General News
11 April, 2025
Town’s early history explored
To mark the beginning of National Heritage Month, Carisbrook Historical Society Inc will be hosting an exhibition on WWI soldier settlers in the Carisbrook district.
Project coordinator Alex Stoneman said the exhibition will tell the stories of the nine ex-servicemen who became local soldier settlers, displaying information for farms in many local towns.
“Through documents, maps, text and photographs, you’ll see the steps former soldiers had to go through to get soldier settlement blocks and qualify as a farmer. It was pretty tough,” he said.
Following WWI, the Australian Government arranged and funded settlements for ex-service personnel who wished to take up farming as soldier settlers.
The Shire of Tullaroop made farms available in areas such as Carisbrook, Moolort, and Baringhup West.
Many of the families of the soldiers still live in the area to date.
“So, there’s quite a mixture of stories in the local soldier settlements. Stories well worth sharing with visitors,” Mr Stoneman said.
While farming on this land was difficult for some, many succeeded.
One of them was George Frederick Allan, whose photo will be unveiled at the exhibition’s opening.
“We are holding an unveiling here by his grandson, which is wonderful,” Mr Stoneman said.
“He served on the Western Front from March 1916, was wounded in action twice and returned to Australia in August 1917. Unfortunately his soldier settlement records are missing from the archive site but we do know that his farm was in Eddington Parish.”
His land had originally been the farms of neighbouring soldier settlers, on which he later had property.
“His farms were very close to Carisbrook, in Baringhup West, some at Moolort, and Joyces Creek. George and his family finished the purchase of their farm and added more blocks to their property,” Mr Stoneman said.
Many similar stories will be shared at the exhibition, with the Carisbrook Historical Society hosting other events to retell local history.
“We are holding a number of exhibitions and events, we have the Avenue of Honour at Majorca, and the Carisbrook Historical Society mini gallery at the Town Hall. We are providing public access to our collection,” Mr Stoneman said.
“We really think it’s worthwhile to have the public displays, as a measure of thanks to the community and organisations for their support. What we’re doing with research and displaying it, conserving it, is really worth while.”
The exhibition wll open on Friday April 18 at 2 pm at the Carisbrook Log Jail, and will remain on display until July.