City of Armadale - History House > Records

COCONUT HUSK

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c. 1903

Overview

Elongated triangular shaped husk with a chocolate coloured fibrous covering known as coir, used in the making of mats etc.

Historical information

Brought to WA c1903 from Capetown, possibly by a member of the Skeet family returning from a trip to the United Kingdom.
The Skeet family were one of the original founding families of East Jandakot in the early 1900's. The Skeet family consisted of Alfred Tunbridge Skeet and George Tunbridge Skeet, until February 1912 when Alfred married Lillian Dumsday and had a child called Alfred in 1913. The skeet family were very heavily involved in both the construction and cotton manufacturing industries. This is evident due to the fact that Alfred Tunbridge Skeet was a Justice of he piece from 1910 onwards and the President of the Armadale Building Committee. In 1914 the Skeet were able to obtain permission to build a town hall but not government funding, so instead of being the planned 30x20 feet hall of stone, it was intact a 25x15 feet hall of tin and wood construct that was later used as a school house for the children until 1921. With the building of the town hall they strived to gain access to education for their children which included getting a resident teacher by the name of Miss Jeffrey who stayed for only one year, eventually being replaced by Miss Wilson, both of which resided in the teachers wing of the skeet family residence. On the 15th April 1915 the area of residence for which the Skeet's resided was changed under petition of Mrs Skeet, from East Jandakot to Forrestdale as a tribute to Lord Forrest. In 1918 it was decided that the town of Armadale needed a telephone and so one was established outside the Dumsdays Receiving Office.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK1984.676

Themes

Nature
People
Popular Culture
Social History

Material

Organic Material

Width

215 mm

Height or length

125 mm

Depth

125 mm

Keywords

SKEET Family

Year

c. 1903

Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of items associated with the Skeet and Dumsday family. Both families have played a significant role in the economic, community or social development of the City of Armadale. This includes holding key political or social positions within the community, being a key contributor or member of a community organisation, a strong contributor to improving the well-being of the local community, a prominent figure in a local business or industry, developer of new industries or activities.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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