City of Armadale - History House > Records

SAUCER

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1870 - 1984

Overview

Round earthenware white glazed saucer with pink rose, green buds and golden leaf design printed around the rim of the lip of rim of the saucer and in the middle. Gold trip around the top edge of the saucer rim.

Historical information

In 1885 recent arrivals William and Alfred Skeet were granted 100 acres of land around what is today Forrestdale Lake. The Skeet brothers were two of the first British migrants to settle in the area. It is believed that this tea cup was one of the items the brothers brought with them from England when they migrated to Western Australia in 1876. The cup had stayed in the family before being donated to the museum in 1984.
The brothers cleared the land by hand, which had plenty of water thanks to the lake and surrounding wetlands, and planted vegetables. They also cut wood which they sold to supplement their income.
In 1912 Alfred married Lillian Dumsday who had moved to Forrestdale with her parents and siblings. Alfred and Lillian would go onto have several children and play an important role in developing the fledgling community.
Alfred would become a Justice of the Peace in 1910 and in 1929 a member of the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board.
Alfred campaigned for five years for a telephone line to be installed in the area. In 1918 a party linewas run to Forrestdale from nearby Westfield and a public phone box was installed for the community to use. In 1913 Alfred along with his father-in-law George Dumsday raised money and acquired the land for a community hall. The new hall was opened in 1914.
Alfred and Lillian also played a role in getting a school established in the area and in 1915 getting the name of the district changed from East Jandakot to Forrestdale.
Alfred
Alfred passed away in 1945 aged 82. William had died in 1918 aged 62.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK1984.678B

Themes

Art and Design
People

Width

145 mm

Height or length

30 mm

Depth

145 mm

Keywords

Year

Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of items associated with brothers William and Alfred skeet who have played a significant role in the economic, community or social development of the City of Armadale. The Skeet brothers were two of the first British migrants to settle in the area. It is believed that this tea cup was one of the items the brothers brought with them from England when they migrated to Western Australia in 1876. The cup had stayed in the family before being donated to the museum in 1984.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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