"Bob" Robert Smith KEAY

Born 8 October 1901 in Anstruther Easter, Fife, Scotland ^[28]
Son of fisherman Andrew KEAY and Marjory Rattray SMITH ^[28]
Resided with his parents and siblings on East Green in Anstruther Easter ^[28]
He was one of at least eight children with siblings David, William, Andrew, James, Preston, Marjory, and Maggie ^[20]
A few months before his sixth birthday in 1906 his father passed away at the age of 53 years ^[28]
Worked in the wheat and ship districts of Victoria for a few years before returning to Scotland for a holiday ^{[108: page 5]}
Before leaving for Scotland he met and spoke with James F. THOMSON about them buying a farm together ^{[108: page 5]}
     On his return he met up with James F. THOMSON and as a result he travelled to Western Australia to look at farms ^{[108: page 5]}
     His investigations into farmland in Western Australia resulted in them purchasing a 2,037 acre property in Marchagee ^{[108: page 5]}
Farmer of Anster Farm in Marchagee 1928-1933 ^{[19] [108: pages 5, 13]}
     The farm's 2,037 acres consisted of Victoria Locations 3231, 3232, 3233, 3234, 3235, 3240, 3250, 6383 and 7036 ^[3]
     He owned and farmed the property in partnership with James F. THOMSON ^{[3] [108: pages 5, 13]}
     He settled on and began farming the property in 1928 ^[19] while THOMSON initially remained in Melbourne ^{[108: page 5]}
Married Daisy May BRYANT in Perth in 1929 ^[66]
     Resided with his wife in a two roomed gable roofed house on the farm that had verandahs on the front and back ^{[108: page 5]}
     Half of the back verandah was enclosed for their kitchen, and the house was the typical sort of basic home for the era ^[108]
     His mother-in-law lived with them to assist his wife with their three children under one year of age - a daughter and twins ^[108]
In 1931 the farm had stables and machinery sheds that were built of bush timber with straw covered rooves ^{[108: page 6]}
     The only more permanent farm building was the chaff room next to the stables which was made of corrugated iron ^[108]
     They had no shearing shed and took their sheep to be shorn at Frank R. BRYANT's Mamboobie Estate Farm in Marchagee ^[108]
In May 1931 James F. THOMSON along with James' wife Nellie and son Peter joined them on the farm in Marchagee ^{[108: page 6]}

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