Ghosts of settlements in the Chapman Valley - Geraldton

10th July 2014

The Chapman river reaches the sea in the northern suburbs of Geraldton.  We followed the river inland today to explore the Chapman valley, which is quite extensively cultivated and very green at this time of the year.

View of the Chapman valley, the crop is canola

All the little towns and villages that sprung up along the valley100 to 150 years ago have disappeared, sometimes without trace and sometimes a few old relics and buildings remain.

Dilapidated old railway bridge at Nanson

These towns were founded on mining [lead and copper] and agriculture.  There was a railway serviced the valley to take the goods through to Geraldton port.  This boom and bust seems to be typical of so much of WA.

The enterprise and industry of the early settlers was amazing.  In one of the little towns, Yetna, a blacksmith moved in with his large family in the mid 1800's, built a homestead, planted a citrus orchard then built a bake house to service the community.  Next he set up a school, housing the teacher in his own home.  Meanwhile his wife became the post mistress, later adding telephonist to her duties.  She also accommodated travellers from the mail coach.  Quite a busy pair.

Back in Geraldton we walked along the marina which has been constructed where the old railway yards were located.  The railway terminates closer to the port now.

Replica of the Batavia longboat

In the marina is a replica of the longboat on which 37 of the survivors, including the Commander, from the Dutch ship the Batavia sailed to Java to seek help. The Batavia was wrecked on a reef off the Abrolhos Islands in 1629.  Meanwhile a mutiny took place amongst the remaining survivors back on the islands and the mutineers murdered over 120 of them.  When help eventually arrived over three months later most of the mutineers were hung, but the two youngest were left on the mainland to fend for themselves.  These original convicts may be the first documented Europeans to live in Australia.