CHAPTER I. 



THE SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT. 



For the purposes of definition in this chapter, the south- 

 western district will be deemed to be all the country along the 

 coast west of the road between Fremantle and Albany. This is a 

 very large section of what is known as the South-west Land 

 division, within which is comprised all the territory that, prior to 

 the discovery of the Yilgarn goldfields, was regarded as being 

 suitable for cultivation. The south-western district, with which 

 we are now dealing, embraces Jandakot, Canning, Armadale, 

 Woongong, Beenup, Jarrahdale, Serpentine, Dandalup, Pinjarrah, 

 Coolup, Drakesbrook, Wagerup, Cookernup, Harvey, Brunswick, 

 Collie, Picton, Bunbury, Donnybrook, Boyanup, Busselton, Black- 

 wood, Bridgetown, and further south to the shores of the Southern 

 ocean. The country east of the Albany road to the boundary of 

 the south-west division from Beverley to Albany, will be dealt 

 with as the southern district, as the Great Southern railway runs 

 through almost the centre of it. These lines of distinction have 

 been drawn, not only artificially by road^ and railways, but natur- 

 ally by divergences of soil, timber and rainfall. The contrast be- 

 tween the two territories is tersely and clearly described in the 

 Descriptive Notes Respecting Agricultural Areas in Western Australia, 

 officially compiled and issued by authority of the Hon. Commis- 

 sioner of Crown Lands : " In dealing with the areas along or 

 adjacent to the South-western railway and its extension to Donny- 

 brook, a totally different class of land is found to that of the areas 

 along the Great Southern railway. While the latter areas are specially 

 suitable for cereals and fruit culture, the former include land that is 

 more adapted for fruit and vegetable growing and for dairy farm- 

 ing. In some places the country is heavily timbered, costing a 

 considerable sum to clear ; but against this must be placed the fact 

 that smaller areas are sufficient for a selector, the land being cap- 

 able of intense culture. It is also, for the most part, well watered, 

 whilst the rainfall is regular and considerable. The highest hopes 

 are, indeed, entertained in regard to these areas, and much thriving 

 settlement is looked for in the south-western district. There are 

 nine areas in this locality, comprising 283,588 acres, of which 

 57,255 acres have been selected by 226 applicants." What is 

 meant by a " totally different class of land " is deserving of a more 

 detailed description, so that from these pages the reader may be in 

 a position to determine where he would be most at home ; but it 



