The infomation in the following stories was kindly supplied by Gary Cowans, and is re produced with his permission.
In 1876 at the age of 19, Gustave Schmidt moved from Victoria where he was born to NSW and purchased land 8 miles SW of Moulamein. He married Emma Rebecca BICKFORD in 1884 and his first three children, Elizabeth ‘Ellie’, Ernest Gustave & Sydney were born in Moulamein. He sold this land in 1891 and purchased land near Myrtleford at Buffalo Creek Victoria. In 1895 the land was sold as Gustave was insolvent due to gambling debts.
Gustav ‘Gus’ Schmidt
His name first appears in newspapers of the time in Menzies, Western Australia around 1898. He acquired some pastoral property 2 miles north east of Menzies. He named this property St Albans. Also he acquired Mt Ida Station. It is not clear how he obtained this land. Perhaps he claimed squatter’s rights. He also had interests in gold mines in the area. His name is mentioned on gold leases around Menzies & Mt Ida. He was a member of the North Coolgardie Road Board and the Handicapper for the Menzies Race Club.
Extract from the “Daily News” Friday 28 August 1903
AGRICULTURE ON THE G0LDFIELDS.
GUS SCHMIDT’S EXPERIMENTS. A FINE CROP OF WHEAT.
A representative of the ‘N.C. Herald’ recently paid a visit to ‘Mr. Gus Schmidt’s homestead, ‘St. Albans,’ situated about two miles to the north-west of Menzies town site, and was courteously shown through the gardens, crop, etc., by Mr. Schmidt. The visitor to St. Albans could not fail to be impressed with the great possibilities in the agricultural industry on the fields’, for almost everything that Mr. Schmidt has put into the soil has grown and flourished.
Mr. Schmidt was the first to take up land on the fields, and so, far he has used St. Albans more as an experimental farm than anything else. He has grown a great variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, water melons, marrows, cabbages, lettuce, peas, etc., all of which have turned out splendidly, the water-melons last season being especially fine.
As a result of his experiment in fruit growing, Mr. Schmidt is now clearing four acres of land to constitute the basis of an orchard. It is his intention to go in principally for peaches and apricots, which he is confident, will grow excellently. Last season he produced some fine grapes, and this year he anticipates a heavy crop from the vines. A number of almond trees grown from the nut are looking well, and one has grown to a height of about eight feet, and is now blossoming. Cape gooseberries and passion fruit grow without any attention, and the oranges and lemons are coming on nicely. All fruits, vegetables and flowers grow without manure, and the farm has a slight fall to the north-west, it is naturally watered. So far Mr. Schmidt’s most important experiment has been the planting of thirty-five acres of wheat, and the crop is now well forward and looks beautifully green. The wheat field is a sight well worth seeing, and Mr.’ Schmidt will undoubtedly be well rewarded for his enterprise.
In April last Mr. Schmidt purchased a large mob of sheep and brought them to St Albans. They were then dog-poor, but have thrived wonderfully and are now fine, strong animals. The flock at present numbers about seven hundred and shearing is in full swing.
‘Mr. Schmidt is fortunate in having on his property a well from which a plentiful supply of stock water con be drawn, and this will’ increase the security, of his position in the event of dry seasons happening along.
Mr. Schmidt has experimented successfully with Trefoil and other grasses, and is now trying the South African ‘Paspalum’ which grows to a, grout height and is first class feed for stock.
The progress of St. Albans farm will be watched with keen interest throughout the district and given good seasons there can be little doubt the owner will achieve the success which he well deserves.
Gus Schmidt with camel buggy
His wife, Emma Rebecca, died September 1901 from Influenza and is buried in the Menzies Cemetery. In July 1902 he decided to sell all his interests in Menzies and move back to the Eastern States.
SCHMIDT Emma Rebecca nee BICKFORD died 24 Sept 1901 age 44, (Photo taken in 2016 by Gary Cowans)
SCHMIDT Emma Rebecca
Died 24 Sept 1901 age 44, Father: Nicholas BICKFORD (Grazier), Mother: Emma Rebecca FRANCIS, Cause: Influenza and Pneumonia, Born in Amhurst VIC, In WA 3yrs, Married to Gustav ‘Gus’ SCHMIDT, Children: Elizabeth Emma 16yrs, Ernest Gustav 14yrs, Sydney Alford 11yrs, Frederick William 9yrs, George Francis 7yrs. Reg North Coolgardie 39/1901, Buried in the Menzies Cemetery.
Emma Rebecca SCHMIDT – Menzies Cemetery – Photo Gary Cowans 2016
Listed for sale in the Kalgoorlie Miner in July 1902 are; • Two houses in Menzies. • St Albans Homestead, 20,000 acres, 2 miles NE of Menzies. • Ida Downs Station in the Mt Ida District, 100,000 acres, 40 miles NE of Menzies. He sold Ida Downs to Charles Mc Master and a partner. It is unknown if he sold the houses, however he continued to live at St Albans in Menzies.
Schmidt G -Selling St Albans Kalgoorlie Miner 19 Jul 1902
On Friday 28 August 1903 the Perth Daily News published an article headed
“AGRICULTURE ON THE G0LDFIELDS. MR. GUS SCHMIDT’S EXPERIMENTS. A FINE CROP 0F WHEAT“
Later he purchased pastoral land at Pingrup in the SW of WA. He married Alice Whitaker on 15th April 1914. He sold the land in Pingrup around July 1916 and became an inspector on the Rabbit Proof Fence ranging from Yalgoo to the Yilgarn district. He remained in this job residing at The Department of Agriculture Premises in Yalgoo from 1916 until he retired in 1929. He is mentioned many times in The Department of Agriculture’s book Publication Chronicles of The Rabbit Proof Fence Western Australia, where he is referred as G K Smith, sub inspector in charge, Yalgoo Base.
Frederick William Schmidt
Frederick Schmidt was the son of Emma and Gustav ‘Gus’ Schmidt:
Western Argus 5 February 1918, page 7.
SOCIAL NEWS – The Methodist Church at Yunndaga (near Menzies) was crowded with friends on the afternoon of January 9 to witness the marriage of Mabel, third daughter of Mr and Mrs. Thomas ELLIS (Thomas Ellis JP managed the Menzies Gold mine) to Frederick W SCHMIDT. The bride wore a dress of cream paillette georgette silk, trimmed with silk shadow lace and silver ornaments. A wreath of orange blossoms and a fine lace veil completed a pretty costume. Misses Ida and Lily Ellis attended their sister as bridesmaids, and each wore a dress of cream paillette silk, trimmed with silk shadow lace and pearls, with cream picture hats.
The bride and bridesmaids carried bouquets of carnations and roses with streamers of the groom’s regimental colours, the 10th Light Horse. Mrs. Ellis, the bride’s mother, wore a navy blue silk costume, relieved with a collar and touches of white lace, a navy silk hat, with white plumes. The bride groom was attended by Mr R. Robinson, a comrade at Gallipoli, where the groom was severely wounded, Mr Ernest Schmidt was groomsman.
At the wedding breakfast, the health of the newly married couple was proposed by the Rev. J. Parker, while in the evening the local town hall was filled with friends, who spent a very pleasant and enjoyable time. Many presents were received. The bride’s gift to the bridegroom was a silver mounted brush and comb; Bride groom to bride, pearl and ruby brooch; bridegroom to bridesmaids, pearl and ruby brooches.
NOTE: Frederick had to change the family name to SMITH after the war, as it was impossible to find work if you had a German sounding name.
Thomas Ellis (Father of the bride) – Back row far left, Staff of the Menzies Consolidated GM, 1916
Ref Images sourced from Trove – National Library of Australia.
Moya Sharp
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