In the mid 1800\u2019s settlers began moving through the foothills to harvest the lucrative sandalwood trees on the Darling Range Escarpment. Sandalwood supplies were soon exhausted and the Government began to sell blocks of land to white settlers who were mainly orchardists and farmers. The district of Forrestfield was officially formed in the early 1900\u2019s. In 1911, Welshpool Road \u2013 the first proper road in the foothills was opened. Forrestfield Primary School (Hawtin Road) was opened in 1927. Significant growth and development occurred in Forrestfield during the interwar and post war periods.<\/p>

Notable settlers who contributed to the District\u2019s early history include:<\/p>

<\/p>

Mr Charles Hale<\/p>

One of Forrestfield\u2019s earliest settlers and reputed for having given Forrestfield its name, the story goes that in 1902, when Mr Hale settled in the area he planted a crop amongst the trees. A neighbour referred to him wanting a forest and a field at the same time and thus the name Forrestfield was coined and later applied to the area (a less popular alternative story suggests the area is named after Western Australia\u2019s first premier, John Forrest). Hale, originally a Victorian came to WA in 1890 to make his fortune on the Goldfields. Instead, he started a carrying business in West Leederville. In 1902, he and his wife Mary, built a cottage from gravel rocks in Forrestfield, bringing up their eight children in the area; they supplemented their diet with locally sourced kangaroo meat and marron. Charles Hale was a member of the Darling Range Roads Board from 1909-1913 and was largely responsible for the construction of Hale Road, which was completed in 1919 with the help of other locals who contributed both labour and finances.<\/p>

<\/p>

Mr George Russell Dawson<\/p>

Founder of Dawson\u2019s Garden World nursery, G.R. Dawson moved to Forrestfield in 1914 with his business partner E.J. Harrison to expand their business. The pair purchased 100 acres off Hale Road. This site was considered a perfect 10 miles from their city store, as this was the maximum distance a horse and cart could travel back and forth in one day. Originally, the Dawson family lived in a wooden house, and later in a reinforced concrete house which today is the coffee shop at the Dawson Garden Centre. Much of the original 100 acre block has since been developed for housing; however Dawson\u2019s Garden World has a rich history in the area. In the early years, Dawson\u2019s Forrestfield was not just an extensive production nursery which supplied the city stores, but also a significant fruit producer providing about 25-30 tons, a year, of Satsuma plums for jam making. During the Second World War, Dawson\u2019s joined the war effort, by growing extensive vegetable crops for vegetable seed production. To encourage gardeners to grow more vegetables to supplement war time diets, Bill Dawson (George Dawson\u2019s son), wrote \u201cMy Victory Garden\u201d, a comprehensive manual for home vegetable production. In the 1950\u2019s Dawson\u2019s successfully opened up the Forrestfield site to the public for retail shopping.<\/p>

<\/p>

Mr George Morrison<\/p>

Arrived in Forrestfield in 1939. He was responsible for establishing the first garage (Caltex), which has since been demolished, as well as a plastics factory. An active member of the community, Mr Morrison was a member of the Darling Range Road Board, Justice of the Peace, Chief of the local Fire Brigade, served on the Progress Association and helped establish the first Guide and Scout groups in the area.<\/p>[Historical images for community profiles are contributed by The Kalamunda Historical Society][Thanks to Dawson's Garden World, Forrestfield for providing historical information]

<\/p>

ciety]<\/em><\/h5><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n \n

\n \n

\n \n\n \n<\/span>\n\n

\n

Caltex garage 1970<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n \n\n \n<\/span>\n\n

\n

Forrestfield school 1929<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n \n\n \n<\/span>\n\n

\n

Dawson's Truck<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-blank-4.php","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n