"Tom" Thomas POOLE
Born 26 November 1893 in Elberton, Gloucestershire, England [16] [P237]
Son of George Nicholas POOLE and Mary ENGLAND [20] [21]
In 1901 he was living in Elberton Village with his parents, sisters Edith and Margaret, and brothers Frank and William [20]
A short time after the conclusion of the First World War he travelled to Western Australia under the Soldier Settlement Scheme [P237]
After arriving in Albany, Western Australia by ship he initially worked as a farmhand in the Eastern Wheatbelt [P237]
Married Laura Daisy STAFFORD on 23 September 1922 in the Perth suburb of Victoria Park [P237]
Laura had arrived in Western Australia from England on the steamship Diogenes the previous day [P237]
Resided with his wife in the Perth suburb of Victoria Park 1922-1925 [P237]
His wife gave birth a son, Leslie Stafford POOLE, who passed away at the age of a few months on 3 January 1924 [2] [P237]
In 1925 he went into partnership with his father, brother Frank and brother-in-law Frank LONG as "Poole, Sons & Long" [P237]
They purchased from the Midland Railway Company 1,590 acres of prospective farmland in Winchester on 11 August 1925 [27]
The 1,590 acres was Lot M1580 of Victoria Location 2023 and came at a cost of £994, payable by instalments over 15 years [27]
They purchased a horse and cart and travelled from Perth to Winchester with the cart loaded to capacity [P237]
Farmer of Elberton Farm in Billeroo, East Winchester 1925-1934 [P237]
He farmed the property in partnership with his father, brother and brother-in-law 1925-1933 as "Poole, Sons & Long" [3] [27]
Once they'd finished building they began clearing the farm and by April 1926 had cleared almost 200 acres [39: 9-Nov-1926]
They purchased one horse and later another five to make up a team to do much of the farm work [P237]
With the first winter rains in 1926 they commenced using a tractor and ten-furrow plough and seeded their first crop [39: 9-Nov-1926]
During the planting of the first crop his brother ploughed by day and he by night so they could get the crop planted in time [P237]
Later, at seeding and harvest, neighbouring farmer Herbert E. NINEHAM would bring additional machinery and help them out [P237]
Prior to the 1930s the farm's only industry was the growing of crops however in the early 30s sheep were introduced [P237]
His brother-in-law left the partnership in April 1933 with he, his father and brother continuing as "Poole & Sons" [27] [39: 17-May-1933]
After harvest each year he and his daughter spent a holiday in Perth with his sister Mrs Sally BOULTER (nee POOLE) [P237]
He was said to have had a useful knack for being able to treat horses ailments without the treatment or advice of a vet [P237]
Initially they built and lived in a temporary shack out of wooden boxes and kerosene tins with a corrugated iron roof [P237]
They began making mud bricks for a house by putting mud into wooden formers and leaving them to dry in the sun [P237]
Corrugated iron for the roof and timber for doors, windows, floors and furniture was sent up from Perth on the train [P237]
They built a seven-room clay-brick house with ten-inch thick walls, which they plastered on the inside and outside [39: 9-Nov-1926]
In addition to helping build the house with his family, he also made some of the furniture [P237]
The only light they had at night was supplied by oil lamps [P237]
A traveller who passed by their farm in 1926 remarked that their home was the best house in the district [39: 9-Nov-1926]
After the house they also built from clay-bricks a kitchen and sheds for their horse and motor truck [39: 9-Nov-1926]
To begin with they made all their own bread, ate kangaroo and wild turkey and had other meat and vegetables sent from Perth [39]
By November 1926 they had a half-acre vegetable garden with cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, lettuces and fruit trees [39]
They kept food in a cupboard he made that had its legs standing in empty polish tins filled with kerosene to keep ants out [P237]
His niece Freda BOULTER regularly arranged for sackfuls of groceries to be sent up from Perth by train [P237]
Later on most of what they needed could by obtained in Carnamah and he and his wife Laura would do a once monthly shop [P237]
On their monthly shops they would buy groceries in bulk, including sugar and flour by the sack [P237]
For a period water for the house had to be carted a considerable distance prior to a well and windmill being erected [P237]
He cut men's hair in the Billeroo-Winchester district, due to the fact that there wasn't a local hairdresser [P237]
Often brought home animals he found in the bush, including a porcupine, black rabbit and quail chicks (which he returned) [P237]
In 1932 his pregnant wife and daughter Daisy sailed to England for the birth of their third child, returning in June 1933 [P237]
Paid £7/15/- in Vermin Bonuses by the Carnamah District Road Board over the 1933-34 financial year for killing 16 foxes [300]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Member of the Billeroo Cricket Club in 1934-35 [5: 15-Mar-1935, 5-Apr-1935]
After the slump caused by the Great Depression he gave up farming [P237]
He, his wife and their children were tendered a Farewell Social at the Billeroo School Hall on Wednesday 10 April 1935 [5]
Their social consisted of musical items, games, supper and speeches - which made mention of their sterling qualities as citizens [5]
After a residence of almost ten years left the Winchester district on Monday 15 April 1935 and shifted to Perth [5: 12-Apr-1935]
Dissolved partnership with his father and brother on 11 May 1935, with the two of them continuing with the farm [5: 7-Jun-1935]
Resided in South Perth and worked in the building industry until returning to England with his wife and children in 1938 [P237]
Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Jervis Bay and arrived in Southampton, England about a month later [P237]
The fare for him, his wife and their two children to return to England came at a cost of £120/10/- [P237]
Resided in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset in England while working in building and farming related jobs [P237]
Father of Leslie, Daisy and Geoffrey [P237]
Died in 1955 in England; buried at the Elberton Churchyard in Elberton, Gloucestershire, England [P237]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Thomas Poole' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 18 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/thomas-poole [reference list] |
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