(1837-). He was an expiree. Joseph arrived on 22/12/1865 on the Vimelra. He employed a ticket of leave cook, a ticket of leave woodcutter at Bunbury 1868, a ticket of leave servant at Toodyay in 1870. Joseph went to N.S.W. on 16/06/1873 and returned 31/03/1874 on the Georgette from South Australia.
HEARN/HERN, James
(1819-)
He was an expiree. James arrived on 10/2/1853 on the Dudbrook. He employed five ticket of leave men in Perth from 1854-1863, Bunbury in 1863-64 and 1871 at York.
HEALEY, Jeremiah, (KINNARD-HEALEY, alias McKENNA)
(-28/9/1884)
Jeremiah was the son of Thomas and Mary. He married on 24/05/1866 in Perth to Emily Redmond. Emily was the daughter of Patrick. Their children, all born in Fremantle/Perth, were John James (1866-), John (1867-), John Daniel (1872-), Edward James (1877-), a child (1879) and Amelia Mary (1882-). Jeremiah was a Bootmaker in Bunbury in 1876 and Fremantle from 1879-1885. He was a member of the Fremantle Rifle Corps. His widow received poor relief in 1884. Roman Catholic, while his Wife was Protestante.
HAZELTON, J
(1820-)
He married on 05/1842 to Maria Binfield (1812-), the widowed sister of Miss Perry (Rebecca) and William Perry. She arrived in 1842 on the Diadem. He was a Carpenter in Bunbury. Maria went to South Australia or Albany on 3/1847 on the Empress.
HAYWARD, Thomas
(18/8/1865-3/10/1920)
Thomas was born in Wokalup and died in Bunbury. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine. He married in 1890 to Sarah Ann Logue (31/5/1863-5/5/1905). Sarah died in Bunbury. She was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah. Thomas remarried in Donnybrook to Ellen Matilda Luke from South Australia (-13/07/1922). Ellen died in South Australia. She was the daughter of Robert and Ellen. Thomas's children were Matilda (1891-1920), Thomas (1892-), Ethel Kate (1895-), Connie (1896-) who died in infancy, Dorothy May (1899), Henry who died in infancy, Ellen Jean and Lillian Mary. Thomas took over their father's farm" 'Blenditup" at Wokalup. Chairman Harvey Road Board at time of death.
HAYWARD, Thomas
(01/09/1832-24/09/1915)
Thomas was born in England and died in Bunbury. He was the son of Thomas and Maria. He arrived on 15/9/1853 on the Devonshire with his aunt, Mrs Rose. Thomas was married on 12/1863 in Pinjarra to Catherine Logue (1827/8-06/09/1915) and died in Bunbury. Catherine was the daughter of Joseph Keys and Elizabeth. Catherine arrived on the 22/8/1837 aboard the Hero with her parents. Their children Maria Eliza (1862-1943), Matilda Louisa (1864-1961), Thomas (1865-1920), Catherine (Bessie) Elizabeth (1865-1942), Sophia Ellen (1867-), George Henry Edward (1868-1908) and Robert (1870-1875). From 1853-1890, Thomas was a dairy farmer, then at "Wedderburn" and "Parkfield" in partnership with R.H.Rose. He bought Bundidup in 1859 at Harvey. Thomas became a storekeeper and importer of agricultural implements in Bunbury from 1862-1898. He was part owner of Belle of Bunbury in 1877 and a member of the Municipal Council. Chairman of Rd. Bunbury district in 1874. Honourable. Thomas was the secretary of Sortie and Agriculture Society, Founder of Bunbury Hunt Club and President of Bunbury Building Soc. M.L.A. in Bunbury, 1901, then M.L.C. for Wellington district from 1904-1911. A Justice of the peace, Thomas employed 27 ticket of leave men from 1863-1875. He was Educated at Needham Market Grammar.
HAYWARD, George Henry Edward
(1868-1908)
He was the son of Thomas and Catherine. George married on 10/10/1894 to Ellen Elizabeth Spencer. Ellen was the daughter of William and Hannah. Their children were George Spencer (1899-) and Edward Victor Lloyd (1900-). George joined his father's business as a merchant and importer in Bunbury.
HAYSOM William
He arrived on 20/08/1842 with Simon Taylor and brother George. He was married in the United Kingdom to Jane. Their Child was Charles (1833-). Employed by Lefroy as a blacksmith at first in 1860 Contractor Perth- Albany and Parmer Wanneroo 1862. He employed two ticket of leave men in 1868 at Bunbury
HAYNES, Samuel Johnson
(22/3/1852-3/2/1932)
He was born in England as the son of George (a merchant). Samuel arrived on 10/2/1887 on the Franklin from South Australia. He married in 1897 to Isabella Cole. She was the daughter of Francis of Victoria. They had one son by 1912. He was a Barrister and solicitor, admitted to the Bar in 1886 (S.A.) and 1887 (W.A.). Having bought a practice of Hare in Albany, he was joined by R.T. Robinson and later by C. B. Cox. M.L.C. for South-East Province (1894 - 1910). He was Vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway. He was the Chancellor of the Diocese of Bunbury. A Member of the Albany Bowling Club, the Turf Club, the Albany Club and Weld Club Education. Victorian Government. He went to School and Grammar School at Leek, England.
HAYES, Sister Mary Placida Elizabeth
(1835-17/6/1887)
Born in Bunbury in 1835. Mary was the first local girl to enter the Convent of the Holy Cross in Perth on 26/7/1850 and was elected Mother Assistant on 17/5/1877, holding this office until 22/6/1883, when she was sent to the newly opened Branch House at Bunbury.
HAYES, Joseph
(1850-28/8/1919). He died in Bunbury. He married Fanny. Their children were Charles, Joseph, Rowland, Louisa, Arthur, Julia. Frederick. He was a pioneer of Kimberley
HAYES, James (1815 - 1885)
(1815-6/7/1885)
He was an expiree. James arrived on 31/01/1852 on the Marion. Married on 27/1/1853 in Bunbury to Ellen Shanahan (1831-1885) and died during childbirth. Ellen arrived on 27/7/1850 on the Sophia. Their children were Mary Ann (1854-) and William (1855-), both born in Bunbury. A Bunbury carter and lime burner, James was killed by a falling tree. In the Upper Preston James employed a ticket of leave lime burner in 1867
HAYES, James (1826 - 1873)
(1826-14/3/1873)
James died in Bunbury. He arrived on 10/4/1842 on the Diadem. He married on 19/11/1860 in Bunbury to Comfort Blythe (1824-29/12/1895). Comfort was a widow. She also arrived on the Diadem. Their child James (1864-), was baptised. In Bunbury, he owned Town Lot 1855 and Wellington district land in 1858. James Employed five or six ticket of leave men between 1864 and 1872.
HAYES. George
Possibly expiree, (1833-) . Employed a ticket of leave man in 1866 at Toodyay Possibly expiree, (1842-). Employed a ticket of leave man in (1876) at Champion Bay. employed a ticket of leave man in (1870) at Bunbury.
HAY, Mary Campbell
(1814-1900)
Mary Hay, born in 1814, was the eldest of the four sisters. She came to Bunbury with her son, David, and the youngest of the sisters, Eliza, in 1863 when she was 49 years old.
In 1840, Mary was married to John Hay, a carpenter and shipwright, in Dundee, Scotland (reference). They had four children: John, born in 1841, died when he was 19; David Alexander, born 1844, came to Bunbury with his mother; Margaret, born in 1845, married John Storrie and settled in Glasgow; and William, born 1849, may have died in infancy (reference; reference; reference). Mary's husband, John, died in 1854, and after his death, Mary ran a store in Dundee while bringing up the children (reference).
Mary, David and Eliza came over on The Strathmore, leaving England on 22 December 1862 and arriving in the colony on 27 March 1863 (reference; reference). Soon after arrival, Mary and David acquired a ₤400 loan guaranteed by William Ramsay and used it to take over a business from Mr Hyman Lipschitz located in the Canberra Buildings in Victoria Street. They began trading as M. Hay & Son (reference; reference). A few years later, they acquired a parcel of land from Mr Lipschitz on Victoria Street that stretched from Wellington Street to Prinsep Street. They converted a pre-existing building on this land to the "Dundee Store", named after their hometown in Scotland. This was located at approximately 113 Victoria Street, the current Sports Marine store (reference). The store sold a mixture of goods including fresh produce, drapery, cutlery, ironmongery and confectionery (reference).
It seems the homemade confectionery was popular, as Mr Lewis Moulton recalled in 1936 when talking about his childhood with the Spencer boys, Sir James Mitchell and Sir Newton Moore: "The boys used to go down to Mrs David Hay's store to buy lollies. Mrs Hay was an aunt of Lord Forrest and made Scotch rock" (reference).
Mr George Withers, who was employed in the store as a young boy, recalled those times in a Southern Times newspaper article in 1929: "Farmers would come in long distances and take out six months' supply, and I will remember how delighted any employer would be (I was general assistant in-store) to see them come in with a long order, which it would take probably a day to execute. There was no six o'clock closing in those days. Shutters had to be taken down at sunrise and shop swept out, and closing time was any time from 8 to 11 o'clock at night, as it suited the whim of the "boss." No annual holidays, and showtime, once a year, was a busy time for the "boy" and all hands. No chance of visiting the show grounds. There was no thought of sending out for orders, people came along and got what they wanted and carried it home — no delivery carts. The only goods I ever remember delivering were Government orders, such as gaol, hospital or lighthouse. Many a time have I carried a tin of kerosene on my shoulder (and I wasn't very big) from the shop (Mrs Hay's) to the top of lighthouse hill, and no step, but all sand. Whenever I was sent on. a message my instructions always were "Haste ye back, my boy. I'm luppnin on yon" and "the' I says it as shouldn't" I always did."
In the same article, Mr Withers described some of the produce sold and traded by Mary and David Hays. These include:
"Bunbury has always been a good dairying district, and several family names have been prominent in that industry to the present day, notably Rose, Clifton, Johnston and other families. "Bunbury butter" (made on the farms) had such a good name that it was very common to see it posted up in the city as produced here when no doubt it never saw the district. The farmers would bring it in kegs, varying from 40 to 80 lbs. weight, and it would be shipped to Fremantle, as there were no railways in those days."
M Hay & Son advertisement 1866
The Inquirer and Commercial News Wed 19 Sep 1866 Page 1
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia
"Potatoes also were a staple product. I understand that one of our biggest growers, James Rodgers of Australind, and his sons continue on the same property. There would be great rivalry between the two chief storekeepers, Mrs Hay and Mr Spencer, for the purchase of his crop — generally paid half cash and half stores as hay and grain were not produced to any great extent, and chaff would be cut by hand cutters and put into all sorts of receptacles, including wool bales."
"Apples were brought in from Bridgetown, from Blechynden's, Allnutt's, Wheatley's and others, in bullock drays, packed in straw, in large drapery cases. They brought at the rate of 6/6 per bushel, English standard bushel measure."
"Tea and sugar was imported, chiefly by John Bateman, who had a line of sailing vessels plying between Fremantle and Singapore and Mauritius. Sugar came in "mats" of various sizes from about 40 lbs. to a hundredweight, and there were a number of grades, from brewing sugar, which had to be chopped out of the mats, to best white crystal, similar to the sugar now in common use. Tea was in packages or boxes, varying from 12Ibs. to 45lbs. Tobacco came in "quarter tierces", weighing about 3001bs. and consisted of old negro bead, generally, 16 sticks to the pound."
"Jams, sauces and other delicacies were all imported from Great Britain."
"There was always great excitement unpacking new goods.The main supplies were bought twice a year, Mrs. Hay going up by coach on Monday and generally returning on the following Tuesday — it was two days journey each way — leaving four days to complete the business and then a week or so later they arrived by boat, weather permitting."
"Treacle and honey were sold in bulk, and treacle or molasses was brought in by Yankee vessels in casks of 30 to 40 gallons. It was then emptied into a container for retail purposes."
In the same article, Mr Withers described an incident with treacle which showed that Mrs Hay could be formidable to even to her son: "I was generally sent to do this filling and on one occasion was called away while it was being drawn off and forgot to go back. Later on Mr D. A. Hay brought a customer in to sample some sugar and tea, when he found himself sticking to the floor. He was a good sport, so did not tell his mother, but advised me to clear it up, pronto! before she saw it. Needless to say I did, but 20 or 30 gallons of treacle were lost." (reference)
Mary and David expanded their business, and by 1869 had stores in Busselton and Bridgetown (reference).
Unfortunately, the business M. Hay & Son was forced into bankruptcy in 1893 (reference; reference; reference; reference). Mary applied for a discharge from bankruptcy in the same year, which must have been granted as she began trading again on a reduced scale as the Dundee Store until 1885 (reference, reference)
Mary was 86 years old when she died in 1900 (reference)
HAY, David Alexander
(1844-1899)
"Generous and public spirited almost to a fault, Mr. Hay in his time of affluence devoted a considerable amount of his private income in the furtherance of public matters, and many of the progressive measures in the early days owed their introduction to Mr. Hay's persistent advocacy"
David Alexander Hay was described in his obituary as "one who has been prominently and intimately associated with the history of Bunbury for nearly 40 years" (reference). He was one of the more colourful prominent people in early Bunbury and, although he had mixed fortunes, he seemed to have an amazing ability to ride the waves. Most known for his role in the discovery of the Collie coalfields, he was also prominent in public and social life of early Bunbury and "in his time of affluence devoted a considerable amount of his private income in the furtherance of public matters, and many of the progressive measures in the early days owed their introduction to Mr. Hay's persistent advocacy" (reference).
There is not a great deal known about David’s early life. He was born on 14 March 1844 and grew up in Dundee, Scotland. He was the second eldest of four children (reference). His father, John, died in 1854 when David was ten years old and his mother, Mary, had a store in Dundee (reference; reference). His oldest brother, John, died in 1860 at the age of nineteen, and in 1863, David migrated to Australia with his mother (reference). His younger sister, Margaret, stayed behind and later married John Storrie - they lived in Glasgow and had seven children. (reference). There is no information on his younger brother William, but as he would have only been 15 years old when David and his mother left, it seems probable that he died as an infant. David and Mary left England for Australia on the ‘Strathmore’ on 22 December 1862, accompanied by his mother’s sister Miss Eliza Hill (reference). Eliza and Mary were two of the four Hill sisters that settled in Bunbury, and their biography can be read here: The Hill Sisters.
David Alexander Hay
Photo courtesy of the Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia
The Hays and Eliza Hill arrived in Fremantle on 26 March 1863 (reference). From there, they went to Bunbury, and it didn't take them long to settle in. By October that year, David had set up as an auctioneer and advertised his Aunt's property in Minninup for auction (reference). Soon after arrival, Mrs Hay and David took over a business from Mr Hyman Lipschitz located in the Canberra Buildings in Victoria Street. They began trading as M. Hay & Son (reference). A few years later, they acquired a parcel of land from Mr Lipschitz on Victoria Street that stretched from Wellington Street to Prinsep Street. They converted a pre-existing building on this land to the "Dundee Store", named after their hometown in Scotland. This store was located at approximately 113 Victoria Street, where Sports Marine store currently sits (reference). The store sold a mixture of goods, including fresh produce, drapery, cutlery, ironmongery and confectionery (reference).
It seems the homemade confectionery was popular, as Mr Lewis Moulton recalled in 1936, when talking about his childhood with the Spencer boys, Sir James Mitchell and Sir Newton Moore: "The boys used to go down to Mrs. David Hay's store to buy lollies. Mrs. Hay was an aunt of Lord Forrest and made Scotch rock" (reference). David built the business up with his mother, but from the recollections of Mr George Withers, who was employed in the store as a young boy, it seems Mrs Hay was the one to be feared as the following incident shows: "Treacle and honey were sold in bulk, and treacle or molasses was brought in by Yankee vessels in casks of 30 to 40 gallons. It was then emptied into a container for retail purposes. I was generally sent to do this filling and on one occasion was called away while it was being drawn off and forgot to go back. Later on Mr. D. A. Hay brought a customer in to sample some sugar and tea, when he found himself sticking to the floor. He was a good sport, so did not tell his mother, but advised me to clear it up, pronto! before she saw it. Needless to say I did, but 20 or 30 gallons of treacle were lost." (reference). They also exported sandalwood (reference) which, as David's son, George, would later recall, David would collect from the settlers. "In those days," he said, "farmers in the Darkan and Williams districts made periodical visits to Bunbury for stores, most of them coming to the coast along the Collie River. My father made these journeys fairly often, bringing down sandalwood and wheat and taking back stores bought from the proceeds of the sale of the sandalwood and flour gristed from the wheat brought down." (reference).
By 1869, M. Hay & Son had stores in Busselton and Blackwood in Bridgetown and Bunbury (reference). In 1870, the partnership between David and his mother was dissolved, and the Dundee stores continued to be run by Mrs Hay (reference). M. Hay & Son also commenced building a new store in 1892, but the following year, the company was forced into bankruptcy (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference). The partnership was likely restored as David was listed as the managing partner at the time of bankruptcy.
After his initial partnership with his mother was dissolved, David became a butcher and continued in this trade for many years, building a new shop in 1889 (reference; reference; reference).
David meanwhile, diversified into other ventures. In 1869, he was breeding sheep and came second in the "best pen of not less than ten wethers" at the Wellington, Nelson and Murray Agriculture Society (reference). He also served on company boards - in 1870, he was listed as a provisional director of the newly floated Bunbury Ropery Company run by Mr. Charles Upton & Sons. In 1882 was appointed Chairman of the Board for the Bunbury Jarrah Timber Company Limited (reference; reference). In 1891, he was the agent for New Zealand Insurance Company (Fire and Marine) (reference). Before he died in 1899, David was working for his son-in-law John Tuxford, who had just established a store in Bunbury (reference).
Throughout his life, David Hay was always very involved in the community and the progress of Bunbury in both official and unofficial capacities.
Auction of Minninup farm 1863
The West Australian Times Thu 1 Oct 1863 Page 2
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia
In 1870, he was the Treasurer of the Bunbury Town Trust and a council member for several years (reference; reference). He was also elected Chairman of the Municipality several times, which was the Mayor's equivalent position before Bunbury became a mayoralty (reference). A West Australian reporter in 1882 gave him praise for his work as chairman:
"The repairs of our footpaths, under the careful supervision of Mr. D. A. Hay, chairman of the municipality, are being effected in a thorough and substantial manner, which we have been hitherto unaccustomed to." (reference). Although David ran for the position of Mayor twice - in 1892 and 1897, he was unsuccessful in both elections (reference; reference). David also ran for the Western Australian Senate in 1884 and was elected (reference). However, the race was very close, with Mr Hay winning by only two votes and the opposing candidate, Mr Henry Venn, immediately filed an objection with the Supreme Court (reference). Several votes were questioned - one being that of a blind man who had the squares marked with raised surfaces which the court declared invalid as it was no longer a secret vote. However, the verdict went to Mr Venn due to Mr Hay arranging transport to the poll for several people, which was illegal and ruled bribery (reference). Nevertheless, upon return home, Mr Hay "was met at the jetty by a crowd of men and boys, who drew his carriage from the jetty to his house and then round the town." (reference).
Mr Hay also petitioned for a Board of Education for the district and later served on the school board (reference; reference). He also served on the local road board for several years and was elected chairman of that board in 1887 (reference; reference).
On a less official level, David was secretary of the Bunbury show for several years and had "worked hard in the interests of the society" (reference). He was also a judge for both the Bunbury and Busselton shows (reference; reference). In 1885, David was part of a committee to represent the colony and the local district at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. He also donated a possum rug for the display (reference; reference). The Annual Plough Match was another event that Mr Hay supported and promoted enthusiastically (reference). On one occasion, he offered one guinea to the best ploughing by youths under 18 (reference). David was also a strong supporter of Bunbury Horse Racing. In addition, he was secretary for the Wellington Turf Club and cleared the land for the Bunbury Race Course (reference; reference). David was involved in other organisations including the Debating Society, Bunbury and Wellington District Political Association, and being President of Progress Association (reference; reference; reference). Overall, David Hay was a strong advocate for Bunbury and gave much of his time to the district's progress.
Mr Hay was very interested in the mining prospects of the district and spent a lot of time following leads and promoting discoveries of different metals and minerals. As early as 1869, he seemed to be the person to go to with discoveries, as the following story shows: “DISCOVERY OF QUICKSILVER. — Quicksilver has been discovered at Quindalup, about twenty miles to the southward of the Vasse. As much as 180 ounces were brought to Mr. David Hay at Bunbury a short time since by a man who had been employed in the neighbourhood. It was not found in the shape of cinnabar, or the rough ore, but tolerably pure and clean, oozing from a hole in a mass of black sand, which is known to be very common in this part. The finder states that any quantity of the metal is procurable from the place indicated (reference).”
Sometimes, the connections to Mr Hay were spurious as in 1884, when a newspaper reported that Mr Giblett had found coal near the Warren River, and Mr D. Hay had set off at once for the site to bring back samples to send to Perth. However, it turned out that David knew nothing of the find (reference; reference).
In 1890, tin was discovered on Mr Hay’s property and the claim was judged to be “not very rich” but “should pay well the way it is being worked (reference).” In 1891, when a visitor noticed the rock in the town streets had gold-bearing properties, Mr Hay informed him that the rock came from Mr Clifton’s property (reference). Also, in 1895, Mr Hay showed reporters some samples of gold-bearing rocks found in the district (reference).
At the time, the government was very interested in finding coal in Western Australia as it was the fuel source for trains and essential in opening up the railways. Accordingly, they had offered a ₤1000 reward for its discovery. This reward was eventually shared by Mr David Hay and Mr Arthur Perren (reference).
In 1889, the first payable coal deposit was discovered. At the time, the newspapers reported in June 1889, David Hay went with four others to dig up the river bed of an area eight miles out of Bunbury known as "the Old Coal Pits." Seams of lignite (low-grade coal) were found there 35 years before by government drillers. However, the area was considered too wet to mine, so it was abandoned. The coal was deemed satisfactory, and Mr Woodward, the government assistant, recommended that a bore be put down as "undoubtedly modern coal would be found" (reference). Then, it was reported in October 1889, Mr Perren brought some coal samples from a site 25 miles away from the first field to be analysed, and these were deemed superior to any coal found previously (reference). These samples would lead to the establishment of the Collie Coalfields. In November of the same year, Mr Hay exhibited coal at the Show found near the Collie River (reference). Mr Perren and Mr Hay were deemed co-discoverers of the coal and were each given ₤100 from the government as a reward.
In 1898, Mr Woodward wrote a paper about the discovery stating the actual discoverer of the coal was a shepherd named George Marsh who, unaware of its value, told his employer Arthur Perren who was equally unaware of its value, but told his brother Jesse who then told David Hay. Mr Woodward did acknowledge Mr Day for "the manner in which he set about to ascertain the whereabouts of the discovery and for the energetic manner in which he prospected for the deposit (reference)."
In 1939, Algernon Clifton presented his version of events which elaborated on Mr Woodward's story. According to Mr Clifton: "...a young man named George Marsh was minding sheep for Mr. Arthur Perren, of Brunswick, and had his camp on the Collie River close to where the town of Collie stands today. One day while filling his billy from a deep pool in the river he noticed a couple of dark-coloured stones on the edge of the pool. These being of a convenient size and shape lo set on either side of his fire while the billy boiled he carried them up and used them for that purpose. To his astonishment he found a little later that they had taken fire.... he had no idea of the tremendous discovery he had made and when the owner of the sheep made his next periodical visit with rations for the shepherd the circumstance of the stones having taken fire was pointed out to him. Mr. Perren at once knew what they were but said never a word. In fact, he lay low about the discovery for some seven or eight years. presumably in hopes of making enough money out of his stock-raising operations to enable him to develop a coal mine himself." The story continued to say that Mr. Arthur Perren became very ill and "thinking that he might be going to die, he sent for one of his brothers and disclosed the discovery to him" Jessie Perren, the brother, then visited Bunbury and seeing bags of coal on the jetty told a bystander he knew where there was "plenty of that stuff to be got." This was told to Mr Hay, the story continues, who went to visit Mr Arthur Perren and "bounced him into the belief that his brother had told him all about it and it rested with him to go up with Mr. Hay and show him the exact locality and apply jointly with Mr. Hay for a mining lease over the area. If he did not Mr. Hay would apply for a large area in his own name and then with the help of an experienced bushman, he would soon locate the spot and Mr. Perren would be left out in the cold.Eventually Mr. Perren fell in with the proposal and some days later a party consisting of Mr. Hay, Mr. Perren, Mr. Luke Crampton and Mr. Robert H. Heppingstone went out under Mr. Perren's guidance to the pool, where the blocks of coal had been found by Mr. G. Marsh some eight years previously. And that was about all Mr. Perren knew about it, though he supposed that the seam might be exposed in the bottom of the pool Mr. Hay decided to strip off and get into the pool and eventually he found what he supposed to be the seam of coal." Mr Hay then loaded some coal in his sulky and "drove back triumphant as the discoverer." The coal was then exhibited at the Bunbury Agricultural Show "with a large placard intimating that it was "Collie coal discovered by Mr. D. A. Hay." According to Mr. Clifton, Mr Perren was very annoyed and he did not want Mr Hay acknowledged, but in the end Mr Hay and Mr Perren were both acknowledged as discoverers and shared the government reward (reference).
The family story told by David's son George in 1935 was different again. George explained that his father often journeyed along the Collie River on shop business and: "He was homeward-bound one evening and was about to pitch camp when he saw a fire in the bush. He went over and saw one of Perrin's shepherds. Dad decided to spend the evening with him. They were in the middle of their evening meal when the fire began to die down. The shepherd said that he knew of a place close by where he could get some black stuff that would keep a strong fire going all night. He went away and returned with an armful of black substance. Becoming interested, Dad watched him throw the stuff on the fire and saw it burn up. He examined it closely and asked the shepherd if he realised what the 'black stuff' was. The shepherd was very surprised when Dad told him it was coal. Perhaps the shepherd later told Perrin. The First Drayload: When Dad was in Bunbury he got two or three people interested in his coal discovery and Bob Elphinstone and Joe White and a couple of others came out with a dray and took a drayload of the stuff into Bunbury. They took it from near the river at Allanson about four miles south of Collie. In Bunbury Dad was told that the drayload of stuff was slate not coal, and he was laughed at for his talk of a coal discovery. But he was not satisfied. He took a lump with him to South Australia and had it examined there. That examination confirmed his belief that it was coal. He came back to Bunbury and reported the result of the examination to Sir John Forrest, who was his cousin. Sir John passed on the information to Government officers and a bore was put down, the results showing that a coal seam existed not only where Dad had indicated but also in other places in the vicinity. I know there was a lot of talk about who really did find coal. I know, too, that Dad got a reward for finding coal. That seems to me to about settle it (reference)."
On the plaque at the discovery site, Mr Marsh, Mr Perren and Mr Hay are all acknowledged in the discovery of coal (reference).
David died in 1899 after contracting pneumonia. He was 55 years old.
David married Katherine Walker O'Neill in 1866 (reference). Katherine was born in 1844 in Barna, a coastal village in County Galway, Ireland. She was the eldest daughter of Mary (nee Walker) and James O'Neill (reference).
In 1863, when Katherine was 19 years old, she came to Australia on the convict ship "Lord Dalhousie" with her mother's sister, Sarah and her husband, Reverend Joseph Withers (reference).
In 1931, Katherine recalled her arrival in Australia in an interview with the Collie times: "The Lord Dalhousie arrived at Gage Road on December 23 of the year mentioned after being 92 days at sea. She (if one can rail a boat with the title of Lord "she*) brought with her 422 souls of whom 270 were convicts transported for various offences from the mother country….[The convicts] were employed road making in Bunbury. They made every hit of Wellington Street and various other thoroughfares. Chained two and two together they would be escorted to their work by warders. After serving a stipulated time they would be allowed out on ticket of leave but a bell was rung every night at ten o'clock and all had to be in by that hour." While the rest of the Withers family travelled to Bunbury by boat, Katherine made the journey on horseback which meant she went through Perth which was then very small: "At that time there were only several shops in the capital and one hotel.This was in St. George's Terrace and is believed to be the United Service. The Hay Street roadway was a track made by bullock teams, it being no unusual sight to see the teams bogged…[when we arrived] footpaths were being made to Hay Street." The journey to Bunbury on horseback took several days and Mrs Hay recalled how pleased everyone was when the railway was built 30 years later: "In the earliest days of South Wert railroad history the train left Bunbury at about 8 o'clock in the morning and reached Pinjarra during the afternoon. It would proceed no further that day but would wait until the morrow when it would resume its journey in the morning and reach Perth about four o'clock In the afternoon. It would scarcely suit anybody dashing off to the Saturday afternoon races these times but [we] were perfectly satisfied for it meant a quick trip after horseback journeys and besides, staying at McLarty's in Pinjarra [we] never failed to have a good time." When Katherine arrived in Bunbury: "there were only about half a dozen houses in existence although there were a goodly number of pensioners' stone huts. Mr. Eliott was the resident magistrate." Mrs Hay recalled some of the people in the district at the time saying she knew the Australind pioneer Marshall Clifton's wife and son Pearce well, but Marshall had died before her arrival. She added that at the time, Australind "had then been deserted to a handful of people" (reference).
At the time of the interview, Katherine was 87 years old and had perfect eyesight. She said that she had worn spectacles for more than 50 years, a claim which was borne out by a 1919 advertisement for the return of her lost handbag containing "containing purse, spectacles and crochet work" (reference). However, after recovering from a nasty illness in her early eighties, she found her eyesight had improved so much that she didn't need spectacles "even for threading the finest of needles (reference)."
Katherine was known as a caring person. In a 1936 article celebrating Bunbury's centenary and recounting the town's progress, she was described as "a veritable mother to the whole town" (reference).
At the time of the 1931 interview, Mrs Hay had 35 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren and was moving around between her surviving children, "making her older years happy by living a little with each of them" (reference).
Katherine died in 1933, aged 89 years (reference).
David and Katherine had eleven children. Eliza, born in 1867, married Bunbury businessman and Councillor Mr James Tuxford, and they had two sons who both died in infancy (reference). Louisa Mary, born 1869, married Mr George Jones of Harvey, and they had seven children (reference). John Alexander, born in 1871, married Annie Donovan in 1921 (reference). They lived in Bunbury, and John had five children and three stepchildren (reference). While he was married to Katherine, David had a relationship for several years with Maria Hislop and had two sons with her. David Hislop Hay, born in 1872, died in 1873 at one year old (reference).
Katherine Hay, David’s wife
Photo courtesy of the Battye Library
Alexander Hislop, born in 1875, was registered as both Alexander Hislop and Alexander Hay. Alexander married Ethel Brown, and they had one son (reference). Maria petitioned David for maintenance in 1876 and was awarded five shillings a week for the next fourteen years. It was the first case fought under the then-new Western Australian Bastardy Laws Act of 1875 (reference). Grace "Amy", born in 1873, married Walter Scott. They had one daughter, Daisy, and they lived in Congdon Street, East Fremantle. (reference; reference).
Walter died in 1915 in Melbourne, and Grace was remarried to George Wilbow in 1918 (reference). They lived in Salisbury Street, Leederville, but they didn't have any more children (reference) Albert George, born in 1875, married Lily Rundle, and they had seven children (reference). Frederick William "Bill", born in 1877, owned Nulla Nulla cattle station on the coast near Wyndham in partnership with Lionel Overhue. He was the first person to grow cotton in the North West, and a consignment was displayed at the Wembley Exhibition. Bill tried to enlist during the Boer War but was turned away because he didn't pass his medical, so he worked his passage to Africa and joined one of the irregular corps and fought with them. After the war, he spent some time travelling in Africa, crossing the continent from east to west. When he returned, he worked as a surveyor with Mr Terry from Manjimup before travelling north to work for Alexander Forrest. Fred then served in World War 1 with the 10th Light Horse Brigade. He was wounded in the foot and left unable to walk without the aid of a stick. He returned to the North West and took up a pastoral lease with Lionel Overhue. In 1928, Frederick wrote to his mother, telling her their first consignment of cattle was ready, and his partner had to go to the hospital. He also said the local Aboriginal people were very hostile, but he thought the situation was manageable. However, in April 1928, Frederick was found speared to death by his partner and Constable S. Jack. An Aboriginal man named Lumbra was charged with his murder (reference; reference; reference). Mabel Katherine, born in 1879, married Edward Townshend, an engine driver. They lived in Merredin from 1920 to 1929 (reference; reference). David Augustus Kennedy "Ken", born in 1881, married Dora Hill, and they had two sons (reference; reference). In 1906, David went to jail for forging a bank receipt while being secretary of the Western Australian Locomotive Engine Drivers', Firemens' and Cleaners' Union (reference). He died in a car accident in 1914 when he was 34 years old (reference). George Lancelot, born in 1883, married his brother's widow, Dora, in 1916, and they had three more children (reference; reference). Previous to his marriage, George had been charged with breach of promise in 1905 by Emma Witt and ordered to pay ₤150 (reference). Norman, born in 1886, died in infancy (reference). Dorothy Nina, born in 1888, married Frank Dye. They lived at Roelands and had ten children (reference).
HAY, Albert Edward
(1875-1950)
Albert Hay, born in 1875, was the second son and sixth child of David and Katherine Hay. He spent most of his life in Bunbury and was well known in horse racing circles. A biographical sketch stated:
"Albert's chief love in life is horses. He is reputed to be one of the best judges of horseflesh in the state, and his tales of horse dealings before the advent of the automobile bring chuckles from both recounter and listeners, his prowess in dealing with unmanageable equines was legend; many an outlaw was brought to Albert Hay for taming." - Southern Times 1948 (reference).
Advertisement 1912
Bunbury Herald Sat 20 Apr 1912 Page 2
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Albert Hay and his 20 year-old Morris in 1948
South Western TimesThu 23 Sep 1948 Page 19
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Albert was born in his father’s house in Victoria Street, Bunbury (reference). He grew up before the advent of the motor car, and, as a young man, he would exercise his father’s horses when they were not being used for transport. Albert was also a person who would not hesitate to help others. In one incident in 1893, this trait nearly cost him his life while he was out exercising the family horse. The story was reported in the Bunbury Herald: “A sensational accident occurred on Friday morning last. Mr. Albert Hay, when riding for exercise the well-known grey horse (Donald) belonging to Mr. D. Hay, was asked to assist in driving a young bull into town. He immediately consented, and headed the bull once or twice. The bull eventually got into a paddock adjoining Stirling Street, and when young Hay tried to dislodge him he charged the horse viciously, and struck him just behind the shoulder. The horse did not seem to be much distressed at first, but directly after arriving in the stable, fell, and shortly afterwards died. Mr. Albert Hay narrowly escaped being injured, as the horn of the bull just grazed his leg. The horse stood the shock, and did not fall, otherwise a more serious accident would have resulted. We regret the death of the horse, which was well-known in the district as one of the best single harness buggy horses known here.” (reference)
However, he wasn’t always a responsible rider, or perhaps he wasn’t used to the town growing around him. In 1899, Albert was fined for “having committed a breach of the municipal by-laws by driving horses round a corner at the intersection of Victoria and Stephen streets at a faster pace than a walk.” (reference).
In the early years, Albert did survey work on the Bunbury-Collie Railway and the Bunbury Breakwater (reference).
Lily married Albert Hay in 1901, and they were happily married for almost 50 years (reference; reference). Albert and Lily had seven children together: Ailsa (b. 1901), David (b. 1903), Eldred “Dick” (b. 1904), Lilian “Bridie” (b. 1906), Forrest “Barney” (b. 1908), Patricia (b. 1911) and Beryl “Maeve” (b. 1913) (reference).
By 1900, Albert had an extensive livery stable and his own taxi service business in Bunbury, which he ran for many years - transitioning from horse and cart to motor cars (reference; reference). Even though the cabs were horse-drawn, Albert had similar problems to bus drivers today. There was an incident where young men threw stones at him, and Albert "fell on to the bottom of the bus and lay on the seat to dodge the stones. The stones struck the horses, and they galloped on. (reference)". Again, there were collisions and damage caused by errant horses (reference; reference). There was also the occasional fine for speeding (reference).
During these early years, people brought their difficult horses to Albert to train as he was known for his horse skills (reference). He was also known to occasionally save the day by reining in an errant horse that happened to be passing by (reference).
In 1903, Bunbury experienced extensive flooding. It was reported - tongue in cheek - that "Albert Hay is about to abolish the third bus and charter the S.S. Dunskey, so that in future he will be able to carry passengers right beyond the Federal Hotel to Armitage town and Parkesville" (reference).
By 1905, there were several other taxi services in Bunbury. Albert was running regular bus services. He provided one to the Parade Hotel and the other to Federal Hotel for the 1905/1906 summer season (reference; reference).
Albert's horse-drawn omnibuses were used for many different things. For example, he hired out horses for funerals and transported people to company picnics, police to crime scenes and occasionally a dead body (reference; reference; reference).
The taxi services were not running at a great profit, though, as Albert pointed out in a letter to the paper responding to a request for a regular timetabled bus service "to expect cabs to run to a regular timetable and at frequent intervals from the centre of the town to the municipal boundaries for the service of a population of our limits is to expect cab proprietors to work their plants at a heavy loss. The system has been tried, and has proved a financial failure, the traffic being altogether insufficient. (reference)."
Albert's love of horses did not stop him from quickly embracing the motor car. He was one of the first to own a car in Bunbury. In 1912, he added a 20HP Ford Touring Car for hire to his business. He advertised his trade as a Motor Garage along with his stables (reference; reference; reference). Soon after the car arrived, Arthur Baldock hired it to take a party of five on a trip to Busselton: "Leaving Bunbury at 7 o'clock, the party arrived at Capel just two minutes after 8, having negotiated a considerable section of very bad road in an hour and two minutes, which, it is claimed, constitutes a record, and is truly a creditable performance in view of the sandy nature of the track which connects the two centres. The worst part of the road, however, is a stretch of some few miles between Capel and Ludlow. Although the track in some places appeared altogether impassable, especially for motor traffic, Mr. Baldock guided his Ford through with the five passengers aboard, without any apparent difficulty, maintaining a steady speed all the way. From Wonnerup to Busselton and thence onward to the caves the road is now in splendid order, and nothing could be more delightful than a spin at a speed of about 25 miles per hour over this lengthy stretch. Uncertain as it was in the daylight, the return journey, in pitch darkness, savored somewhat of a hazardous undertaking, but with two powerful headlights to guide him,
Mr. Baldock sent his car over the bad stretches at a pace which was more than alarming to novice motorists, and arrived at Bunbury, without having experienced a mishap of any nature, just two hours after leaving Busselton. This will be regarded by all who are acquainted with the road, and who know anything about motors, as a noteworthy performance" (reference).
Apparently, the new car didn't stand out that much to some. A couple of months after it arrived, the car was parked outside a wine saloon when a young boy named Robert Izard, who wasn't paying attention, cycled straight into the back of it. Albert didn't seem too worried about his car, as he immediately lifted the boy and drove him to the doctors for a check over (reference).
Albert kept pace with the newer models of cars arriving on the market. In 1913, he bought a 25 hp Studebaker advertised as "noiseless" then a 1915 model Studebaker, followed by a 1918 model (reference; reference; reference).
Albert often went above and beyond a regular taxi service. In 1914, while motoring along the Boyanup Road, he came upon Arthur Dillon, severely injured after being trampled by his horses. Another rider had gone for help, so Albert picked Arthur up and headed towards Bunbury. He was met on the way by Dr Joel, who examined Dillon and tried to lessen his pain. They proceeded at full speed to Bunbury Hospital. Unfortunately, Dillon did not survive (reference)
In 1915, he drove Mr and Mrs Kaeshagen from Bunbury to Williams after Mrs Kaeshagen's mother had died in an accident. This was the first car trip undertaken between Williams and Bunbury and took 14 hours, including a rest on the way. After Collie, "they left the beaten track, and practically followed a bush road, where the trees in some cases almost brushed the splashboards, the car having to dodge boulders and stumps." (reference).
In 1918, when Albert collected returning soldier Harry Payne and his family from the railway station, he decorated his car with flags for the occasion (reference).
Like cab drivers everywhere, Albert had some unusual incidents happen. One of these occurred when Albert had Frederick Godeshall Johnston, a retired timber inspector, as a passenger. After getting out of the car to open a gate, Albert returned to the vehicle and found Frederick had died. Apparently, Frederick had been having ongoing heart trouble for quite some time and had finally succumbed in Albert's cab (reference).
The new cars set new records for travelling between places, and their drivers were eager to prove how fast they were. Albert was no exception according to the 1940 recollections of a reporter with the pseudonym "Kritic": "Don't think I'm a sissy about cars—25 years ago with a dust coat, goggles and gauntlets, a bottle of whisky and some sandwiches, I thought nothing of facing a trip to Bunbury which might take five or 15 hours according to D.V., and I held the time record until Albert Hay beat it with a dare-devil drive of 4½ hours." (reference).
The arrival of cars brought changes, and there were new problems. Horses were much slower and people were casual in regards to roads. Unfortunately, this was the cause of a fatal accident when 5-year-old Thomas Trott ran onto the road in front of Albert's car. He was run over and died 15 minutes later. Albert was not blamed and the coroner's report issued the instruction that "the police and school teachers should be requested to prevent children playing marbles or other games in the streets." (reference).
In those early years, Albert had his share of accidents that were his fault. In 1914: "An accident, fortunately unattended with more serious results than recorded, happened on Monday evening at the Federal corner. Albert Hay was driving his car from Picton with some passengers and swung out round the corner, when the car and a cart came directly into collison. The horse was thrown down and a shaft of the cart went into the front of the oar, fortunately not striking the occupants. The horse was considered killed, but on being lifted up was found uninjured, and nothing was broken about the cart save a belly band. The driver of the cart had a shaking but the worst of the mishap fell on Mr. J. Reynolds, the well-known commercial traveller, who was found to have had an arm broken. The car was not much injured. Mr. Reynolds had his arm set, and was yesterday progressing favourably." (reference).
In 1918: "Mr Albert Hay, when negotiating the State School corner on Monday last, in his motor, narrowly escaped a serious accident. As it was, he collided with one of Mr Wight's delivery vans, doing some damage to the cart and harness. All's well that ends well."
In 1920: "On Thursday evening when Mr. Albert Hay was negotiating a hill near Kirup in his Studebaker car, he had a narrow escape of death. The sun had set and the car was travelling down a rather steep hill with two passengers —Mr. Albert Hay and Mr J. Hardwick, and when turning a corner came in contact with a large tree on the side of the road. Both the occupants received minor injuries, and it is indeed remarkable that the injuries were not more severe. The car was badly damaged, the radiator being badly bulged, the headlights broken, the windscreen smashed, and the axles turned. The machine is now in Messrs. McClure and Fault's undergoing repairs." (reference).
In 1922, the cab business failed and Albert filed for bankruptcy (reference). Sometime after this, Albert bought a Morris car for £80 and he still had it 20 years later when it had "done about 105,000 miles with only one mechanical breakdown, and that caused through water in the carburettor." The report also stated that the "car has become as familiar a landmark in Bunbury as the Municipal Hall." (reference).
After the taxi business failed, Albert worked on the wharf for a short time. In 1927, a sleeper dropped on his foot and crushed it. He was immediately taken to hospital, where he had his big toe amputated (reference). Following this accident, Albert took on the role of Town Bailiff for Bunbury and was in this role for 20 years from 1927 until 1947 when, after having his leg amputated, he retained the position of Sheriff's Officer (reference). Albert had to maintain an air of authority as bailiff and, as the following story shows, he seemed to manage this even with when the subject was being difficult: "It is not often that a human impedes the progress of a court session, but a mere dog- a huge Airedale - earned the "distinction" at the last sitting of the Local Court. He wandered in through the door by which the magistrate and solicitors enter, and first surveying the scene with his big brown eyes, casually sauntered into the body of the court....In the gallery the dog discovered his friend. He pawed at the railing and the magistrate, noticing the animal, ordered the responsible person to remove it. A man in the gallery rose and when he did the dog was quickly at his feet. The man grasped the dog by the collar, but the canine squatted on its haunches and refused to move…. A little coaxing folIowed and the magistrate's order fulfilled. The animal made its exit through the gallery door. Proceedings had advanced a little when the dog made a reappearance through another door. Bailiff Albert Hay, however, ejected the animal once and for all with a stentorian order which rolled through the court, and without coaxing or handling, the Airedale, tail between legs, departed, never to reappear." (reference)
1914 Advertisement
Bunbury Herald Sat 7 Mar 1914 Page 10
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia
By 1929, Albert was also employed by the Bunbury Council as the Assistant Traffic Inspector (reference). In this position, Albert wrote infringements for parking and driving (reference; reference). In the same way, he did as a taxi driver, Albert went beyond his duties by voluntarily organising parking for significant events (reference, reference).
As an economic measure in 1931, the Council asked him if he would also be the poundkeeper in addition to his duties as an assistant traffic inspector, but Albert declined (reference; reference). In the same year, however, Albert helped the Council's economy by accepting the extra duties of Rates Collector and being very successful at collecting the outstanding council rates (reference; reference).
Throughout his life, Albert retained a great love for horses and was said to be one of the best horse judges throughout the state. He was also somewhat of a horse whisperer, being able to train even the most difficult animals. When he ran the livery stable, he enjoyed showing horses and was very proud that in the local show, his horse outfit beat one belonging to Mr Teasdale Smith, which had won first prize in the Melbourne Show (reference).
His association with the Bunbury Racing Club spanned more than 50 years, and in that time, he only missed two meetings when he was hospitalised. He served on the committee for many years and took on many roles, including starter and judge (reference). In 1932, a report about the Race Club singled out Albert for his contribution:
"They also take pride in the club's course on which many honorary workers have spent a good deal of time. No one is more consistent than Mr. A. E. Hay. His father cleared the course and had foresight enough to leave a number of shade trees in convenient places. His son is now carrying on the good work, and spends a good deal of his time at the course." (reference) Albert was made a life member of the club in 1947 (reference). In 1954, his children donated memorial gates to the Race Club in honour of their father. At the presentation of the gates, his son Mr "Barney" Hay said that: "his father had always battled for the betterment of the club and its interests. He was responsible for getting water laid on to the course and planted many of the fine trees which added so much to the picturesque setting today" (reference).
Albert was 75 when he died in September 1950 after two years of failing health (reference). Albert was well-loved in Bunbury and a newspaper article stated "Albert Hay probably has more friends in Bunbury than most ten men put together." (reference).
HASTIE, Thomas Little
(18/8/1861-23/9/1944)
Thomas was the son of Charles and Mary (nee Connor). Thomas married on 22/4/1886 Margaret Reilly (1860-1941). Margaret was the daughter of Phillip and Margaret. They had two sons and six daughters. He was a Bunbury farmer and carter from 1887-1889.
HASTlE, John Little
(18/05/1864-16/04/1933)
John was the son of Charles and Mary. John married on 16/9/1886 Eleanor Kinsella (16/1858-20/7/1929). Eleanor was the daughter of Edward and Anne. In Bunbury, John was a carter in the 1880s.
HASTIE, James Little
(08/07/1871-25/11/1933)
James was the son of Charles and Mary. He married on 02/02/1890 in Busselton to Anna Hutchins. Anna was the daughter of Frederick and Mary, of Wonnerup. In Bunbury, he was a carter from 1887-1889.