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Dempsters
Erickson:
DEMPSTER, James MacLean, b. 10.1810 (Scotland), d. 29.4.1890, arr. 25.1.1830 as crew member of Eagle owned by Pratt, m. 1st 14.9.1836 (Frem) Ann Ellen PRATT b. 1816 d. 6.8.1880 (Guildford), dtr. of Charles & Ann (nee Solomon), m. 2nd 12.1880 (Geraldton) Hester Frances SHAW b. 6.1838 d. 1929, dtr. of William & Elizabeth (nee Cooper). Chd. James Pratt b. 1838 (York) d. 1910, Charles Edward b. 1839 (Frem) d. 1907, Annie Ellen b. 1842 d. 1880, Andrew b. 1843 d. 1909, William Simon b. 1844 d. 1892, Jane Mac1ean b. 1846 d. 1913, Marion Maclean b. 1847 d. 1876, John George Jules b. 1851 d. 1852. Remained with the Eagle under Pratt, as 1st mate & then 1836 as captain with authority to sell it in N.S.W. From 1836-9 leased "Addington", York district from Pratt. Went to sea as Captain of Heroine until 1843 when he leased "Buckland" at Northam from Pratt. Leased Rottnest 1849-1852, then returned to "BuckIand". Went pearling 1868, pioneering with a diving suit. Employed 54 T/L men 1857-1875. Visited Melbourne to buy Mary Ann & again 1881 with 2nd wife.
Heritage Council:
The establishment of the Esperance region is closely linked to the history of the Dempster family. The Dempster brothers James, Charles, Andrew and William were the first landholders in the region. Prior to the Dempster’s taking up pastoral leases in the area the land was unsettled by European occupants. Brief visits by early explorers had recorded its geography. In 1792, the French explorer Bruny D’Entrecasteaux gave the bay the name Esperance after his vessel L’Esperance.1 In 1802, Matthew Flinders charted the southern coastline and in 1826, the military outpost at King George’s Town (Albany) was
established. Thereafter the southern coast was the province of sealers and
whalers. They used the beaches and islands as locations for rough camps in
which they lived and processed their catch. These small outposts were serviced
by ships although one businessman from Albany, Thomas Brooker Sherratt, did
cart supplies to some of the isolated settlers.2
The land was considered worthless for agriculture following the tragic journey of
Edward John Eyre from South Australia in 1842 and confirmed by Surveyor
General Roe when he explored the southern hinterland in 1848-49.3 In 1859,
settler Albert Hassell of Jerramungup had explored as far east as Esperance but
was equally unimpressed with the land for agriculture.4
The Dempster brothers however chose land in the region and were eventually
successful in establishing good pastoral leases. The Dempsters were sons of
James Maclean Dempster who had arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1830.
James MacLean Dempster was originally a sea captain but diversified and
became a successful pastoralist, land owner and businessman in the Swan River
colony.
In 1843, James Dempster leased the farm ‘Buckland’ in the Avon Valley from his
father-in-law and business partner, Charles Pratt, and succeeded in making it a
well run and profitable venture.5 . James and Ann Dempster had eight surviving
children; five sons and three daughters.6 In the late 1840s with a general
downturn in the economy of the young colony James and Ann Dempster left
‘Buckland’ to settle in Fremantle while James attempted to gain work as a sea
captain. An alternative opportunity arose for Dempster and he was able to lease Rottnest Island which combined his seafaring skills with his knowledge of farming. The Dempsters lived at Rottnest Island until 1853 when Charles Pratt died leaving the Dempsters the lifelong lease of ‘Buckland’.7 The Dempster family returned to ‘Buckland’ and the elder sons, James and Charles assisted in the running of the farm. The family were leaders in the community and James MacLean Dempster was a significant player in further exploration of the colony. He was a member of the expedition committee which organised for an expedition led by government surveyor, Robert Austin to explore eastwards and north of Northam.8 James MacLean Dempster and his sons; James Pratt, Charles (referred to as Edward), Andrew and William were all keen horsemen and ‘Buckland’ was one of the premier farms for horse breeding in the colony. By the early 1860s James Maclean Dempster decided to assist his sons in establishing their own farms by providing stock for them. However good pasture land was difficult to source although the Dempster boys had made several expeditions into the regions around Northam and Beverley.9 Other settlers were focusing on the north west and new government regulations encouraged pastoralists to take up land in the remote parts of the colony.10 The Dempster brothers decided to search beyond Esperance believing that the area was more advantageous than the north-west because of its closer proximity to Albany (the primary port in the colony) and to Adelaide.11 The brothers secured additional funds of £100 from local businessman Walter Padbury to finance the expedition. A Victorian, G.M. Larnach, also joined the expedition.12 In 1863, the party of four consisting of Larnach, Edward and William Dempster and George Maxwell, an experienced bushman, charted a small vessel, the Amelia, to take themselves, their horse and provisions to Point Malcolm east of Esperance. After extensive exploration, the members of the party selected lands in the region. Larnach leased Middle Island east of Esperance Bay which was registered as E1. Andrew Dempster leased 100,000 acres near Esperance Bay, listed as E2; Edward Dempster’s lease of 100,000 acres at Stokes Inlet and Lort River was listed as E3. These were all approved in September 1867. The brothers formed the Esperance Bay Pastoral Company as the business entity to operate the leases. Two months later Sir Alexander Cockburn-Campbell13 secured 100,000 acres, lease E4, between Point Malcolm and Point Dempster.14 The delay between the actual year of their visit and the formalisation of the lease could be best explained by the distances involved.
The Dempster brothers took stock, mostly sheep but some cattle and horses,
overland from Buckland to the Esperance leases in 1864. A number of
employees; workmen and shepherds were engaged to accompany the brothers
and work the new leases. It was settled that the brothers would share the duties
on the Esperance leases so that two would always be present on the new leases.
On the first journey to Esperance, James accompanied Edward and Andrew,
while William remained behind to assist their father back at ‘Buckland”.15 They
took a route through Albany and established the stock successfully at Esperance.
In the first year the stock were shorn and the wool (a clip of approximately 15
bales) was collected by ship at Esperance Bay. A small crop of wheat was also
grown and harvested.
The Dempster brothers built a rough shack when they first arrived but soon
decided on a better location to erect a more permanent structure. The site
chosen for the homestead was described by Andrew Dempster in a letter to his
sister, Annie Gull in 1865. She in turn described the site for the future homestead
to a relative.
They don’t like the place where they first settled and built their log house, so are
going to build one twenty miles nearer the Sound [King Georges Sound] way.
Andrew describes the place where they intend eventually to have their house – it
must be a pretty spot at the entrance of Esperance Bay with a beautiful view of the
bay which is twenty miles across – a good landing and a capital harbour – the bay
seems almost land locked with islands and the sea so quiet that when rough outside
they could take a boat about to any part of it. Also enough good land for a garden
and field, and plenty [of] good water.16
Exchanging the duties at Esperance by the brothers enabled them to spend time
away from the hard and isolated life on the remote lease. In 1867, whilst away
from the lease Andrew Dempster met and married Emily Marsden and brought
her back to live at Esperance. In the same year his brother Edward married Mary
Taylor and she took up residence at Buckland.17
Andrew and Emily Dempster lived in a rough wattle and daub cottage at
Esperance following Emily’s arrival in 1867. In 1868, their first son James
MacLean Dempster was born without the assistance of any midwife.18 The
practical problems of living in remote conditions were exacerbated by the
disputes with the Aboriginals which had on occasion led to violence on both
sides.19 Andrew took his wife and son to Perth in 1869 partly due to the lack of
police protection afforded to the settlers in the remote parts of the colony.
Correspondence between Andrew Dempster and the Colonial office resulted in a
set of guidelines for the settlers to administer ‘kind and firm treatment’ to the
‘marauders’.20 Andrew returned to Esperance in 1870 with his wife and two sons,
his mother-in-law and several workmen. In the same year the rough homestead
was visited by surveyors John and Alexander Forrest who were charged by
Governor Weld to establish if South Australia could be reached by an overland
route. In 1871, Alexander Forrest returned to Esperance as part of his
exploration from York to attempt to link up the Eucla pastoral land. These efforts to open up the land of the south coast motivated the Dempsters to purchase a vessel, the Gipsey to service their leases and those of adjacent landholders.21 As the Dempsters flocks increased and other settlers moved into the region the need for more pastoral land and particularly well watered overland routes became more pressing. Andrew Dempster cleared a road to Fraser’s Range to the north which secured him a grant of 1000 acres in that district.22 By 1873, eight shepherds were employed at the Esperance lease, each tending 1200 sheep with the help of Aborigines and their families. In that year the Esperance wool clip topped 100 bales. It was also the year that a substantial homestead was built at Esperance by James Dempster for his brother Andrew. The construction of the homestead, now called Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance, is described by the Dempsters biographer, Rica Erickson: A new home had been built at Esperance for his [Andrew Dempster’s] family’s comfort. This had been done under the supervision of his brother James, who being clever with tools and of an inventive turn of mind, had been nominated by the others to be the architect and builder. Under his direction blocks of limestone were quarried for the thick walls, and shells were burnt for the mortar and plaster. The Dempsters would have recalled their boyhood days at Rottnest when they helped their father build the extensions to the cottage and plastered the walls of the lighthouse. Esperance homestead, built on the site of Andrew’s choice, with its white walls set on the slope rising from the beach, commanded enchanting views of the Bay and its magnificent expanse of bright water dotted with islands. On the west it was protected from the cold winter winds by Dempster Head, and from it could be seen far to the east the blue lines of a bold headland known as Frenchman’s Cap. The surrounding bush was bright with wildflowers and alive with birds. There by the blue and green waters of Esperance Bay Andrew and his wife were to spend most of their lives together.23 As it eventuated Andrew and Emily did not live at the homestead for long. They left in 1875 to live on a new property near Toodyay, Vine Cottage.24 The manager of the Esperance lease was a trusted workman Benjamin Hannett. Hannett had worked for the Dempsters for many years at Buckland and at Esperance and he established his family at Esperance.25 Hannett received £60 per annum for his role as manager and in addition he received 2% of the net profits of the station.26 Although Hannett was managing the leases, the Dempster brothers still visited the leases and stayed for long periods to oversee the property.27 Edward Dempster took Andrews place at Esperance in 1875 and lived at Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance.28 Edward’s arrival coincided with a significant event in the development of the town of Esperance. The telegraph line was under construction from Albany and would make a dramatic change to the isolated life of the remote settlers. The first official telegram in 1876 was from Edward Dempster to his sister Annie Gull in Guildford.29 In the same year, the Dempsters built a large stone woolstore and shed near the beach, for shearing as well as the storage of wool bales, skins, supplies for the homestead and goods available for sale to travelling workers.30
Andrew and Emily Dempster did return to Esperance in 1878 with their seven
children, three more were to be born at Esperance.31 The demands of the large
family meant that additions were made to Dempster Homestead (fmr),
Esperance. The physical evidence indicates that these additions were to double
the size of the existing building. In addition a big chaff shed was built and more
outbuildings on the site. A stonemason also worked at erecting a solid stone sea
wall.32 The Esperance leases were generally profitable through the 1880s
although this was mostly a difficult time in the economy of the colony.
In 1884, a crisis struck Esperance when an epidemic of measles turned
Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance into a hospital in order to cope with the
numbers of sick shepherds and Aborigines. Rica Erickson described the
situation as drawn from the Esperance Station Daybooks:
Nine of the white workmen were so ill that two others were assigned to look after
them. Andrew set up six big tents and used forty wool bales to make shelters for the
seventy three Aborigines who needed attention. Many of them [Aborigines] died
because the crept away to cool themselves in the ocean and then caught chills.
Andrew was allowed to claim expenses from the government and estimated the cost
of tents, wool bales, medicines, firewood and attention at £269. The personal effort in
nursing was beyond price, as he and Emily worked night and day tending the sick.33
At some of the other Dempster farms the economic situation was not so
successful and the disparity in shared profits led to animosity between the
brothers.34 Andrew also wanted to move back to his new farm named Muresk.
Conflict over the future management of the Esperance leases meant Andrew
stayed on until 1889. The death of his wife Emily in 1888 may have been a
persuading factor in his leaving Esperance where extended family members
could assist with the children, the youngest of whom was eight. Andrew’s oldest
sons, James MacLean and William Edward stayed on at Esperance as managers
until a new manager could be engaged.35 In 1890, Henry Bostock was engaged
as manager of Esperance and he moved to Dempster Homestead (fmr),
Esperance with his wife Emma and their small baby. Emma Bostock wrote to her
parents shortly after her arrival about her circumstances in the new homestead.
Mrs Doust [the housekeeper] is a very kind thoughtful woman; she had the house
whitewashed from beginning to end inside and out and all the doors painted fresh
blue and stone colour and ceiling also and everything beautifully clean. … the house
has plenty of chairs and tables and that is all, but it looks quite different already … I
have had the carpenter the last two days, he has put a nice mantelshelf in our room and some pegs, there are a few nails in the wall but yards over my head. … It is a pretty view from the verandah. I will try to get Mr Piesse to photograph it soon.36 A photograph of Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance in 1894 shows the exterior of the place during the time Harry and Emma Bostock were living there. The walls are whitewashed and the verandah shows evidence of being well used. The landscape is sandy with horses close to the house and the gardens appear to be sparsely planted.37 In the 1890s, Esperance experienced expansion as gold had been discovered to the north at Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie and Dundas. Prospectors travelled through the town and many services sprang up to accommodate them. The town of Esperance was gazetted in 1893. In 1895, a jetty was built in Esperance to service the increased volume of traffic of travellers and supplies. The Dempster brothers decided to capitalise on this increased demand for land in the town and subdivided portions of their land in the town. William Dempster had died in 1892 so it was the remaining three brothers who organised the subdivisions of the land between The Esplanade to the east, Corry Street to the west, Hardy Street to the south and to the north the approximate junction of what is today Norfolk Lane.38 The names chosen for this subdivision; Emily, Jane, Hardy, Taylor, William and of course Dempster reflect the Dempster family members and friends.39 A plan of this subdivision was used in a publication ‘Handbook to the new El Dorado’ dated 1895. In this document Esperance is referred to as the Esperance Bay Company’s town.40 The dominance of the Dempster family in the town gave the impression the town was the property of the family. As an indication of their dominance of the town in 1895, the Post Office Directories for 1895 record only six entries for Esperance, three have their origins with the Dempsters; Henry Bostock, Dempster Bros, and the Esperance Bay Pastoral Company. The remaining entries are the hotel and store, a commissioning agent and a business Sharkey and Le Page. It is apparent that other people were resident in the town but the significance of the Dempsters to the town is clear.41 In 1898, Henry Bostock left Esperance and Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance to take up his own farm in Beverley. Andrew’s son Willie became manager and on his arrival in the town he noted the increased size of the town. Shearing near the homestead was no longer practiced, as it was no longer possible to bring sheep through the town. An alternate galvanised iron shearing shed was built some distance from the town.42 The future of Esperance seemed positive in the early 1890s but several factors led to a decline in the region. The creation of the deep water port in Fremantle in 1897 led to a relegation of Albany as a port and consequently Esperance. The construction of a railway line between Northam and Southern Cross instead of between Esperance and Coolgardie also led development away from the region.
For the Dempsters the decline of Esperance was a result of farming practices as
well as changing legislation. As Willie noted in his letters, the fundamental
reason for the decline of Esperance Bay station lay in its pastoral management.
Overgrazing had depleted the native pastures before the rabbits came to
complete the destruction of the herbage. In addition, the government had
cancelled pastoral leases of the best of the land in order to open up areas for
farmers. Open range shepherding was no longer possible and it was no longer
possible for the Dempsters to claim over a million and a half acres of pastoral
land at Esperance and Fraser Range.43 In 1907, Edward Dempster died and
shortly afterwards the partnership of the Dempster brothers was dissolved.
Edward’s son Charles Edward (CE) Dempster took over the management of
Esperance Bay which was valued at £21,000.44
In the period between 1900 and 1930, the area known as the mallee around the
present day Salmon Gums was settled with mixed success.45 In 1910, 45,000
acres of land was surveyed as conditional purchase leasehold blocks within 10 to
25 miles of Esperance. In 1917, a Royal Commission was held into the farming
of the mallee and Esperance lands. It was headed by CE Dempster and
recommended the construction of a railway, no experimental work to be
undertaken on the farming lands and the financial support of the settlers with
costs extended over forty years.46
Although the Esperance pastoral lands were reduced in size, the land within the
townsite and the land which contained Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance
continued to be owned by the Dempsters until 1938. While the available
information is not conclusive, it seems that members of the Dempster family still
used Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance as a residence. The Post Office
directories record that CE Dempster, sheep farmer, was resident in the town until
1932. After that time the Esperance Bay Pastoral Co still had an entry in the
directory. It is likely that the company had a representative living in Esperance
using Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance as a residence.47
In 1938, the portion of land bound by Emily Street, Corry Street (formerly Jane
Street), Hardy Street and Dempster Street was transferred to John Edgar
Stevens, a piano tuner who lived in Kalgoorlie.48 There is no evidence that John
Stevens ever lived at Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance as he is recorded
as living in Kalgoorlie until 1949.49 It was recorded by a later owner that the
place was used as holiday accommodation for miners from the goldfields.50 The
place was apparently converted into 10 flats through the addition of asbestos
cement and corrugated iron rooms. Internally new ceilings were put in to make
the place ‘cosier’ and externally ten kitchens, or basic cooking facilities, were
added surrounding the original structure. A wash house and bathroom were
added as separate structures on the block.51
In the 1950s, a cul-de-sac was created into the block in an east west direction from Dempster Road.52 South of this road, named Douglas Place, the land was subdivided into smaller lots whilst Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance to the north of Douglas Place, remained on a three acre site. During the 1960s the place was apparently used for storing ships' supplies and the condition of the place deteriorated.53 In 1966, Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance was transferred to David and Marie Louise Wordsworth.54 David Wordsworth, his wife and three children had come to Esperance from Tasmania, although Marie Louise was originally from Western Australia. David Wordsworth was a successful farmer looking to establish a new farm in the region. The Wordsworthss had previously restored an old house in Tasmania and were keen to undertake the project of restoring Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance having become interested in the history of the place and the role of the Dempsters at Esperance.55 The project took approximately one year to achieve and consisted of stripping away the kitchen additions, the false ceilings and enclosing the cellar within an internal courtyard. A new extension was built which consisted of a garage for three cars and two additional guest rooms with separate bathrooms. This addition was linked to the main house by a covered walkway.56 The advice of architect Marshall Clifton was sought in achieving the restoration project.57 Local tradesmen with no specialised skills in restoration work were used to undertake the project. Part of the restoration of Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance included extensive replanting of the gardens. A new gravel driveway was constructed which created the entrance to the place through the courtyard. The original entrance would have been from the verandah facing the harbour. In 1971, David Wordsworth was elected to State Parliament as the representative for the South Province of the Legislative council. He gained several Ministerial portfolios during his period of five years in Cabinet of the government of Charles Court. His role in the state government meant many dignitaries stayed in Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance during visits to the region. These included Prince Charles in 1979, Sir John Kerr, Western Australian Governors Trowbridge and Kendrew and Premiers, Sir David Brand, Sir Charles Court and Richard Court.58 Marie Louise Wordsworth was very active in the community in Esperance and was fundamental to the establishment of the Esperance Arts Council. As an adjunct to this work, Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance has been used as the venue for many community events and exhibitions. In 1973, the place was classified by the National Trust and in 1996, it was included in the Shire of Esperance Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places, and in their Town Planning Scheme No 22 gazetted on 27 September 199158. In June 2006, Dempster Homestead (fmr), Esperance is no longer used by the Wordsworth's as their primary residence. The place is periodically used by family members and is maintained by staff in Esperance and continues to be used for community events.
References and Links
Heritage Council page
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 15 June, 2016 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/dempster.html (it was last updated on 30 December, 2020). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.