Framed Photograph of John and Nathaniel Abbey

In 1841 Thomas Abbey I arrived in the Vasse District from Newtown, Ireland, with his wife Mary Ann (nee Minion). During the labour shortages of the 1840s Thomas Abbey first worked for John Bussell before leasing land in Wonnerup. In 1847 land became available west of Busselton. Thomas Purchased Sussex Location 24, naming his property New Town Farm. Circa 1851, construction began of the family homestead, Newtown House, possibly with the aid of convict labourers, who had recently arrived in the district. Thomas and Mary Ann had 4 children David, Nathaniel , John (Nathaniel and John were twins) and Thomas II .

John and Nathaniel Abbey were both born on 30th August 1844 at Wonnerup and were apparently the first European twins to be born in the district. They were both tall and bearded and became known locally as ‘The Abbey Twins’. John was familiar with the Noongar languages and practices and was often used to help in negotiations with the local indigenous people.

John Abbey, married Ellen Weetman (1846-1915) in 1870 and they took over the property that Ellen and her sister Jane had inherited from their father Christopher Weetman. John and Ellen Abbey lived at this farm with their family of seven children, Edith (1871-1938), May (1872-1927), Agnes Rose (1875-1949) , Christoper John (1877- 1937), Ellen Janet (1879-1946), Nathaniel Thomas (1881-1948) and Kathleen Mabel (1884-1969).

Ellen Weetman was the daughter of English immigrants, Christopher and Judith Weetman, who arrived in the colony in 1855 on board the Berkshire. Christopher Weetman was a mason and master bricklayer who acquired a property, located one mile from Busselton Post Office and ¼ mile from the main road and appropriately called it ‘One Mile Farm’. This site matches the location of what is now known as ‘Phoebe Abbey’s house’. Circa 1865 Weetman built the first sections of ‘Phoebe Abbey’s House’ and the family lived in it until he tragically drowned in 1867, at the age of 45.

Nathaniel (Natty) Abbey was a successful farmer, securing significant landholdings from Yallingup to Cape Clairault. On his marriage to Adelia Elizabeth Guerrier in 1871, he took over the management of the Guerrier Farm in Yallingup and built a large homestead on the property, which became known as ‘Abbey Farm’. Nathaniel and his wife Adela had no children and left Abbey Farm in 1915, to live with his brother John, after the death of his wife Ellen.