Gnowangerup History

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TREASURE Edward

Written and compiled by Leo E. Treasure 22nd June, 1964

"MARTINUP" is situated on the Gnowangerup Broomehill Road, 11 miles west of Broomehill. “Martinup" is a native name, the "up" signifying water.
"Martinup" was first selected in 1860 by Edward Treasure. Edward Treasure came from England, a single man in a good sound position, having had farming experience in England and decided to settle in W.A. After contacting the Lands Department in Perth, he decided to go to York to have a look at the country and to get a better idea of the land. He took on a job of shepherding sheep.
Incidentally, all sheep were shepherded in those days as there were no fencing materials. After being at York for a few months he came in contact with some natives who were on a "walk-about" from down south. Getting into conversation with them, he asked about the country from which they came. They told him "plenty good land down there.. plenty grass, fresh water soaks, plenty kangaroo, possums and emus at "Martinup", their camping ground.

EDWARD TREASURE #1

So he arranged with the natives that when they were returning home he would go with them and have a look at the country down there. And this he did, travelling on a saddle hack and with a pack-horse. Thus, they eventually moved homewards and Edward Treasure headed for "Martinup" which was to become the home of the Treasure family. 
Arriving there from York, a distance of about 150 miles, he pitched camp and had a good look round and decided to select land there. 

SAM SWIFT'S KEYSTONE AT MARTINUP #2

Returning to Perth to see the Lands Department he eventually selected 500 acres at the Martinup Soak which was then a native camp, but with the advent of the white man the natives had moved way down the Pallinup River.
The country then was just wild bush, Treasure secured some labour and started to clear some ground, which in those days was all grubbed as the plowing was done with a single-furrow set plow and harrowed with set harrows. Then he got a builder by the name of Sam Swift to do the building. All the bricks were made on the place and shingles were used for a roof as no iron was available.

The buildings, a 7-roomed house, a wash-house, blacksmith's shop, men's quarters and a shed, all of brick, took between two and three years to build. In the meantime, the clearers were busy clearing the ground for cropping, about 50 acres being done. Then to prepare it for cropping, it was first fallowed and then harrowed down at the end of winter and then ploughed back again and harrowed before seeding which was done by hand. Seven or eight bags to the acre was a usual crop, which was cut with a mower and then thrashed.
Re the buildings, the kitchen, 30'x20' when first built was detached from the house, but was later joined on. The kitchen floor consists of flag stones which were carted from Night Well, a distance of 40 miles, as no flooring boards were then available.

MARTINUP HOMESTEAD LAYOUT

MARTINUP FARMHOUSE             #

MARTINUP FARMHOUSE

MARTINUP FARMHOUSE #

STONE SLAPS ON KITCHEN FLOOR #

MARTINUP MEAT ROOM, BLACKSMITH'S WORKSHOP & WORKERS' QUARTERS

MARTINUP MEAT ROOM

MARTINUP BLACKSMITH'S WORKSHOP

BLACKSMITH'S WORKSHOP #

MARTINUP WORKERS' QUARTERS

WORKERS QUATERS #

MARTINUP WELL

REMAINS OF ORIGINAL WELL #

ANNA TREASURE (nee Norrish) #

Fencing was the next item and as no fencing wire was available, the fence was built of split posts and two rails and a trench dug right around the two paddocks of about 50 acres and jam posts were put in to make it sheep-proof.
And then to stock the farm Treasure had to go to Kojonup to buy sheep. He purchased about 1,000 head and drove them by road to "Martinup" a distance of 45 miles. He gradually increased his flock to between 3,000 and 4,000 All sheep in those days were tended by shepherds.
Incidentally, he met his wife to be in Kojonup on those trips. She was Anna Norrish, daughter of Richard Norrish of Warkleup. They had a family of five sons and four daughters.

In 1879 a stone shearing shed was erected, and the sheep flocks had increased to between 3,000 and 4,000, shepherded in the bush. A further 800 acres was selected at Nigalup, six miles south of Martinup and as fencing wire as now available, the property was all fenced and stocked with sheep.
Mr. Treasure then went to Kojonup and selected some town blocks and built an hotel and took over the running of it, leaving his sons at Martinup.
He then selected some 12,000 acres at Torlup in the Upper Blackwood, had it all fenced (one paddock was of 10,000 acres). Buildings were erected and the place stocked with sheep and cattle. Two sons, Dick and Edward took over. Edward Treasure died at Kojonup on 20th January, 1886 aged 51 years.
From then on Mrs. Treasure took over the management of all holdings. Mrs. Treasure died at Kojonup in 1900. Both are buried in the Kojonup cemetery.

MARTINUP WOOL BARN & SHEARING SHED

WOOL BARN & SHEARING SHED #

SHEARING SHED #

"Martinup" was left to their third son Levi, who sold it in 1915 to Fred Wheeler, a Perth businessman who later sold the property to Vin Murray, a member of the noted stud sheep breeders.
In 1920, shortly after the end of the first World War, the Soldier Land Settlement Scheme came into being, and J. J. Treasure, the eldest son of the late Edward Treasure, had four returned sons from the war. They were Leo, 16th Bn. Original Anzac; Henry, 12 Bn. Original Anzac; Levi, Original 10th Lt. Horse, Anzac; and Syd, Light Horse, Palestine
J. J. Treasure was anxious to get his sons on the land. Levi and Henry were allotted a farm, Towerlup, west of Kojonup, and, thinking it was a good chance of getting "Martinup" the old home of the Treasures back into the family again and with the assistance of the late Hon. Alex Thomson, M.L.C., they approached the Land Board with the object of purchasing "Martinup" from Vin Murray.
Eventually after a lot of strategy, the property was bought. As "Martinup" was of 2,400 acres, large enough for three soldier settlers, it was divided into three farms, Leo getting two-thirds and one-third going to his cousin Elworthy Flanagan. Elworthy, commonly known as "Peb" was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. M Flanagan. Peb's mother was Miss Elizabeth Treasure, born at "Martinup."
 

In June 1921, they took over "Martinup", Peb getting 80 acres on the south-east corner Leo and Syd Treasure got the old homestead.
At that time there were only 300 acres cleared, the rest being ring harked whitegum and green York gum timber.
There were no buildings on Flanagan's portion. Leo, his wife Vicki and two small sons, Jack, two years, and Ron 5 months, Syd Treasure and Peb Flanagan came to "Martinup" early in June, 1921.
Peb lived at "Martinup" for three or four years. Then, contemplating marriage, had a house built on his property He married Matron Dorothy Bradshaw of Gnowangerup Hospital, had two daughters Beth and May.
Beth is now married with a family farming at the Stirlings.
May carried on the traditions of her mother and is now a Sister at Royal Perth Hospital. Leo suggested Peb call the farm "Lone Pine" after the famous battlefield on Gallipoli, where the famous 10th Light Horse fought. Peb was a member of the 10th Light Horse.
Although it was getting late in the season when they took over in 1921, they decided to put in some crop. Having no implements, they had to borrow from their neighbours a plough and drill. They got in about 100 acres for the first year and it yielded well. As time rolled on, more clearing was done and more crop put in, all done in those days with horses.
Sheep were bought and the property stocked.

VICKY & LEO TREASURE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY #

LYALL (Tup) , VICKY, RON & KEN TREASURE #

Leo and Vicki had a family of four sons and three daughters with the passing of the years, and Syd married Clara Briant of Gnowangerup and went to live in Perth. They now have three sons.

"Martinup" was always renowned for its sporting activities — cricket, football and horse racing. In 1939 Jack, Ron and Ken went overseas.
Jack died P.O.W. in Thailand. After peace had been declared, Ron and Ken came back to "Martinup" to work the farm. Syd then handed over his share of Martinup to Ken.
Ken married Daphne Clark of Guildford on April 22. 1961 and then bought "Lone Pine" where the couple now live” (1965)

Glen Oliver:…some dates/land ownership of Martinup -some of which differs from the posted article. 1905-6 Wheeler and Arnott. 1913 A V Murray, he had his clearing sale in 1916, but dont know if he sold the land then. In 1919 a ref was found about a fire " fire spread into Martinup belonging to Lowden & Sons". In 1921 Martinup was purchased by the Govt- to be offered to returned soldiers (Leo Treasure (16th Batt) shifted in the same year. 1922 Mr & Mrs JJ Treasure moved to Martinup.

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References:                 Article:       The Gnowangerup Star
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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024