Capel Road Board

Across Western Australia the Road Boards were an early form of local government. These were born out of the need for an organised local body to build and maintain the roads which were the only connection between isolated homesteads or communities and the rest of the country. Over time their functions grew until eventually the Road Boards were replaced by the Town, Shire and City Councils of today.

Old Capel Road Board Office.

Capel Road Board was the predecessor to Capel Shire Council. In addition to maintaining local roads, the Road Board was responsible for other public works such as drainage, issuing dog and vehicle licenses and resolving border disputes between neighbours. Finances were raised by the levying of rates against land owners based on the property values. For example, in 1907 the Road Board levied at a rate of 4 pence to the pound (The Bunbury Herald, 5 October 1907). Capel Shire Council was formed in1961 and assumed the responsibilities of the old Road Board.

Chairmen of the Board

Until 1907 the Capel Road Board was known as Bunbury Road Board. The change reflected the fact that most of its members were Capel residents, which resulted in meetings being moved from Bunbury to Capel (Chase & Krantz, 1995).

Wooden ballot box belonging to Bunbury Roads Board, likely dating from 1890s or early 1900s. The box has a slot at the front for posting ballots and is lockable.

Road Board machinery and workers, dates unkown. 

In addition to employing a large body of workers, the Road Boards had to make considerable investments into heavy machinery for their public works projects. In 1925 the Board replaced the existing horse and cart teams with a REO truck with tipping tray. By 1929 the REO was in serious need of repairs. A contemporary news article describes the debate around whether to have the REO reconditioned or to purchase a newer Chevrolet (South Western Times, 17 January 1929).

Capel Road Board council members, circa 1936:

J.O. Roberts, J.P. Norton, W.W. Hutton, H.T. Dunkley, Farley, E.H.W Scott, B.W. Prowse, R.A. Payne

References 

Chase, D. & Krantz, V. (1995). Just a Horse Ride Away. Shire of Capel.

South Western Times. (17 January, 1929). Capel Road Board: Main Roads Contract, Truck Purchase. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/210792948?searchTerm=capel%20road%20board%20truck

The Bunbury Herald. (5 October, 1907). Capel Roads Board: Appeal Court. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87151920?searchTerm=capel%20road%20board