Group settlement
The Group Settlement Scheme was a government-assisted migration scheme which operated in Western Australia in the early 1920s. Through this scheme, British families came to Western Australia to seek a new livelihood on the land. Settlers worked together in groups of 20 (hence the name of the scheme) to clear land, build cottages and establish farms. Sadly the images of pastoral paradise which attracted the migrants, many of whom had no farming experience, were tragically misleading. Inadequate planning in the allocation of land meant that many of the settlers found themselves on very inhospitable land.
The stories of the ‘groupies’ are vividly told through many of the small museums and historic collections in the South West. Several of the museums evoke the harshness of the living conditions through replica Group Settlement cottages, in which the furniture demonstrates the ingenuity of the settlers. Decades before the word ‘upcycling’ was part of our language, the ‘groupies’ found many inventive uses for the wooden box that kerosene tins were packed in, as well as for the tins themselves.
The replica and re-located cottages and school houses give these museums the opportunity to take visitors back in time to the 1920s, sparking the curiosity of visitors of all ages, as well as providing a perfect setting for the older generation to share stories and memories with younger visitors.
The photographic displays of group settlers give a perspective on some of the environments in which these families lived and worked. However, it is worth thinking about why these photographs were taken. In many cases, the photograph was to be sent ‘home’ to Britain, as evidence of the family’s achievements in their new country. Other photographs would have been taken for the government or by journalists, as evidence of the success of the Scheme. The photos rarely show the real difficulties of daily life as a ‘groupie’.
Discover stories of the Group Settlers at the Northcliffe Pioneer Museum, Pemberton Pioneer Museum, Margaret River Historical Society, and the Busselton Butter Factory.
