"Ned" Edmund Keane WELLS
Born 8 June 1892 in Bindoon, Western Australia [P29]
Son of Edward WELLS and Emily BYRNE [15]
Resided with his parents on Prospect Farm in Bindoon 1892-1904 [P1]
Received some primary schooling at the State School located on his father's Prospect Farm in Bindoon [P1]
His father died at the age of 58 on 6 November 1904, when his youngest sister was less than three months old [P1]
Following his father's death he shifted two miles north with his mother and siblings to Mount Pleasant Farm in Bindoon [P458]
For twelve months they lived with his uncle Thomas H. BYRNE on Mount Pleasant Farm in Bindoon [P458]
Upon leaving Mount Pleasant he shifted with his mother and siblings to Bush Grove Farm in Wannamal [P458]
Resided on and helped farm his mother's Bush Grove Farm in Wannamal 1906-1916 [P1]
Groomsman at his sister Ella's wedding in 1908, which was the first wedding to be held in the Wannamal district [114]
Member of the Wannamal Football and Cricket Clubs [114]
Attended the Fancy Dress Ball held in the Wannamal Hall on Friday 28 November 1913 dressed as "Secret Society" [114]
Member of the Wannamal Hall Committee - was Secretary during some of 1915 and 1916 [9: 8-Sep-1916] [114]
In early 1916 he was rejected for service in the Australian Imperial Force due to defective eyesight [9: 21-Apr-1916]
In Wannamal there was surprise, as he was a good sportsman and had successfully shot a destructive wild dog [9: 21-Apr-1916]
In September 1916 shifted from Wannamal to Three Springs where he drove a butcher's cart between Three Springs and Arrino [P1]
Butcher in Three Springs [50]
Believed to have driven the butcher's cart for his cousin Robert W. BYRNE, who was a butcher in Three Springs at the time [P1]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Blackboy Hill on 27 October 1916 [30: item 8381073]
He had been passed as fit for service in the Australian Imperial Force the previous day in Three Springs [30]
On enlistment was noted as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 140 lbs., with grey eyes, dark hair and a fresh complexion [30]
After training at Blackboy Hill he was appointed on 2 December 1916 to the 6th Reinforcements of the 3rd Pioneer Battalion [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A34 Persic on 29 December 1916 [18]
Disembarked in Devonport, England on 3 March 1917 and after further training proceeded to France on 12 February 1918 [30]
Private 3133 in the Australian Imperial Force's 3rd Pioneer Battalion in France during the First World War [30]
Embarked on his return to Australia on the Lancashire on 7 February 1919 and disembarked on 11 March 1919 [30]
His name appears on the Three Springs Honour Board, which was unveiled on Tuesday 3 June 1919 [9: 6-Jun-1919] [10: 13-Jun-1919]
Along with Private LYNCH, he was tendered a "Welcome Home" in Three Springs on Friday 15 August 1919 [9: 22-Aug-1919]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 25 August 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
Farmhand and Clearing Contractor in Three Springs 1919-1927 [6] [9] [10] [19]
Worked in and near Three Springs as a farmhand and also shearing with his cousins Ed, Fred and Harry BYRNE [P22]
Attended May BERRIGAN's 21st Birthday at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Friday 12 September 1919 [9: 19-Sep-1919]
Donated 2/6 to the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1920 [124]
Member of the Three Springs Merrymakers/Dramatic Company in 1920 [10: 6-Aug-1920]
Member of the Three Springs Football Club 1920-1922 [10: 9 & 23-Jul-1920, 3-Jun-1922]
Member of the Three Springs Cricket Club in 1920-21 and 1922-23 [9: 21-Jan-1921, 12-Jan-1923] [10: 16-Mar-1923]
Attended the wedding of his cousin May I. BYRNE and Robert A. CALDOW in Three Springs on 5 October 1921 [9: 21-Oct-1921]
Listed on the 1921 and 1922 Commonwealth Electoral Rolls as a "Farmer" in Three Springs [50]
He was awarded "Best on Ground" at a football match between Three Springs and Mingenew on Sunday 2 July 1922 [10: 7-Jul-1922]
Donated 10/- to the Wannamal Hall Fund at their Sports Meeting held in Wannamal on 31 March 1923 [9: 20-Apr-1923]
Shifted from Three Springs to Carnamah in about 1926 after obtaining farmland on the Yarra Yarra Estate in Carnamah [P22]
His farm was 1,651 acres in size and was situated on the eastern banks of the Mulliah / Yarra Yarra Lakes in Carnamah [3] [61] [62]
The farm consisted of Victoria Locations 3319, 6919 and 7075 and had previously been owned by Irwin S. MOORE [3]
He was best man at the wedding of Frank SEWELL of Three Springs and "Daisy" Fannie GOOCH in 1926 [86: 24-Jul-1926]
Married "Maggie" Margaret Agnes KROSCHEL on 8 February 1927 at the Carnamah Hall [4: 19-Feb-1927]
His best man was Harry ZUEGG, groomsman was H. McCANN and one of the bridesmaids was his cousin C. Annie BYRNE [4]
After their wedding service they enjoyed their Wedding Breakfast with 70 guests [4: 19-Feb-1927]
The Midlands Advertiser reported that they were "very popular with Carnamah and Three Springs residents" [9: 11-Feb-1927]
During the year 1927 his cousin's daughter Mavis M. BYRNE lived with him and Maggie on their farm in Carnamah [P116]
Mavis lived with them so she didn't have as far to travel to the Carnamah State School [P116]
She had fond memories of her time with her "Uncle Edmund & Aunty Maggie" and described her uncle as a wonderful man [P116]
Due to the strain of the Great Depression [P22] he cancelled the Conditional Purchase for his Carnamah farm on 2 September 1932 [3]
After the cancellation what had been his farm was taken up briefly by Robert MACKIE and then by HAIG Bros [3]
Manager for Jasper W. GREEN of Bushy Park Farm in Carnamah 1932-1938 [P22]
A local farmer remarked that "he was a good manager" and "an easy chap to get along with" [P7]
His employer Jasper W. GREEN said that he and his wife managed the farm "in a very able manner" [P297]
Resided with his wife and daughters in a house on Bushy Park Farm in Carnamah from 1932 to 1938 [P22]
Represented his employer at meetings of the North Midlands Registered Stud Stockbreeders Association in 1936 [5: 22-May-1936]
In 1938 they shifted into the Carnamah townsite where they took over Misses GILES & STEPHENS' Pyramid Tearooms [P1]
The tearooms were located at 10 Macpherson Street, Carnamah and were run from premises belonging to his father-in-law [P1]
Their tearooms became known as the "Wells and Wells Pyramid Tea and Dining Rooms" [13]
Himself and his wife ran the tearooms in conjunction with a boarding house in the adjoining residence from 1938 to 1958 [P1]
Always opened their tearooms during the interval of movies shown at the Carnamah Hall, which was opposite their tearooms [P7]
Advertised their tearooms in the Schedule of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1938 [13]
"Wells & Wells Pyramid Tea and Dining Rooms; Macpherson Street, Carnamah [13]
First-class Meals and Refreshments; 1/6 - Meals at All Hours - 1/6 [13]
Afternoon Teas and Suppers a Specialty; Special Arrangements for Parties [13]
Try our Home-made Cakes and Pies; Cold Meats always obtainable [13]
Best Brands of Confectionary in Stock; Fresh Stocks of Cigarettes and Tobacco" [13]
Also grew vegetables on acreage belonging to his father-in-law Charlie KROSCHEL just west of the town [P7]
Resided in premises adjoining their tearooms at 10 Macpherson Street, Carnamah 1938-1958 [P22]
After he and his wife disposed of their business and permanently separated he resided in Robertson Street, Carnamah [P22]
While living in his small house in Robertson Street he held the local licence to operate as a Bottle Collector, or "Bottle-O" [P176]
It was said he loved children and always had a load of them on his ute, who helped him collect the bottles [P9]
Left Carnamah on 2 February 1986 and shifted to the Lady Brand Lodge in Three Springs, and resided there until 18 March 1989 [147]
Shifted to the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs in 1989 and resided there until his death in 1996 [147]
Said to have always had sweets for his nieces and nephews, including the children of his many cousins at Three Springs [P116]
From 1926-27 he had a Ford car or truck licensed with the Carnamah District Road Board with numberplate CA-95 [325]
He purchased a new Ford truck from Carnamah dealer Rupert LAFFAN in November 1929 [4: 16-Nov-1929]
In 1932 whis Ford truck was registered with the Carnamah District Road Board numberplate CA-219 [4: 12-Nov-1932]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son from 1927 until 1937 [53]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Race Club 1927-1930 [9: 8-Apr-1927, 23-Mar-1928] [4: 21-Dec-1929]
Attended the wedding of Kathleen HÄUSSLER and Harry ZUEGG of Winchester in Carnamah on 7 February 1928 [4: 11-Feb-1928]
Member of the Carnamah Rifle Club in 1928 [4: 31-Mar-1928]
Committee Member of the Carnamah sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' League in 1928 [9: 23-Mar-1928]
Attended the wedding of Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN at the Carnamah Hall on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
Member of the team of married men who defeated a team of single men at cricket in Carnamah in November 1928 [4: 24-Nov-1928]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club in 1929-30 [4: 19-Oct-1929, 14-Dec-1929]
He was one of the Carnamah Football Club's three trainers in 1930 and 1931 [4: 15-Mar-1930, 18-Apr-1931]
Prize winner at the Bridge Evening held at the home or Mr and Mrs Roger W. CLARK in Carnamah on 30 July 1932 [5: 5-Aug-1932]
He was one of 77 ex-servicemen who attended the Sailors & Soldiers Reunion Dinner in Carnamah on 22 October 1932 [86: 29-Oct-1932]
Lent his truck to transport Carnamah's Scouts and Cubs to Coorow for the day on Sunday 27 November 1932 [5: 2-Dec-1932]
Paid £4/10/- in Vermin Bonuses by the Carnamah District Road Board in 1933 for killing nine foxes thereby helping with vermin [300]
Won 2nd prize for Potatoes in the Vegetable section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 14 September 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
In November 1933 while driving sheep he suffered a bruised shoulder after his horse was tripped by a sheep [5: 17-Nov-1933]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Attended the R.S.L. Annual General Meeting and Smoke Social at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 6 April 1935 [5: 12 & 19-Apr-1935]
Attended the Fourth Annual North Midlands R.S.L. Reunion Dinner held in Three Springs on Saturday 19 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Sold an unstated number of heifers at £6/2/3 through Dalgety & Co Ltd at the Midland Market on 6 November 1935 [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Attended the funeral of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club - played for "Carnamah Reds" in 1935-36 and 1937-38 [5: 11-Oct-1935, 24-Dec-1937]
Travelled to and from cricket in Coorow with his team-mates on the back of Charlie OLSON's truck on 9 February 1936 [5]
On their way back to Carnamah the truck hit a bank on the side of the road and they were all thrown off the back of the truck [5]
Only one of his team-mates was slightly injured, and after repairing the truck they carried on with their journey home [5: 14-Feb-1936]
Captain of the Carnamah Cricket Club's "Carnamah Seconds" team in 1936-37 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
Attended the Wedding Social & Dance for Stuart and May FORD at Koolabba Farm in Carnamah on 25 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Played for victorious Carnamah in their cricket match against "The Rest" in Coorow on Sunday 22 March 1936 [5: 27-Mar-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening & Play Presentation at the Carnamah Hall on 17 June 1936 [5: 19-Jun-1936]
Member of the North Midlands Stud Stockbreeders Association in 1936, and Committee Member in 1937 [5: 19-Jun-1936, 28-May-1937]
Attended the Farewell Bridge Evening on 21 June 1936 for Tom & Johanna BERRIGAN who were leaving Carnamah [5: 26-Jun-1936]
Attended the public meeting about the creation of stockyards in Carnamah on Saturday evening 14 November 1936 [5: 20-Nov-1936]
Himself, his wife and their two daughters holidayed at Dongara for a few weeks in February 1937 [5: 12 & 26-Feb-1937]
Came 3rd in the R.S.L. Handicap Race of 50 yards at the Easter Athletic Sports Meeting in Carnamah on 29 March 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
Himself and Harold F. DUNNING were collectors for the Carnamah Football Club in 1937 [5: 16-Apr-1937]
Won 2nd prize for Cauliflower in the Vegetable section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 9 September 1937 [5: 17-Sep-1937]
Member of the Carnamah sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' League - was Treasurer 1939-1943 [52]
Was on the Carnamah Ratepayers & Citizens Association's grasshopper eradication committee in 1937 [0: image 02876]
Foundation Committee Member of the Carnamah District War and Patriotic Fund in 1940 [0: image 03074]
Member of Carnamah's branch of the Red Cross Society [141]
President of the Carnamah Cricket Club in 1939-1946 [0: images 02957, 03971 & 04408]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1939-1971 [13]
People's Warden of the Carnamah Anglican Church in 1941 [0: image 03993]
Member of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club 1941-1952 [0: images 03999, 04261, 04501 & 04654]
Committee Member of the Carnamah District War and Patriotic Fund in 1941 and 1942 [0: images 04014 & 04174]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and general repairers Henry Parkin & Son 1940-1942 [53]
Noted as Carnamah's "Champion Gardener" in 1942 when he cut prize winning cabbages weighing 28lb. [0: image 04158]
Private in the local Volunteer Defence Corps during the Second World War [16]
Committee Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1945-1947 [58]
Served on the North Midlands Anglican Church Vestry 1945-1952 [167]
During the entire period of 1945-1952 meetings of the local Anglican Church Vestry were held at his home in Carnamah [167]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Mrs A. J. Louise GERSCH of Carnamah and the Three Springs Cemetery on 24 March 1946 [5: 29-Mar-1946]
In 1947 they had the telephone connected to their tearooms which became telephone number Carnamah-19 [60]
By 1948 had been made a Justice of the Peace for the Victoria Magisterial District of Western Australia [22]
As a Justice of the Peace presided as Magistrate at criminal and traffic cases that went before the Carnamah Police Court [22]
Presided over his first case on 17 September 1948; between 1948 and 1963 presided and made rulings at 124 cases [22]
On 11 September 1948 two local farmers stole a quantity of vegetables he exhibited in the Carnamah Show from the showgrounds [22]
The two men went before the Carnamah Police Court on 20 September 1948 and were each fined £3 and costs of 3/- [22]
Vice Patron of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club in 1950 [0: image 04532]
Vice Patron of the Carnamah Football Club in 1951 [4: 7-Apr-1951]
Member of the Carnamah Bush Fire Brigade - was Second Lieutenant in 1951 [4: 8-Sep-1951]
Received electricity from Carnamah firm Henry Parkin & Son; in July 1952 paid £21.12.6 for the month's electricity [53]
Member of the Carnamah Small Bore Rifle Club in 1954 [0: image 04734]
Judged the Vegetable section of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1954 [0: image 04750]
Attended the "Day of Pioneers" luncheon held at the Shire Council Chambers in Carnamah on 13 October 1982 [253]
Celebrated his 100th Birthday with a large number of family and friends at the Bowling Club in Carnamah [P1]
Received celebratory letters from the Queen, Prime Minister, Governor General and the Carnamah and Three Springs Shires [P1]
Despite being the eighth of fourteen children, he outlived all thirteen of his siblings [P1]
Passed away at the age of 103 years at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs [P1]
Father of Vida, Margaret and Edward [P22]
Died 28 January 1996; buried at Three Springs General Cemetery in Three Springs, Western Australia (Uniting, Plot 55) [24]
His death certificate claims that he was, or was supposed to have been, buried in the Anglican portion of the cemetery [P1]
Known variously as Edmund, Eddie, Johnny, Curly, Rocky and Ned [P1]
Edmund Keane WELLS was a pallbearer at the following funerals held at the Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah:
Herbert MURRAY, who was buried on 26 January 1933; John MCINTOSH, who was buried on 8 August 1941
John Maurice HAIG, who was buried on 4 May 1946; Mrs Lilias Michie POWER, who was buried on 2 December 1947
William Henry WATSON, who was buried on 13 September 1948; John BOWMAN, who was buried on 28 July 1952
Ronald Alfred DEWAR, who was buried on 28 April 1952; Mrs Margaret Swan BOWMAN, who was buried on 8 December 1954
Mrs Ada Rose HAIG, who was buried on 27 September 1955; Charles William John TURNER, who was buried on 10 July 1956
Henry PARKIN, who was buried on 28 April 1958
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Edmund Keane Wells' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 23 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/edmund-keane-wells [reference list] |
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