Old Bunbury Pound, 23 Spencer Street
The Old Bunbury Pound was located on a large block with access to both Spencer Street and Cornwall Street (reference). The old pound was on Reserve 3268, Location 4134 with 96 links (19.2 meters) on Spencer Street and 111 links (22.3 meters) on Cornwall Street, being about 34 perches (860 meters squared) (reference).
On 1 October 1862, the first impoundment notice was released by the Bunbury Poundkeeper, William White, in the Inquirer and Commercial News, a Perth based newspaper (reference). The message informed the public that a chestnut colt of about two years of age was impounded and if not claimed, would be sold to cover costs for its temporary upkeep at the Bunbury Pound (reference).
Throughout the years that the pound was in operation, there were many impoundment notices made to the public for them to collect their animals before they were sold.
Date Animal Poundkeeper Reference
01 Oct 1862 Chestnut colt William White Link
06 Jun 1894 Light brindle cow Richard Hall Link
11 Sep 1900 Red heifer Alex Munro Link
12 Mar 1901 Dark brown horse Alex Munroe Link
20 Nov 1912 Black heifer James Trott Link
30 Oct 1913 Red & white steer James Trott Link
17 Feb 1914 Iron grey gelding James Trott Link
26 Sep 1914 Black & white heifer James Trott Link
19 Dec 1914 Yellow & white heifer James Trott Link
13 Dec 1917 Draught bay gelding Bertie Morrison Link
30 Nov 1918 Brown mare Thomas Dillon Link
29 Oct 1919 Black Steer Charles Hutchins Link
23 Jan 1925 Bay draught gelding Bertie Morrison Link
Members of the public also posted threats in newspapers, stating that if trespassing livestock were not removed from their land by a certain date, they would take the animals to the Bunbury Pound. In 1871 David Strickland had many trespassing animals on his Collie River property, and in 1873 Thomas Lovegrove had many horses on his Capel Farm (reference; reference).
In the early days of Bunbury, it was not unusual for animals such as cattle and horses to be roaming wild on the streets (reference). In 1883 the Chief Justice of Western Australia, Alexander Onslow, was in Bunbury and found a pony wandering around. He caught it and was leading it to the pound when the owner, a man named Lee, turned up, so he gave the pony over before it was impounded (reference).
When animals remained unclaimed, the pound sold them at public auctions. At 2 pm on 16 February 1907, Allyn Victor Fowler performed an auction sale at the Bunbury Pound yards of unclaimed horses and cattle (reference; reference). Following the sale of the unclaimed livestock, the auction continued to sell citizen’s livestock (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference). On 26 February 1910 at 2 pm at the Bunbury Pound yards a large stock sale was performed (reference). In 1911 at the Bunbury Pound yards, he sold Mrs Rebecca Agnes Temple née Properjohn’s cattle on her behalf (reference; reference).
The Bunbury Pound was also a landmark used by those living in Bunbury. In 1912 there was a bicycle road race that began at the Bunbury Pound (reference). Cyclists rode from the pound to Picton and back, with Roy Miller being the winner (reference). A week after this race, another one took place also with the starting line being at the Bunbury Pound (reference).
In 1916 the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was concerned for the animals’ welfare at the pound and asked the council to erect a shelter at the Bunbury Pound (reference). This request was successful, with the idea being implemented over a year later (reference). Other improvements such as filling in the rear of the block with sand were also made to the pound (reference).
In 1921 an animal cruelty scandal hit the papers, with poundkeeper Bertie Morrison accused of cruelty and neglect. An old, emancipated horse that was suffering was found by Inspector Sellinger in the pound with a festering ulcer on its neck (reference). The horse was put down after having been seen by a vet, and a case was formed against Bertie for animal cruelty (reference). When Bertie appeared in court, he was found not guilty of willful cruelty and neglect, but was fined 10 shillings and costs for not knowing enough about the animal protection act (reference).
In 1922 the Bunbury Pound was again mentioned in court when Thomas Shanahan attempted to release cattle from the pound (reference; reference). Thomas claimed he had the right to release the cattle as the pound was not ‘Gazetted’ and therefore not officially a pound (reference). Further investigation into the case found that the Bunbury Pound was ‘gazetted’ on 21 November 1902 (reference). Thomas was found guilty of damage to the pound and fined £2 and costs of £7 and 2 shillings (reference).
By 1922 Bunbury was beginning to sprawl out. Cornwall Street was now part of residential Bunbury. The urban sprawl was problematic as the pound was now adjacent to a residential property. In September 1922 it was suggested that the entrance of the pound, currently on Spencer Street, a main thoroughfare of Bunbury, should be moved to Cornwall Street (reference). Mr Shearer, who lived on the property surrounded by the pound, was consulted in November 1922 if he would approve of the change that would see the Bunbury Pound’s entrance move from the left-hand side of his property to the right-hand side (reference). Mr Shearer was agreeable to the idea as this would keep the cattle 4 feet away from his property (reference). The council also discussed other ways they could improve the issue of the pound’s proximity to private residences (reference).
In January 1926 the Bunbury Pound was in bad condition, and council discussions had begun whether to repair or sell the land (reference). Bertie Morrison, poundkeeper, stated in February 1926 that he had been telling the council the lousy condition of the pound for a while, and the Municipal Council had just been offering him empty promises of repairs that have never happened (reference). By the end of the year, the council decided to sell the old pound site and set up elsewhere (reference). Offers for the purchase of the property were accepted until 2 pm Monday, 25 October 1926 (reference).
It is currently unclear whether the Bunbury Pound was sold, or if it continued to function for years to come. The answer to this mystery lies at the State Records Office of Western Australia and in the memories of past Bunbury residents (link; link).