Datatine
At the turn of last century, various local community halls around the Nyabing and Katanning areas were constructed to serve communities within close proximity of them. Funds for their construction were raised by the local community (no grants in those days) through sporting and social events.
Besides being the social centre of the area these halls, including Datatine, Boongadoo, Kwobrup and Badgebup, were used for religious meetings, sporting events, schools, and as polling booths in Federal and State Government elections.
DATATINE HALL
Datatine, which is between Dumbleyung and Nyabing, even had silent films screened at the Datatine Hall irregularly (about every three months) in the twenties. The operator brought a generator with him in his bus.
From the “Inherit” website
The Datatine Hall site has heritage significance as a historical site of a once valuable community building. The hall was a central community focus for sport, religion, education and social meetings. Despite the demolition of the hall, which had fallen into disrepair during the 1990s, the site needs to be recognised so that Datatine as an area and small community is not get forgotten. (A school site plaque is situated on the location.)
Datatine’s history began in 1907 when it was first settled by farming families. The hall site and reserve was one of the identifying features of Datatine. The hall was erected by the Watson Bros of Pingrup, it was opened in June 1913. School classes were held in the hall from 1916 until 1943 when it was closed owing to the introduction of the school buses (a state wide program which led to the closure of many one teacher schools). Datatine was the first school to close in the Dumbleyung outer district owing to the school bus programme. However, the commemorative school plaque, placed in 1984, only tells one part of the story, as the hall was used for many functions over the years.
Other than for school it was also used for Presbyterian and Church of England services as well as being the ‘club house’ for sports such as polo, cricket, boxing, golf and tennis. Social gatherings included Christmas parties, dances, district farewells and annual picnic days. In 1925 the hall was lined and extended. A supper room, back room and stage were added later (approximately 1930).
Datatine Hall was still being used until the mid-1990s despite its deteriorating condition but was closed in 1998 and subsequently partly dismantled. Only remnants now exist. The building was demolished owing to its poor state of repair and the Shire’s concern for public liability if someone was injured by virtue of its condition.
Though there is no geological feature with the name Datatine, Datatine Wheat was released in 1994 thus becoming a name known in wider agricultural circles.
From Katanning Historical Society:
In 1913 the Datatine Hall was built at a total cost of about £46 ($78) and it was then the only hall for many miles around. People would drive distances up to 20 miles (30km) to attend dances held once a fortnight.
The hall was officially opened by Mr Sydney Stubbs, M.L.A., the first official M.C. was Mr S. F. Price, and music was ably rendered on the accordion by Castelloe and Sons, George Sumner, James Marquis, C. Johnson and others.
Mr George Cheetham was honorary secretary, president was Mr A. McDougall Sergeant and dancing Instructor was Mr John Robson. Among the ladies who worked so well were Mrs Cheetham, Mrs Sumner and her daughters, Mrs Robson, Mrs Marquis and many others. The usual way the younger set came to the hall was through the bush on horseback.
DATATINE GOLF CLUB
Official Opening Day
From the Great Southern Herald
18 August, 1950
The newly formed golf club at Datatine was officially opened on August 6, by Mr. E. D. C. Warren before a large gathering of members and supporters. After Mr. Warren had driven off the first ball, a competition was held for a trophy donated by the Club president, Mr. R. Cheetham. Messrs C.Patterson and H. Ward tied in the competition, the trophy finally being won by Mr. Ward. Mr. Warren has been made an honorary life member of the Club.
DISTRICT PIONEERS
A paper presented by Mr A McDougall Sergeant to the Katanning Historical Society in October, 1949.
The first part of the paper was reproduced in the Great Southern Herald’s 21 October, 1949, edition:
At the September meeting of the Katanning Branch, W.A. Historical Society, Mr A. McDougall Sargent presented a most interesting paper on the early history of his family, who were pioneers, both in the Katanning district and in the Eastern States. In introducing his paper, Mr Sargent said the details referred to three great women pioneers of Australia. They were Alice Sargent, Jane McDougall and Jane’s daughter, Elizabeth, who was his mother. Continue reading
TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY:
Celebrations at Datatine
Great Southern Herald
14 December 1940
At the Datatine Hall on Saturday, December 7, Miss Madge McDougall was the guest of the evening at a 21st birthday party arranged in her honour by friends from Datatine and the surrounding districts, choosing a very pretty frock of blue floral satin for the occasion. Dancing was enjoyed until supper was served, at the conclusion of which the Master of Ceremonies (Mr. Colquhoun) introduced Mr. F. G. Kenward, who, in a very appropriate speech, congratulated Miss McDougall on attaining her majority and paid tribute to her popularity, as evidenced by the large gathering present. He was supported by Mr. J. N. Fairclough.
Mr. J. W. McDougall returned thanks on behalf of his daughter, at the same time taking the opportunity to announce her engagement to Mr. Roy Filmer, of Datatine. On behalf of those present, Miss L. Fairclough presented Miss Madge McDougall with a handsome brush and comb set.
In returning thanks for the presentation, prior to cutting the beautiful pink-iced birthday cake which occupied pride of place on the supper table, Miss McDougall said how greatly she appreciated the kindly thoughts that had prompted the evening and thanked those responsible for the trouble they had taken. Dancing was then resumed and continued until a late hour. During an interval in the programme, Mrs. P. Rands sang two numbers very sweetly.
Amongst those present were the following:
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. McDougall, Mrs. McDougall, snr., Mrs. A. Sargent, Mr. and Mrs. P. Rands, Mr. and Mrs. W. Beeck, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Kenward, Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Kenward, Mr. and Mrs. H. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Fairclough, Mr. and Mrs. J. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. J. Peppall, Mr. and Mrs. H. Ashcroft, Mr. and Mrs. P. Scholtse, Mrs. K. Kealy and Mr. and Mrs. D. Baldock. Misses Madge McDougal, E. Kenward, R. Simper. A. Cheetham, M. Davis, I. Pickering, N. Beeck. D. Davies, E. Flugge, G. Flugge, B. Martin, P. McLaren, M. Howse, R. Sargent. B. Smith, B. Beeck, P. Warren, Barbara Smith, H. Phillips, E. Stott, W. Kenward, J. Slee, D. van Dok and L. Fairclough. Messrs. Ivan McDougall. E. Kenward, K. Kenward,
I. Hamilton, W, Colquhoun, V. Kenward, R. Dawe, R. Beeck, M. Hart, M. Fairclough, Roy Filmer, G. Cheetham, P. O’Donnell, L. Cheetham. A. Beeck. B. Hobart, C. Kenward, B. Kelly, Max Beeck. R. Cheetham. S. Filmer. L. Kemble, B. Flugge, S. Hobart. D. Phillips. E. Slee, E. Collins, V. Cheetham, J. Robson. K. Collins, G. Goodchild, K. Atkins. H. Cheetham, A. McLaren. R. Collins. F. Smithson. B. Bennett, J. Marquis. S. Collins. W. Cooper, J. Robinson, G. Beeck. Bill Collins, M. Flugge, W. Collins. N. Flugge, J. Goodchild and D. Spry
Dumbleyung – Datatine Road Roadworks
Great Southern Herald
28 May, 1948
NEW DUMBLEYUNG DATATINE ROAD
VALUE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT
The Dumbleyung Road Board has just completed construction work on the Dumbleyung-Datatine Road and provides a classic example of the effectiveness of heavy, and modern, road making equipment. The work consisted of 1 1/4 miles of gravelling, one two-span 40-foot bridge and two 60 foot low-level crossings.
The gravelling work necessitated carting of over 4000 cubic yards of gravel, which was laid in two 4-inch layers, the first of which, an inferior class of road-making gravel, was carted from a near-by hill and for economic reasons used as a bottom layer. The layer of good gravel was carried a distance of six miles. The Board, with its new earth-moving equipment, was able to carry out this work at a cost of approximately £600 (the hand-labour method would have cost about £1,600), and the same work done with a smaller tractor and scoop would have cost about £1,100.
The bridge is a concrete and timber structure and is the only one of its type in the district. The Board’s bulldozer was used to push the twelve log stringers up skids and into position on the concrete abutments and pier. The usefulness of the bulldozer as a time saving factor was once again exemplified for each of the logs weighed between 35 and 40 cwt., and all were laid in position in about ten hours. The bridge replaces the old pipe bridges and has a waterway of over five times the capacity of the old one.
The crossings were excavated and re-laid with a bed of stone covered with gravel; they have stone kerbings and cemented aprons.
The entire job is by far the largest and most comprehensive one ever undertaken by the Dumbleyung Board, and the Board, while receiving financial assistance in the form of a Government Grant, has good reason to feel proud of the job done and the results obtained. As far as the gravelling works are concerned, it is a reflection of the enterprise shown by the Board in purchasing the heavier earthmoving plant, without the use of which such works would be prohibitive in cost and, under present day conditions, impossible to carry out.
The Dumbleyung Board is now expecting delivery of a new 76 h.p tandem-wheel-drive Power Grader. This machine is one of the most modem types of power grader, and its introduction to the district will no doubt be followed by a vast improvement to the standard of roads in that Board area.
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