The Agricultural Society was founded in 1831. It met in Guildford in what it considered to be the best hotels at any given time, first at the Doddses' Cleikum Inn, then at Jones's hotel (on the Woodbridge Hotel site) and then at Devenish's.
Bourke 1987:
The Agricultural Society of Western Australia founded in 1831 came to be of increasing importance in the affairs of the colony. In the absence of elected representatives to the Legislative Council it came to function as a kind of alternative, unofficial house of Parliament, and discussed matters of general interest only indirectly connected with agriculture. It held four quarterly meetings at Guildford every year, and at the end of each year compiled an annual report on the agricultural progress of the colony which it presented to its patron, the Governor. The meetings were held throughout 1833 at Mr George Williams’ inn at ‘Garden Hill’, situated on the riverside near the centre of Guildford. After each meeting, which was held on a Friday afternoon, a dinner was held for fhe members at the inn. (Bourke 1987: 89)
.jpg)
Bourke, Michael J. 1987, On the Swan: a History of Swan District, Western Australia, UWAP for the Swan Shire Council, ISBN 0-85564-258-0.
Tuckfield, Trevor 1971, 'Early colonial inns and taverns', Part 1, Early Days: Journal and proceedings of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, 7, 3: 65-82; 1975, Part 2, Early Days, 7, 7: 98-106.
The above clippings have been taken from a website called Beyond the Name, in a section called Speed the Plough WA. Many more such may be found there.
Garry Gillard | New: 9 September, 2021 | Now: 24 April, 2024