State Government adds Moir Homestead Ruins to Heritage Register

8/6/01
The ruins of an historic pastoral property in Esperance have been listed on the State's interim register of heritage places.
The ruins from Moir Homestead, dating back to the 1870s, are an important reminder of one of the pioneering settlements of the Esperance region.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the Moir Homestead Ruins were closely linked to the development of pastoralism in the area.
Dr Edwards said the homestead's location at Fanny Cove, near Esperance, was also a main entry point for gold prospectors travelling to the goldfields.
"The ruins include the remains of a homestead, blacksmith's workshop, shepherd's camp and woolshed and stables," she said.
"These surviving buildings form a cultural precinct and are important evidence of the early settlement and occupation of Esperance.
"While the buildings are in a state of ruin, the layout of each structure is evident and retain a high degree of authenticity.
"The place is also highly valued by the local community as one of the earliest homesteads in the district and has the potential to teach us much about those pioneering days."
Dr Edwards said in 1873, brothers Alexander and John Moir took up pastoral leases of 14,000 acres at Fanny Bay, near Esperance.
The brothers built a two-roomed cottage of limestone quarried from the nearby hills and bush timber, as well as shepherds' huts and a blacksmith's shop.
They farmed sheep and grew crops for fodder, but lived a very isolated life, with few other settlers in the region.
In 1877, John Moir was killed after a clash with two local men and was buried near the homestead. Alexander managed the property alone for the next few years until he was joined by his brother William, who had been farming at Lake Grace.
William eventually took over management of the property and went on to have eight children. Members of the family owned and farmed the land until 1951, when the pastoral leases were transferred to the White family.
The Whites did not live at Fanny Cove, building a new homestead near Young River. From this time, Fanny Cove station was known as Young River Station.
Dr Edwards said that in the 1970s, a mining consortium expressed interest in the area.
"Rather than see the mining company move in, the White family offered to surrender their pastoral lease on the condition that the State Government declare the area a national park," she said.
"This was realised with the establishment of Stokes National Park.
"This was done on the understanding that the homestead block would be offered to the National Trust.
"This was achieved in April 1971, with the property being jointly managed by the National Trust and members of the Esperance Bay Historical Society. Ownership of the land was transferred to the Crown two years later."
A lightning strike in 1993 triggered a major bushfire in the area, which swept through the Moir buildings and destroyed most of the remaining timber.
Dr Edwards said despite the state of the ruins, the property was highly prized by the local community for its historic associations.
Media contact: John Carey 9421 7777