
After spending a week at the Carnamah Private Hospital he was discharged on Thursday 16 July 1936 [5: 17-Jul-1936]
The Carnamah Athletic Club Bike Races on the weekend of 22-23 August 1936 were laps around his block in Carnamah [5: 28-Aug-1936]
He was among those from Carnamah who travelled to Perth in early October 1936 to attend the Royal Show [5: 9-Oct-1936]
Returned to Carnamah by car with local representative Clifford A. M. SCHOLEFIELD on Monday 12 October 1936 [5: 16-Oct-1936]
The Carnamah Athletic Club's cycle road races on Sunday 18 October 1936 comprised of laps around his block in Carnamah [5]
The junior riders had to ride three laps of his block (about five miles) and the senior rides did six laps (about ten miles) [5: 16-Oct-1936]
Vice President of the Carnamah Tennis Club in 1936-37 [5: 24-Jul-1936]
In April 1937 he had a visit in Carnamah from his nephew Leonard F. PALFREYMAN of Geelong, Victoria, Australia [5: 9-Apr-1937]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1937 [53]
After being a patient at the Carnamah Private Hospital he spent a holiday in Perth in June 1937 [5: 18-Jun-1937, 2-Jul-1937]
In late June or early July 1937 he sold his carrying business to Lionel O. FERGUSON of Carnamah [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Upon advising the sale by public notice in The North Midland Times newspaper he thanked his customers for their patronage [5]
Placed a notice in the local paper in early July 1937 requesting the person in possession of his 100 gallon tank to return it [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Some of the Carnamah Cycle Club's races in 1937 were laps around his block on the edge of the Carnamah townsite [5: 9-Jul-1937]
Shortly after returning from a fortnight in Perth he suffered a sudden illness and received attention from Dr ROSENTHAL [5: 27-Aug-1937]
He motored to Perth on Friday 17 September 1937 to spend a vacation for several weeks [5: 24-Sep-1937]
Resided in Carnamah until his death in 1938 [2]
Died 10 August 1938 in Perth; buried at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia (Anglican, LB, 251A) [2] [5: 12-Aug-1938]
In later years his 23 acre block became Newman Street, Nairn Street, King Street and the site of the Carnamah Junior High School [P1]
From The North Midlands Times newspaper, Friday 12 August 1938:
Obituary - Vale Robert Palfreyman
"News was received in Carnamah on Wednesday morning to the effect that Mr. Robert Palfreyman, and old and respected resident of the Carnamah district had passed away in the city. The late Mr. Palfreyman was a well-known figure in Carnamah, and during his many years residence in the district had endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. His passing will severe yet another link with the early days of the district."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 20 August 1938:
Obituary - Late Mr. R. Palfreyman - Funeral in Perth
"The funeral of the late Mr. Robert Palfreyman, of Carnamah, took place in the Anglican portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery on Thursday of last week, the Rev. F. W. Gunning officiating at the gravesite. The late Mr. Palfreyman was born in 1861 at Tideswell, near Buxton (England), and as a young man worked his passage to Australia in a sailing ship and settled in Victoria. There he became associated with the Melbourne Tramways until the discovery of gold at Coolgardie, when he came to Western Australia and eventually took over the management of transport from Southern Cross to Coolgardie for Messrs. Wilkie Brothers. By various speculations on the goldfields he prospered and returned to England in 1896. A year later he returned to Western Australia, bringing with him Mr. F. R. Pearson, now a stockbroker of Perth. Mr. Palfreyman settled at Moora when the Midland land was unlocked, and was associated with the Midlands for the rest of his life. The Rev. F. W. Gunning spoke of his knowledge of him through a period of 29 years and said that Mr. Palfreyman had given great service to his church at Moora even before he (the speaker) had gone there. During the war he had sold his farm and though too old to enlist, had gone to England to work in a munition factory. On his returned to this state he settled at Carnamah, and was a well-known and highly respected personality of the Midlands. The chief mourners were Messrs. F. R. Pearson, E. S. Pearson, Frank R. Stuart and Ivan C. Campbell. The pall-bearers were Messrs. W. Patrick M.L.A., H. Taplin (Midland Railway Company), A. C. Bierman (Carnamah Lodge, W.A.C.), A. A. McGilp, F. C. Woods and Major J. W. Colpitts. Amongst the many present were Messrs J. K. Forrester (Carnamah Road Board), G. Leslie, J. Haworth, R. A. Dean, Sam Pimblett, Archie Breeze, E. Hunt, D. Waldby and many others. Wreaths and floral tributes were received from Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Pearson and family, Mrs. E. Duthort, Stella and Elsie, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Dallimore, Carnamah Sub-Branch R.S.L., W.M. Officers and Brethren of Moora Lodge No. 97, W.A.C.; the officers and brethren of Carnamah Lodge No. 150, W.A.C.; the sisters and staff of Roslyn Hospital."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Robert Palfreyman' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/robert-palfreyman [reference list] |
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