Frankland, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Frankland is a small town in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia
. The town is in the shire of Cranbrook
and is situated approximately 360 km from the State's capital, Perth
, 42 km west of the Albany Highway
, 83 km southwest of Kojonup
, 19 km north of Rocky Gully and 90 km east of Manjimup
. Frankland derives its name from its location 6 km east of the Frankland River
. At the 2006 census
, Frankland had a population of 380.
in 1829. Wilson, who was on his way to Sydney, left Albany
to explore the hinterland while his ship, the Governor Phillip, was being repaired. He named Frankland River and Mount Frankland after George Frankland
(1800–38), who was the Surveyor General in Van Diemen's Land
in 1829. Wilson's explorations helped to show that conditions in the interior were suitable for farming and settlers soon began to move inland. The area was settled in 1857.
The state government set aside land for the townsite
by 1909 and built a hall and a school. No further developments took place for some time and the townsite was not declared until 1947.
The town and region were known as Frankland River until 1935. After the building of a local post office, the postmaster shortened the name to Frankland because "Frankland River" was considered too long to fit on signs and documents. Western Australia's first European settlement began at Albany in 1826. Gradually the pioneers set out to explore the hinterland, hoping to find areas that would be more suitable for pastoral and agricultural holdings than that of the land in the immediate vicinity of the first settlement. Originally settled by farming families in the late 19th century, following good reports from explorers to the region and due to its good soils, consistent, reliable rainfall, rivers and lakes, the land was cleared of its heavy wandoo
, jarrah
and marri
to make way for pastures for grazing and arable land for cropping.
John Hassell, a retired sea captain, was responsible for opening up extensive areas in the south of the State during the 1850s. He owned large flocks of sheep, which needed the constant attention of shepherds, as the only fences in existence were post-and-rail. Many of the shepherds drove their flocks into the Frankland area, which has many small creeks surrounded by natural pasture that provided good feed in the autumn, winter and spring. The permanent waters of the Frankland and Gordon Rivers, and lakes such as Nunijup and Poorarecup also made the area attractive during summer. Gradually families followed the shepherds into the area, mainly looking for land. Frankland was one of the many districts to benefit from the completion of the Great Southern Railway
in 1889. Although the line actually went through Cranbrook (47 km away) timber workers in the Frankland area were kept busy supplying railway sleepers for the line. Settlement of the district expanded when some of these men took up land in the area.
Frankland expanded with the influx of war veterans following World War II, mill workers, shearing teams, seasonal workers on local vineyards and olive groves, townsfolk, farmers and retirees.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The town is in the shire of Cranbrook
Cranbrook, Western Australia
Cranbrook is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia between Katanning, Kojonup and Mount Barker, situated 320km south of Perth. It is billed as "The Gateway to the Stirlings", referring to the nearby Stirling Range National Park...
and is situated approximately 360 km from the State's capital, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, 42 km west of the Albany Highway
Albany Highway
Albany Highway is a generally northwest-southeast highway in the south of Western Australia which links the state's capital Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany. The highway is approximately in length, is designated State Route 30 and separates Western Australia's Great Southern region from...
, 83 km southwest of Kojonup
Kojonup, Western Australia
Kojonup is a town located 256 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia along Albany Highway.The name Kojonup is believed to refer to the "Kodja" or stone axe made by Indigenous Australians from the local stone....
, 19 km north of Rocky Gully and 90 km east of Manjimup
Manjimup, Western Australia
Manjimup is a town in Western Australia, south of the state capital, Perth. The town of Manjimup is a regional centre for the largest shire in the South West of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Manjimup had a population of 4,239.-History:...
. Frankland derives its name from its location 6 km east of the Frankland River
Frankland River
The Frankland River is a river in the great southern region of Western Australia. The Frankland River is the largest river by volume in the region and the eighth largest in the state....
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Frankland had a population of 380.
History
Frankland River was named by the surgeon Dr Thomas Braidwood WilsonThomas Braidwood Wilson
Thomas Braidwood Wilson FRGS was an Australian surgeon and explorer. He was born in Uphall, West Lothian, Scotland, the son of James, and Catherine Boak.-Sea Voyages:...
in 1829. Wilson, who was on his way to Sydney, left Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
to explore the hinterland while his ship, the Governor Phillip, was being repaired. He named Frankland River and Mount Frankland after George Frankland
George Frankland
George Frankland was an English surveyor and Surveyor-General of Van Diemen's Land .In 1823, Frankland was appointed surveyor-general at Poona, India, where he became acquainted with Edward Dumaresq. In 1827 Frankland arrived in Van Diemen's Land as first assistant surveyor, in March 1828 he...
(1800–38), who was the Surveyor General in Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
in 1829. Wilson's explorations helped to show that conditions in the interior were suitable for farming and settlers soon began to move inland. The area was settled in 1857.
The state government set aside land for the townsite
Townsite
A townsite is a legal subdivision of land for the development of a town or community. In the historical development of the United States, Canada, and other former British colonial nations, the filing of a townsite plat or plan was often the first legal act in the establishment of a new town or...
by 1909 and built a hall and a school. No further developments took place for some time and the townsite was not declared until 1947.
The town and region were known as Frankland River until 1935. After the building of a local post office, the postmaster shortened the name to Frankland because "Frankland River" was considered too long to fit on signs and documents. Western Australia's first European settlement began at Albany in 1826. Gradually the pioneers set out to explore the hinterland, hoping to find areas that would be more suitable for pastoral and agricultural holdings than that of the land in the immediate vicinity of the first settlement. Originally settled by farming families in the late 19th century, following good reports from explorers to the region and due to its good soils, consistent, reliable rainfall, rivers and lakes, the land was cleared of its heavy wandoo
Wandoo
Wandoo is the common name for a number of Western Australian Eucalyptus species, all of which have smooth white bark.The original "wandoo" is Eucalyptus wandoo. Other species have been given this name because of a perceived likeness with E. wandoo...
, jarrah
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata is one of the most common species of Eucalyptus tree in the southwest of Western Australia. The tree and the wood are usually referred to by the Aboriginal name Jarrah...
and marri
Corymbia calophylla
Corymbia calophylla is a bloodwood native to Western Australia. Common names include Marri and Port Gregory Gum, and a long standing usage has been Red Gum due to the red gum effusions often found on trunks.It is distinctive among bloodwoods for its very large buds and fruit Corymbia calophylla...
to make way for pastures for grazing and arable land for cropping.
John Hassell, a retired sea captain, was responsible for opening up extensive areas in the south of the State during the 1850s. He owned large flocks of sheep, which needed the constant attention of shepherds, as the only fences in existence were post-and-rail. Many of the shepherds drove their flocks into the Frankland area, which has many small creeks surrounded by natural pasture that provided good feed in the autumn, winter and spring. The permanent waters of the Frankland and Gordon Rivers, and lakes such as Nunijup and Poorarecup also made the area attractive during summer. Gradually families followed the shepherds into the area, mainly looking for land. Frankland was one of the many districts to benefit from the completion of the Great Southern Railway
Great Southern Railway (Western Australia)
The Great Southern Railway was the name of a railway company that operated from Beverley to Albany in Western Australia between 1886 and 1896. In 1896 the Western Australian Government Railways took over this company and the railway route also kept the name.- Construction :The first sods for the...
in 1889. Although the line actually went through Cranbrook (47 km away) timber workers in the Frankland area were kept busy supplying railway sleepers for the line. Settlement of the district expanded when some of these men took up land in the area.
Frankland expanded with the influx of war veterans following World War II, mill workers, shearing teams, seasonal workers on local vineyards and olive groves, townsfolk, farmers and retirees.
Education
Education in the town was formally undertaken by the appointment of a head teacher and, as there was no schoolhouse built, the first teacher was given a tent with instructions to erect it for himself to house him until further accommodation could be found. Schooling was conducted in the town hall before World War II.Wine region
- Frankland River is one of the five subregions of the Great Southern in Western Australia. It is situated in the northwestern corner of the region, its western boundary touching the eastern side of Manjimup. It is the most northerly, inland subregion of Great Southern, still Mediterranean in terms of dominant winter-spring rainfall, but with greater continentality, thus favoring Riesling, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. A unique feature is a sea breeze which finds its way inland and cools the late afternoon temperature by about 2C. Total rainfall decreases from west to east, and salinity in the soil and surface water makes irrigation difficult. The answer is a complex and extensive system of very long collection channels and drains on slopes, plus holding dams and long-distance pumping. The gently rolling hill country is catchment for the Frankland, Gordon, Kent and Tone rivers. The soils are chiefly derived from granite or gneiss outcrops, and so are typically rich, red in color and of uniform depth. Lat: 34 39’S; Alt: 200–300 m; Hdd: 1441; Gsr: 310 mm; Mjt: 19C; Harvest: Mid-March to mid-April; Chief Viticultural Hazard: Drought; Birds.