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Meet the Maley Family of Greenough.

One of the most interesting pioneer families of the Greenough Flats was the Maley family.

The 14 children of John Stephen Maley and his wife, Elizabeth (nee Waldeck)were all born at 'Home Cottage' (now the Greenough Pioneer Museum).


George Maley's Grave
John and Elizabeth Maley’s first child, George Stephen,was born on 3 June 1863. After a lingering illness, he died of pulmonary consumption on 29 July 1879.

The Victorian Express reported that, "George was interred in the Greenough Cemetery; being followed to his last resting place by his parents and relations and about 300 mourner, the cortege of carriages and equestrians extending a half a mile in length. The pallbearers were the leading businessmen of Geraldton, Messrs E. Shenton, W.H. Gale, C Crowther and M Hosken. The Reverend T.C. Laurance conducted the service at the grave."

George Maley was described as a promising young man, 6ft 2in in height and a general favourite with all who had known him.


Hannah, the second child, was born on the 29 April 1865. In 1883 she boarded with her uncle, Robert Waldeck, a storekeeper in Fremantle, but by 1885 she had returned home. It was noted in a family diary,"that the younger children were then shifted from the nursery into the old dining room so that Hannah could have her own room." Hannah was skilled at singing and playing the piano, freely providing her skills at fund raising concerts on the Greenough.

Hannah married Joshua, son of John and Caroline Mills of Narra Tarra on 9 May 1892. The couple had three children; John Stuart born in 1893, Helen Yetna born in 1895 and Ruth Enga Goodchild born 5 July 1905 and died 14 October 1905.

Hannah died on 10 July 1905 in Geraldton after complications during childbirth, and is buried in the Narra Tarra Cemetery.

Joshua was for many years the district inspector for the Agricultural Department. On his retirement he entered parliament and for six years was a member of the Legislative Council for the Central Province. Joshua died on 21 March 1943 and is buried in the Narra Tarra Cemetery.

Children of Hannah and Joshua Mills


Martha Mary, the third child, was born on 18 June 1866 and was educated at the North Greenough School. Despite her Methodist upbringing, she married Alfred William Farrelly, a Roman Catholic solicitor on the 2 April 1889 at a ceremony held in the Rudd’s Gully School building (since demolished). The couple honeymooned in Melbourne.

The marriage was unsuccessful and when Farrelly contracted a serious mental illness, Mary separated from him. Suffering herself a serious illness, she only recovered through her will power and by sticking to a diet of wholemeal grains and fresh fruit and vegetables. Mary then devoted herself to the welfare of women and children. She joined the Women’s Service Guild soon after its foundation in 1909, and helped to establish the State’s Kindergarten Union and Girl Guide movement. From 1915 she was also committed member of the Theosophical Society.

In 1916 she fought for the attempted assault on children to be reclassified as a crime rather than a demeanour; for raising the age of consent to 18; and for the teaching of the ‘scientific physiology’ in schools. She was a justice of the peace from 1921 and became the vice-president of the Western Australian Women Justices’ Association.

Having seen the effects of alcohol, Mary was an ardent member of the Women’s Temperance Union. She also organized the Prison Gate Committee to rehabilitate ex-prisoners. When Mrs Farrelly approached members of parliament they were often daunted by her tall commanding presence. But this square-jawed, serious woman had an endearing personality and a latent roguish humour which won her many friends, particularly among countrywomen.

Through her campaign to “Eat More Wheat”, Mary became known throughout Western Australia as the “Wheat Queen”. As part of her campaign, she helped organize rural household science courses to teach domestic efficiency to isolated country women. A splendid speaker, at her lectures Mary demonstrated the virtue of wholemeal flour with home-made loaves and platters of wheaten biscuits. Her booklet ‘How to cook wheat’, was published during the Depression; at sixpence a copy it sold well, running to many editions. Its author was in great demand as a speaker in the country. Train travel meant loss of sleep and infrequent meals, but she fortified herself with a seemingly inexhaustible supple of puffed wheat, carried in her well-worn large handbag, along with pamphlets, recipe books and nomination forms.

Mary was one of the founding members of the (Royal) Western Australian Historical Society in 1926, and eventually became a senior vice-president. Towards the end of life her work was recognised at a reception at Government House when friends presented her with a large new handbag and a purse filled with much needed sovereigns.

Mary died on 28 August 1943 in West Perth and is buried in her brother’s grave at the Karrakatta Cemetery.


Frederick (Fred) William Maley, the fourth child was born on 29 February 1868. He was educated at the North Greenough School and then at Fremantle. From 1885 he was in partnership with his father. On 31 July 1890 he married Edith Hosken at Geraldton. Edith later left her husband and three young children and moved to Fremantle. Fred is listed as licensee of the Club Hotel, Geraldton from 1893-95 and then as a farmer in Three Springs from 1911. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 16 April 1917 and served in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment in Egypt, but was hospitalised due to illness before being invalided back to Australia. Fred was discharged on 28 June 1919 and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After divorcing Edith, he married Lewese Neilson in Perth in 1921. Managed Home Farm, Greenough from 1923-1933. Retired to Victoria Park. Died 6 October 1940; buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.

The Children of Fred W. and Edith Maley


The fifth child, Amy Maley was born on 18 August 1869 and educated at the North Greenough School. On 4 April 1894 she married Edward Goldsmith Whitfield at Greenough. The couple lived first at Yandanooka and then Wonobbing Farm, York. Edward died on 23 May 1935. Amy died on 14 April 1943.

The Children of Amy and Edward Whitfield


Ada Maley, the sixth child was born on 9 June 1871 and educated at the North Greenough School. On 9 June 1871 she married Eugene Claude Whitfield at Greenough.After the death of her husband on 3 March 1895 Ada lived in Geraldton where she was a founder of the Visiting Nurse Scheme and helped establish the Geraldton Maternity Home. Later moved to York. Died 9 March 1937 at Kalamunda and buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.

The children of Ada and E. Claude Whitfield


The seventh child, John (Jack) Morrison Maley was born on 20 March 1872 and educated at Greenough and Fremantle. On 10 February 1897 he married Ethel Henrietta Jane Clinch at Greenough. He farmed at Smithsville, Greenough until declared bankrupt in 1910. Then he managed farms at Howatharra and Yuba. Ethel died at Yuba on 9 May 1912, leaving a family of seven children, and is buried in the Northampton Cemetery. From 1914 to 1920 Jack managed the Island Farm at Walkaway before taking up the position as secretary of the Greenough Roads Board from 1922 to 1934. Jack died on 8 March 1934 and is buried in the Greenough Cemetery

The children of J.M. and E.H.J. Maley


Albert (Bert) Edward Maley was born on 18 October 1874 and was educated at North Greenough and Fremantle. By 1893 he worked for his father. In 1899 volunteered to serve in the 1st WA Mounted Infantry Contingent in South Africa during the Boer War. On his return he re-enlisted and served in the 6th WA Mounted Infantry Contingent. In 1906 he married Mary Lucy Deely at Boulder. Farmhand on his brothers' Parakalia Estate in Three Springs c1911/1915. By October 1916 a Lieutenant at the Australian Imperial Force's Geraldton District Training Camp. Farmed at Meckering in 1920, Three Springs 1922-1929 and at East Arrino 1924-1932. Later farmed at Wongoondy in the Mullewa district. Retired to live in Kensington. Bert died on 7 July 1948 and was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. Lucy died on 31 December 1967 and is also buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.

Children of A.E. and M.L. Maley


Charles (Charlie) Crowther Maley was born on 28 August 1876. He was educated at North Greenough and then at Briggs’ School, Fremantle. Married Sara McKeefry (nee O'Toole) on 19 January 1909 at Lawlers. Manager of the Lawlers Brewery and later a hotel proprietor on the Goldfields. Purchased the Parakalia Estate at Three Springs in 1907. Charlie and Sara seperated in 1927 and Charlie lived with Vera Marion Davey, a former barmaid of the Criterion Hotel, Perth. Member of the Legislative Assembly for the seat of Irwin from 12 March 1921 until his death on 15 October 1929. Buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. Sara died on 1 August 1952 and is buried in the Utakarra Cemetery, Geraldton.
Henry (Harry) Kennedy Maley was born on 17 June 1878. He was educated at North Greenough School, and Perth High School. Worked as a clerk with the Midland Railway Company and then for a mining syndicate at Kalgoorlie. To South Africa with the 2nd Western Australian contingent to fight in the Boer War, but back in Greenough by March 1902 when he took over management of Home Farm from his father. In 1906 allocated land at Three Springs. On 7 June 1911 married Mabel Louise Bateman in Fremantle. Secretary of the Greenough Roads Board from 1912 to 1916. Served as Country Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Greenough from September 1917 to March 1924. Also Minister for Agriculture from April 1921 to April 1924 and leader of the Country Party from August 1922 to November 1923. Won the seat of Irwin in November 1929 in a by-election. That electorate was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1929. He died on 26 February 1956 and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. Mabel died on 19 June 1975 and is also buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.

The children of Henry K Maley and Mabel (nee Bateman)


Little is known about the eleventh child, Arthur Roy Maley. He was born on 26 February 1880. He fought in the Boer War. Married a woman named Kate and drowned in January 1915 in the Philippines whilst superintending the erection of a dredging plant for a gold mining syndicate.
Solomon Shenton Maley was born on 28 August 1881. He farmed at Three Springs from c1906 to1915. Married Ruby Lavinia Flynnin Perth in 1914. In 1915 he moved to Northampton and was manager of Chilimony Station at Ogilvie 1917-1923.

Only one child survived of this marriage. Sophie Elizabeth Jane Maley was born in 1919 in Perth. On 11 April 1942, she married Alfred Percy Jennings at Kalgoorlie. Child: William Alfred. Sophie died on 21 September 1995 at Bentley.

Sol retired to the Perth suburb of Carlisle and died on 20 March 1952. His ashes were interred in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. Ruby died on 2 August 1956 and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.


The youngest son, Septimus Frank Maley was born on 16 August 1883. He served a five year apprenticeship with the WA Government Railways. Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 22 October 1914. Served in the 10th Light Horse in Gallipoli and Egypt. Discharged on 8 August 1919; received the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. Married Frances Isabella Hamersley in 1921. Farmer in Three Springs. Retired to live in Three Springs until his death on 13 April 1940; buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. After the death of her husband, Fanny returned to nursing and worked in Canada. Later resided in North Perth. Killed in a car accident on 31 October 1977; ashes dispersed at the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.

The children of S.F. and F. Maley


The youngest child, Grace Alma Kniest Maley was born on 24 July 1885 at Home Cottage and was educated at the Greenough Convent School. Trained as a nurse and based at the Kalgoorlie Hospital then Wooroloo Sanatorium before moving to the Lister Hospital, Gisborne, New Zealand. Marrried a widower, Herbert Ralph Kendon in September 1922. Grace died on 19 June 1949 in Gisborne.

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