Rabbit Proof Fence. Rabbit Proof Fence. Rabbit Proof Fence. Rabbit Proof Fence.
1901-current
Rabbit-proof fence – 1927
The Rabbit Proof Fence was built to protect Western Australian crops and pasture lands from the destructive scourge of the rabbit. Introduced to Australia in Victoria in the 1850’s the pest spread rapidly across eastern Australia. By 1896 it had been found as far west as Eucla and 200 kilometres further west at Twilight Cove, near Esperance. The fence represents a unique, if inadequate, response to an overwhelming environmental problem.
Boundary rider’s team at the 100-mile (160 km) No. 1 Fence in Western Australia in 1926
(from Wikipedia)
Construction of the Number 1 Rabbit Proof Fence began in 1901. It stretched 1834 kilometres from the South Coast to the Northwest Coast, along a line north of Burracoppin, 230 kilometres east of Perth. Unfortunately by 1902, rabbits had already been found west of the fence line.
The Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence was built in 1905 in order to stem their advance. Stretching 1166 kilometres from Point Ann on the south coast, through Cunderdin, 150 kilometres east of Perth and the new fence joined the original fence line at Gum Creek in the Murchison area.
When completed in 1907, the Rabbit-Proof Fence (including all three fences) stretched 2,021 miles (3,253 km). The cost to build the fences at the time was £337,841. The fence posts are placed 12 feet (3.7 m) apart, and have a minimum diameter of 4 inches (10 cm). There were initially three wires of 12½ gauge placed at 4 inches (10 cm), 20 inches (51 cm), and 3 feet (91 cm) above ground, with a barbed wire added later at 3’4″ and a plain wire at 3’7″ to make the fence a barrier for dingoes and foxes as well. Wire netting was placed on this, which extended to 6 inches (15 cm) below ground.
In addition to the Chief Inspector of Rabbits, there were four sub-inspectors, each responsible for about 800 kilometres (500miles) of fence, and twenty-five boundary riders who regularly patrolled 160 kms (99miles) sections of fence. Following the introduction of Myxomatosis to control rabbits in the 1950’s, the importance of the Rabbit Proof Fence diminished.
Fence Rabbit Trap – near Quairading.
Photo – from M&W Patterson
Nyabing
Cliff Thompson & his son trapped over 3500 rabbits at Clyde Patterson’s place – Feb 1954.
Photo courtesy of M&W Patterson.
There were numerous men who roamed the Rabbit Proof Fence, both north and south, who would call into Nyabing for supplies and due to the fact the depot was located behind the water tanks (that you can see on the Dumbleyung Road, nearly opposite the Rubbish Tip) in what was Charsley’s farm (now Charlie Borlini’s).
From the memory of Peter Goodchild; “following from Paddy Hickey was Bill Woodham’s (whom may have done the northern run before Adam Gunn – I remember him particularly as he used to run in the Old Buffers Race at sports Day – you had to be over 50 to be in it), and Jack Quiss. Jack called the Rabbit Depot in Nyabing “Home” (note the name of Quiss Road near Hopetoun). He had the Southern Rabbit Proof Fence run to Point Anne. He would start from Nyabing to the Pulley Gate for day one, and then to Gate 64 at Roy Johnston’s, day two, and then similar distances each day, turn around and return. He would have to rake the rubbish off the fence to be burnt later.
He used to trap dingoes along the fence, setting the steel trap, then lacing it with Strychnine wrapped in paper (rolled like a cigarette) and weaved through the jaws. This was so when the dingo was caught, and would try and chew its leg off, the Strychnine would work its magic.”
Dick Hobley’s horse Smokey at the 148 Mile Gate in Rabbit Proof Fence on main road to Katanning two miles West of Nyabing 1941.
Photo Dick Hobley
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Paddy Hickey
The following is the story of Paddy Hickey as written by Joshua Berger (whose father Joe, owned the Boot shop in Katanning) and printed in The West Australian on Saturday January 12th 1985, simply titled “Effervescent saga of Paddy Hickey”.
Paddy Hickey worked on the Rabbit Proof fence patrolling somewhere from a base near the township of Nyabing. How he became attached to our family I am not sure, though I feel it had something to do with my father’s philosophy which was that he would never see a man on hard times, who asked him for a meal, go hungry.
Father had run away from home at eleven years of age. No doubt there were many times when he went hungry and knew the value of a helping hand. If anyone asked my father for money for a meal, he would say: “Go and see Mickey Lebard and tell him Joe Berger sent you.” Father knew if money was given it could have ended up in the hotel on booze. Father’s name was really John, but everyone called him Joe.
Mickey Lebad was the baker and pastry cook – I still remember his fantastic pastry and cakes – whose wife ran a restaurant and whose pretty daughter was the waitress. Once a month Mickey would come and see Father and say: “Joe you owe me so much for meals,” and Father would pay for the meals he had arranged for Mickey to provide for down and outs.
No doubt Paddy had enjoyed some of those meals for Paddy had a terrific thirst for cheap wine – called Pinkie – and would fritter his money away in drinking and shouting drinks at the hotel. Money never lasted long with Paddy when he hit town.
When Paddy became attached to our family, Father persuaded Paddy to give him his cheque as soon as he made town, and Father would dole it out over the two weeks or so Paddy was in town at Katanning, making sure some remained for stores for Paddy’s next spell on the Rabbit Proof Fence.
As kids, we always knew when Paddy had arrived in town because his spring cart, horse and dog would be in the backyard. We would run to Mother crying “Paddy’s back, Paddy’s back”. It was our job when Paddy arrived and set out on his “bender” to feed and water his dog and horse.
Paddy would never sleep at our home which was at the rear of Father’s shop, but would make up his bed in a large shed near the bottom of our yard. He would then be off to the hotel to quench his thirst, which for long periods on the Rabbit Proof Fence had remained unsatiated.
At night he would stagger home to his bed – our house and shop was not far from his favourite hotel – the Federal. Many a time he was brought home by the police who were very lenient and understanding of Paddy’s problem.
If Paddy was sober enough we kids would take him down a large plate of cooked sausages and potatoes or “murphies” as he called them which Mother had prepared. Not only did he love Pinkie wine but also loved sausages and potatoes too. Shepherd’s Pie – a specialty of Mother’s, was another of his favourite meals.
Many a night time when we kids had to visit the “thunder-box” type of lavatory at the bottom of the yard, we would hear Paddy singing Irish songs or talking to his dog. Paddy was never troublesome; drunk or sober he always managed to remain a gentleman.
When the time arrived for Paddy to depart, as his money had run out, father would tell him so. Mother would arrange for the lady who came around and did our washing – a Mrs Dennis – to wash all Paddy’s clothes, so that he left with everything clean and repaired.
Paddy would have a hot bath in our tin bath and shave and dress himself in his clean clothes. That night he would have dinner at the house with us and we kids would listen in awe as he told of some of his experiences with snakes on the Rabbit Proof Fence patrol. Before he left Paddy would pay we kids a few shillings each for looking after his horse and dog – a fortune to us in those days.
Every Christmas, Paddy would arrange with the local newsagent, who also sold toys, presents for we kids. I remember one year I got my wish answered by Paddy – a box of lead, or as they were called, Tin Soldiers. Mother usually got a tablecloth and Father a cherry root pipe.
Father would help Paddy load up his stores and somehow Father would see to it that a few bottles of Pinkie was hidden amongst them. At Christmas time, Father would always give Paddy a bottle of Irish whiskey – to keep out the cold and frighten the snakes away.
As I said, Paddy was always a gentleman, well-spoken and educated. He had told Father that he came from a wealthy Irish family, and left home after a quarrel with his family over his drinking habits. Somehow Paddy drifted out of our lives and years later a report in The West Australian gave me the final news on Paddy. It was a romantic ending for him.
It appears that Paddy had ended up in an old men’s home in Perth. In the meantime his family had died, and Paddy, unknown to him, had inherited all their wealth. His sweetheart from his youth came out to Australia in search of him. Having informed him of his good fortune, she then married him. My wish is that they lived happily ever after.
To this day, I can still hear Paddy singing his Irish songs or talking to his blue heeler dog in our old shed. I remember well how Paddy cried when he told us how his dog had died – bitten by a snake. Those tin soldiers, broken and gone, still march across the table – Paddy you were a real man, a member of that unique band of Australians who patrolled and repaired the Rabbit Proof Fence of WA.
Rabbit Proof Fence 2005 – Wikipedia
Post note; while talking with Wally Filmer in February 2011: “When the Rabbit Proof Fence was closed, or not being in use any more, each farmer along the fence could buy the land strip that was within their farm boundary. The farmer then owned that part of the Rabbit Proof Fence. We purchased our section alongside Sunnyside.”
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