Please pull off the road at the next street on your left: check carefully when re-entering. BYOP
Mr. Piesse was Western Australian born, and he has left his mark in the history of his native land. Born at Northam on 11th November 1855, he was the second son of the late Mr. William Roper Piesse, of Toodyay.
He was educated at Guildford and Northam, and subsequently proceeded to the pearling grounds at Shark Bay, where he was engaged during 1872-3. However, he soon returned to the south, and turned his energies in the direction of agricultural pursuits until 1880, when, in conjunction with his brother, Frederick Henry Piesse, he established at Williams the mercantile firm of Messrs F. and C Piesse, which was successfully carried on for twenty-four years.
In 1903 the late Mr. Piesse severed his connection with the firm, but continued in business at Wagin with his sons, combining with mercantile enterprise the work of agricultural development. He was successful in founding the fine agricultural and pastoral estates of Arthur River and Tillellan.
In June 1894, he was elected to the Legislative Council to represent the South-east Province, and sat continuously in that capacity up to the time of his death. He was untiring in his advocacy of agricultural potentialities of the State, and the requirements of the farming community. He was twice married. His first wife was Martha Amelia Ellen CHIPPER, a daughter of Thomas Chipper, of Kojonup and, when Martha died in 1901 aged 37 years, he married Flora Elizabeth Leonora Hickson, a daughter of John Hickson, of Port Pirie, South Australia.
His first home was the nearby Tillellan. When he remarried after the death of his first wife Martha, he decided to build another home. Whilst on his honeymoon in 1910, Piesse asked his sons to select a place for him where he could see both Tillellan, his first home, and Wagin.
His sons did as he asked and the new house, situated on a hill, was begun. The location was changed to overcome the initial site’s problem of shifting sand. Until the new home was ready, Piesse and his wife Flora lived at Tillellan.
Mr. Charles Austin Piesse, a member of the Legislative Council for the South-East Province of Western Australia, died in Perth in July, 1914.
Ref: Lost Katanning - Home Lost Katanning Great Southern Western Australia
With gratitude to Arthur Todd for encouragement, help and support. Lost Katanning, Old Railway Station, 67 Austral Terrace, Katanning
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