Mr. Ernest James Beart, owner of Bamboo Springs Station, near Nullagine, died at the station. The late Mr. Beart came to this State in 1894 and went to Menzies, where he built a pipeline about seven miles long to serve the mines. A few years later he worked as an engineer for Smith and Timms in building the rail way from Kalgoorlie to Menzies. After that he entered business as a forwarding agent and timber merchant and in 1906 acquired Bamboo Springs.

For many years he divided his time between his station and his home in Claremont.  Ernest was in Port Hedland hospital in 1938 and, knowing he was dying, he requested that he be allowed to die on a property that he owned.  So his family chartered a plane and he died several days later at Bamboo Springs.

His wife (formerly of Menzies) died in 1929 but he left two daughters, one of whom was Mrs. 0. A. Beattie, the wife of the Commonwealth Architect at Canberra, and the other was Mrs. M. J. Quin, whose husband is the manager of her late father's station. 

The deceased's parents were married in 1859 in Essex, England.  His father, James, was born about 1826 in Blakeney, Norfolk, and his mother in 1835 in Langham, Essex.  The marriage produced six children, of which Ernest James was the fourth.  The others were: Harry, born October 1859, died April 1860; Frank William born December 1860; Kate Emily born 1862; Arthur Henry born 1867; Alexander Kingsbury born December 1872.  Susannah died in May 1898 in Suffolk and her husband on 3 January 1908 at Claremont.

Kathleen Mary Beart, daughter of Ernest James, married Oscar Alexander Beattie, who, in 1954, was the architect of Scotts Church, Sydney.

Robert Hugh died in Perth and his brother, Chris, who was chief pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, flew his ashes to Bamboo Springs Station where they were buried in the grave of his grandfather, Ernest Beart.

Robert Hugh had worked on Bamboo Springs in his younger years. His father was Commonwealth Architect at Canberra.

Robert's parents were married on 1 September 1926 at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth (Marriage Registration 100999/1926, Perth).

Annie's death was certified in writing by J.E. Betts.  She was buried n Bamboo Springs Station.

Like her husband, Mrs Leete's ashes are buried half on Bamboo Springs Station and half on Muccan Station.

Their daughter, Ann Elizabeth MERRY, also appears in this website.  

Jim (James Cecil Betts) Leete arrived in Australia in November 1924 with his mother and brother.  His father, James Richard Leete, had arrived in Western Australia in 1922.   Land was taken up at Lake Biddy, Western Australia and clearing was by hand.

Just seven months after their arrival in this state, in June 1925, Jim’s mother passed away. 

In the depression, the Leetes walked off the farm.  Jim went north obtaining work as a Jackeroo on Bryah sheep station for three years. Then to Bonney Downs Station as Overseer in 1935. He stayed four years.  He went droving in September 1939. One contract was 6000 sheep from Warrawagine Station to Bryah Station.

At Three Rivers station he met Helen (Nell) Martha Sheppard. They subsequently married in September 1940.

As a married couple, they went to Braeside, an out-camp of Warrawagine station, for a two year stay, then moved to Warrawagine station as manager for about two years.

In 1944 Jim and Nell went to Muccan Station. They bought shares in  Muccan Station and later tried to buy more shares but were not successful so sold those and bought Nimingarra Station in 1951.

Muccan and Nimingarra are now under one lease.

In November 1956, they bought Bamboo Springs Station and worked that station until about 1976.

Jim and Nell were a wonderful team, faced many challenges, but loved the station life and each other.

Dingoes, wool prices, and staff issues became too much, so they sold and retired to Perth.

Bamboo Springs, Warri and Hillside Stations are now all under one lease.

At each of the stations, there were always Aboriginal families - a happy bunch, with no alcohol on the stations. They could hunt, go ‘walkabout’, hold corroborees and were loyal.

One family, when Nimingarra Station was sold, moved with the Leete family to Bamboo Springs Station (totally out of their own country) because they did not wish to stay with the new Nimingarra people.

At Bamboo Springs Station, there were a number of blind elderly Aboriginal women. They were taken care of by Jim and Nell so far as food, clothes, mattresses and health.

One day, the old women asked Jim if they had money on the books. "Certainly", said Jim. The women asked Jim to build them a small ‘Nissan’ hut 'with door we can lock, push-em out windows, and a verandah'. Jim said if they paid for the material, he would build it. That was in the 1960’s – the hut is still standing.

Known as Jim.

Mr Leete was aged 86 years, 11 months and 15 days when he died.  Like those of his wife, his ashes are buried half on Bamboo Springs Station and half on Muccan Station.

Their daughter, Ann Elizabeth MERRY, also appears in this website.  

Land was taken up at Lake Biddy, Western Australia and clearing was by hand.

Just seven months after their arrivial in this state, in June 1925, Jim’s mother passed away. 

In the depression, the Leetes walked off the farm.  Jim went north obtaining work as a Jackeroo on Bryah sheep station for three years. Then to Bonney Downs Station as Overseer in 1935. He stayed four years.  He went droving in September 1939. One contract was 6000 sheep from Warrawagine Station to Bryah Station.

At Three Rivers station he met Helen (Nell) Martha Sheppard. They subsequently married in September 1940.

As a married couple, they went to Braeside, an out-camp of Warrawagine station, for a two year stay, then moved to Warrawagine station as manager for about two years.

In 1944 Jim and Nell went to Muccan Station. They bought shares in  Muccan Station and later tried to buy more shares but were not successful so sold those and bought Nimingarra Station in 1951.

Muccan and Nimingarra are now under one lease.

In November 1956, they bought Bamboo Springs Station and worked that station until about 1976.

Jim and Nell were a wonderful team, faced many challenges, but loved the station life and each other.

Dingoes, wool prices, and staff issues became too much, so they sold and retired to Perth.

Bamboo Springs, Warri and Hillside Stations are now all under one lease.

At each of the stations, there were always Aboriginal families - a happy bunch, with no alcohol on the stations. They could hunt, go ‘walkabout’, hold corroborees and were loyal.

One family, when Nimingarra Station was sold, moved with the Leete family to Bamboo Springs Station (totally out of their own country) because they did not wish to stay with the new Nimingarra people.

At Bamboo Springs Station, there were a number of blind elderly Aboriginal women. They were taken care of by Jim and Nell so far as food, clothes, mattresses and health.

One day, the old women asked Jim if they had money on the books. Certainly, said Jim. The women asked Jim to build them a small ‘Nissan’ hut 'with door we can lock, push-em out windows, and a verandah'. Jim said if they paid for the material, he would build it. That was in the 1960’s – the hut is still standing.

When her mother, Nell (Helen), was pregnant with Ann, the doctor, Dr Harrold Dicks, Flying Doctor, ordered Nell to leave Warrawagine Station and stay at the Marble Bar Hospital in case summer floods prevented her from reaching Marble Bar when the birth was due.

When Ann was ten days old, her father, Jim, came in from Warrawagine Station to take the family back home. After heavy rain and four days later, the family reached the sheep camp – 18 miles from the homestead. An Aboriginal walked to the homestead and returned with a donkey team with dray. When they arrived at the homestead, they still had the flooded Oakover River to cross.  Jim had baby Ann over his head and Nell had an Aboriginal man each side of her to escort her across the flooded river.

Station life led Ann to become a great horsewoman, mustering and competing at gymkhanas.

Ann trained as a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital in the late 1950’s.  She became a very dedicated nurse, working at Geraldton and Port Hedland. 

Ann married Hugh Merry of Edginbar Station in 1968 at Marble Bar.

It was at Port Hedland that Ann fell ill with Hodgkinson Lymphoma and died in 1969.

The informant of Mr Muller's death was Corporal Thomas Hopins/Hohins, of Roebourne.

Known as Jack.

Jack had many skills.  He was a charcoal burner for the mines, a well-sinker, sleeper-cutter ... he could turn his hand to anything.  He also had a good singing voice.

Jack's wife, Lily, was born 25 January 1888 at The Paddock, Blenheim Park, England.  She died 23 October 1940 at Perth and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Known as Bob.

Bob Withnell died about 1949 from causes unknown. 

He was buried in an unidentified grave under the rocks with the tree in the centre of the Bamboo Springs Station cemetery. The funeral was attended by all the Quin children.  he was prepared for burial by the Aboriginal people, being wrapped in hessian and then placed in the grave.  Then the funeral service was performed in part Christian and part Aboriginal tradition.

Bob's identity as a white man was concealed.  He was known as "Half-Caste Bob" because he married Sally, a full-blood Aboriginal.  In latter years, it was revealed to the Quin children that he was in fact a European.  Sally was a nanny to the Quinn children.

Bob and Sally had one daughter, Dolly Swan, who is one of the Matriarchs of the present day Aboriginals on Bamboo Springs.