Family Histories

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GUNTHER Herman  UPDATED
Compiled by Gordon Freegard based on research by Jamie Gunther and Merilyn Stewart
Additional imformation supplied by Stephen Newbey

Herman Gustave Gunther and his brother Bill's family history and photos were destroyed by separate fires. (That is why finding history on the Gunther Family in Gnowangerup is difficult)
Plus being of German descent after WW1 and during WW2 didn't help.
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm/John Fredrick William (Bill) Gunther was born on 2nd June 1875 at Glentorreth, near Truro, South Australia to Fredrich Wilhelm Gunther & Wilhelmine Gunther (nee Niejalke). He was the elder brother of Herman Gustave (Herman) Gunther who was born on 28th May 1882. They were two of the three sons in the family.
The Gunther brothers came to Western Australia with Charlie and Eliza Stutley and family about 1908. They all eventually chose Gnowangerup in which to settle. The brothers selected land on what is really known as the Gnowangerup Creek but is incorrectly shown on some plans as Cadalelup Creek.
There was an Irish neighbour of Arthur Allardyces was called Jack. Bill Gunther could never get the correct pronunciation of Jack's name amd always called him "Shack". The name stuck and eventually everyone called him Shack.
 

HERMAN GUSTAVE GUNTHER             #1

WILLIAM "BILL"GUNTHER             #2
 

 

It appears that William "Bill" never married. But on the 10th September 1912, Herman Gustave"Herman" Gunther married Florence Amelia Stutley, the third daughter of Charlie Herbert Stutley & Elize Jane Stutley (nee Hobbs), at the Stutley property of "Rockview" officiated by Rev. H. M. Weldon.

They had six children:
Florence Irene  born 3rd August 1913 who sadly passed away on 24th May 1924.
Herman Fredrick  born 13th April 1916. Died 3rd April 1966
Alice Nita  born in 1918. Married John Sidney. "Sid" Heath in 1940. Died on 26th November 2011.
Arthur James  born 26th December 1921. Married Dora May Camille Hinkley on 26th April 1941. Died 27th January 1983
Dora May  born 4th July 1926. Married Trevor Finlay Hyman in 1947.
Gwen  born c1933 who never married.

FAMILY GATHERING 1913       #3
Back Row L - R:  Rev. BEDFORD, BILL GUNTHER, JACK EASTON, CHARLEY STUTLEY, HERMAN GUNTHER, BRICKY BENNETT,
Mr. MOORE, Mrs. MOORE, CHARLIE MOORE
Middle Row L - R:  CHARLIE STUTLEY Snr, ELIZA STUTLEY, STAN DOLLY, GLADYS STUTLEY, WINNIE BYERS (School Teacher), MAGGIE MOORE,
MARGARET STUTLEY
Third Row L - R:  FLORENCE GUNTHER (nee STUTLEY)  nursing Florence, GRANNY ARTHURS, CAROLINE STUTLEY, ALICE WISE (nee STUTLEY) nursing Ruth,
EVA COLLINS, Mrs. DAVE COLLINS, nursing Dora, MAY BAXTER (nee STUTLEY) MARTHA BAXTER.
Sitting in Front L - R:   ESTER STUTLEY, ETHEL WISE, IVY WISE, ARTHUR WISE (hands over eyes), DORA STUTLEY,  WALTER STUTLEY

 
Excavating the Gnowangerup town dam.
Jamie Gunther: Herman and Bill Gunther with ? Garnett sinking dams in Gnowangerup. Think Herman helped sinking the town dam. Arthur Gunther Junior helped his father Arthur Gunther spray weeds on the catchment area with petrol because it was cheaper than weed killer.

In the years up to 1912 prior to the advent railway station in Gnowangerup,  farmers had to take their grain by horse team and wagon to Broomehill. At that time Herman worked as a carrier and had a big wagon called " Cunnamulla" with which he carted goods from Gnowangerup to the rail head at Broomehill.

    HERMAN & BILL GUNTHER WITH  ??? GARNETT SINKING DAMS IN GNOWANGERUP    #4
 

In 1914 the season had been very dry but on the 27th November seven inches ofrain fell in thirty hours. All the creeks were running bankers for days and the Pallinup River rose about 15 feet above its summer level. Herman Gunther was about to harvest 180 acres of wheat that he had put in on shares with Arthur Allardyce, when this downpour happened.
Herman Gunther did very valuable and unselfish work over serveral years when for a considerable time he was the sole representative on the Broomehill Road Board. At this early stage, Gnowangerup was the East Ward of the Broomehill Road Board. This was before the Gnowangerup Road Board came into existance. Once every month Herman leaving his own work - used to ride his own horse a distance of 25 miles to Broomehill to attend the monthly meetings of the Board, travelling over bad roads and passing through many gates on the journey.  Herman was  a very practical man abd did a lot of good service to the district.
 

ORIGINAL PHOTO BROOMEHILL ROAD BOARD MEMBERS  1909    #5

 

BROOMEHILL ROAD BOARD MEMBERS  1909     #6
W. KELLY, C. DAVIS, A. GENONI, E. MEYER, E. GENONI, HERMAN GUNTHER, W. WRAY, P. JORDAN, T. McGUIRE, R. JONES,    ?   ,
M. RYAN, E. SANDS, J. LEAH

TAKEN IN JOUNAL STRET OUTSIDE BROOMEHILL HOTEL
                                                                                                                                                                                                Image Enhanced by Bruce Armstrong
 

     EARLY VIEW OF CECIL CONNELL'S FARM             #7
 

Herman and Bill have moved on to Mr. Cecil Connell's block at Ongerup, after they took over Connell's holdings under a lease in 1920. (Gnowangerup Star and Tambellup-Ongerup Gazette – 15 May 1920)
It consisted of two locations:
Kojonup Location 4215  of 844 acres Originally timbered with Salmon Gum, York Gum, Yate, Moort & Mallee
Kojonup Location 6150 of 579 acres, 1st class 450 acres, 2nd class 129 acres
Their time on the land saw a shift toward more stable production; by 1927, reports described a "very fine crop of wheat" standing on the property.

 

 
The brothers held this lease from 1920 till 1933 when, sadly Herman died. The land was then transitioned to A. J. O'Neil who then had a clearance sale through Westralian Farmers Ltd., on the 17th February 1920.There was a good attendance of buyers. , Quotations: 4 and 6 tooth, mated ewes, in good condition, 19/3; wethers, to full mouth, 18/3; ewes, full mouth, mated, 10/9; 2 tooth ewes and wethers, 10/6; mixed sex lambs, 8/; aged ewes, 5/. The horses were aged and met with very little competition. They sold 868 sheep and horses.
This sale signaled the end of the Gunther era and the beginning of a new chapter for "Pleasant Pastures", as the propterty became known.
 

 


 

      MAP SHOWING THE TWO LOCATIONS THAT WERE LEASED          #8
 

Highly-respected resident, Herman Gunther passed away at the Perth Public Hospital on 17th October 1933.
Some 12 months ago Mr. Gunther was operated on for an internal complaint, and he returned to the hospital a couple of months. Mr. Gunther had resided in this district for a quarter century, (c1908) and leaves a widow and six children and many friends to mourn his passing. The remains were interred at Karrakatta cemetery”.
His brother Bill passed away in the Hospital on the 4th of October 1942 at the age of 67 years. He was lain to rest in the Methodist portion of the Gnowangerup Cemetery. By reason of his having been one of the Gnowangerup and Ongerup districts pioneers he was well known and his funeral was attended by many old identities.

Alan Harris writes about Flo Gunther:

“This woman had just become a widow. Loving, gracious and motherly she told me of her husband’s illness and his prolonged agony with the complaint of cancer.”
"I watched her from my window as she walked home carrying her baby in her arms. Thirty-five years of age, six children and no husband.
In the months prior to her husband’s death she had struggled to maintain herself and her children with the acquisition of fowls and cows. The produce from these – eggs and milk – she sold to the town dwellers.
Her eldest boy and girl assisted her with milking the cows and delivering milk. Several times, as we left Gnowangerup at dusk, I had seen them hurrying from house to house with their large billy cans of milk.”
"I watched her click the hospital gate and turn onto the footpath I visualised the struggle ahead of her. The battle to rear and defend her family. I knew the pattern. As soon as the eldest child turned 14, the very day of his birthday, he would leave school and seek work.
Whatever employment he could get he would take and all his pay would be placed in the hands of his mother. Each child in turn would follow suit.”

 

       FLORENCE GUNTHER       #9
 


 Gnowangerup Star Newspaper reports:
Gnowangerup Dairy to close 1947
Mr. Arthur James ("Arty") Gunther last week circularised his customers to the effect that his dairy had been inspected by an officer of the Metropolitan Milk Board, who advised him that a license to carry on his business could not be granted until he made certain improvements to his milking sheds and dairy.
Because of the overhead expense these improvements will entail on his relatively small turnover, the proprietor regrets that he will have to go out of business. It will thus be appreciated that the Milk Board's zeal to safeguard the consumer has had the opposite effect to the one desired
While admitting that the dairy facilities may not have been on par with that of the city, Mr. Gunther and his mother before him have over a period of years, not only given us good milk at a good price but provided an efficient and friendly service.
With all this in mind, there are many who join with us when we wish the Milk Board to the " hot place."
No one says the Board is not doing a good job, but surely some elasticity could be used to meet circumstances such as prevail in this case.

Arthur James ("Arty") Gunther
Their son Arthur James ("Arty") was born 26th December 1921 and  married Dora Mary Camille Hinkley on 26th April 1941. She was born on 28th October 1919.
They had three children : 
Arthur Edsel
Glory Camellia       
Dale Gillian.

He lied about his age and traveled to Fremantle to join the Australian Army serving with the 7th Renforcements, 2nd/32nd Battalion. Went on to join the 8th Army at El Alamein and then to New Guinea.

7th REINFORCEMENTS 2nd/32nd BATTALION  1st September 1941.           #10
ARTHUR JAMES GUNTHER BACK ROW 11TH FROM LEFT
 

THE GNOWANGERUP NEWSAGENCY OWNED BY THE GUNTHERS.           #11
 

Arthur Edsel ("Art Boy") went into Partnership with Gwen Gunther and bought what became Gunthers News from a Mr Greenwood, a pilot in the RAF who flew Hurricane fighter planes in the battle of Britain.
Prior to this the building was a barbershop and a billiards hall, and has sold everything from ice cream to furniture.
Arthur Edsel married Maxine Horton, who was a nurse at rhe Gnowangerup hospital after completing training in Katanning. Maxines parents, Doug and Vera had for a short time the farm now owned by Stewarts.
Arthur and Maxine have 3 children.
Simone Joy, now living in Albany and works at Activ.
Jamie Arthur (Jimmy) spent 13 years at GS Hendry, as a mechanic before moving to Albany after Hendrys closed.
Darren Scott who lives in Perth after spending many years in Africa in mining. 

 

THE OLD WAGON
In 1941 Mr. Joe Ball has again come into possession of a long lived and historic four-wheeler. Its genesis is lost in the mists of antiquity.
Historically it commenced its useful life in Victoria some 60 years ago, at what time Ball managed a creamery in that State and used the four-wheeler as a cream and milk van. It then supported the dignity of a hood.
Brought to this State about 30 years ago, it came into Joe’s possession and was sold by him to Bill Gunther and has more than a nodding aquaintance with the road to Ongerup and many other roads about the district for that matter.
It stood for many moons unprotected from the weather outside Mrs. Gunther's house in McDonald street until repurchased by its present owner. As Joe smilingly says it: " it must have done a tremendous mileage. "
Excepting about 4 sets of new wheels, a couple of bodies and sundry replacements over the years, it is substantially the same four-wheeler as bumped over the rutty roads of Victoria”.

 

 

THE OLD WAGON THAT WAS ONCE OWNED BY BILL GUNTHER 2015          #12
 

GROUP CLIMBING THE STIRLING RANGES          #13
Back Left - Right:     JACK WRIGHT (Co-op),       ?    ,    ?    , JIM QUANTAR (ANZ Bank), TERRY SAVAGE (Bank), JIM POZZI, VERNA CHAMBERS (nee Wray),
HARRY WRIGHT, MURRAY CUNEO (Front),     ?    (Behind), ARTHUR GUNTHER Junior, MARION WELLSTEAD
Front Left -Right:     DAWN THORNTON, DOUG OWENS, NORMA THOMPSON, IAN BADMAN, HILDA TREASURE, BARNEY McKENNA

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:       Gordon Freegard
                                                  Merilyn Stewart
                                                  Fortunes of Farming by Alan Harris
                                                  Jamie Gunther
                                                  Early Days in Gnowangerup by Arthur Allardyce
                                                  Glen Oliver
                                                 Stephen Newbey

                                  Image:   1, 4, 9, 10       Jamie Gunther
                                                2, 3    Lesley Cuneo
                                                5       David Kindred (Countryman Flashback 16th July 1992)
                                                6       Bruce Armstrong
                                                8       Stephen Newbey
                                                12     Glen Oliver
                                                5, 7, 11, 13       Internet

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023 - 2026