Broomehill

History

The town of Broomehill (originally Broome Hill) owes its creation to the Great Southern Railway, which was completed in 1889. The railway runs from Beverley to Albany. Broomehill is named after Sir Frederick Napier Broome (1842–1896) who was then the Governor of Western Australia. Gold bearing quartz was discovered by the station master around Broomehill in 1889. In the same year Patrick Garrity purchased two lots facing Jasper Street and built a galvanised iron hotel. By 1905 the hotel had been rebuilt in brick with more extensions added in 1908. Known as the Broomehill Hotel and later as the Imperial Hotel, the two storey tuck pointed building is now heritage listed. The townsite was gazetted by the Western Australian Land Company in 1890, which was recognised by the state government in 1897. A group of settlers from the now extinct town of Eticup moved to the present site of Broomehill to help establish a township after the construction of the railway was completed. These settlers included the Walshes, and the Curnows. These three families worked hard to establish the early structures. A Victorian named Hamilton acquired of land around the townsite in 1890; T. W. Powell also acquired near the town from the Western Australian Land Company. A branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia was opened in the town-site in 1891. In 1892, a police station and post office were also established. The Broomehill Agricultural Hall was opened by T. Norris, a settler of the area, in 1898. The population of the town was 72 (37 males and 35 females) in 1898. A local Progress association was formed in 1905 with C.J. Darcy taking the position of chairman. Broomehill Football Club had been established in or before 1907, playing games against surrounding towns such as Katanning.…