John Perks – pioneer profile

Pioneer of the Murchison.
DEATH OF MR. JOHN PERKS.

Mr. John Perks, the original pioneer of the now well-known Murchison country, passed away peacefully on May 17 last at Bewdley, Worcestershire, England, in his 86th year, writes Mr. F. Wittenoom. He arrived in this State in the early fifties. About 1854 he was employed by the late Mr. Thomas Burges, of The Bowes, Northampton, and remained in his employ for twenty years, i.e., until 1874. During that time the late Mr. Perks went with Panter, Harding, and Goldwire with sheep, to Roebuck Bay, and was mere when they were murdered by natives. He had many stirring stories to tell of those days of hardship and danger. He returned from there to ‘The Bowes’ and being a good aboriginal linguist he made periodical trips East with the natives and his gun taking no provisions.

By this means, he got out towards Tallering Hill (now part of Messrs. Elliott and Cornish’s station). Later, he persuaded Mr. Burges to allow him to take two flocks of ewes away to this country for a year, and returned with good results at shearing time. He then started off with several flocks and got as far as the present Yuin station, as well as over to Ballinyoo on the Murchison River. At this time the country was absolutely unknown to whites. Being successful in this venture, Mr. Burges “took up'” leases of what is now the Yuin station, and our pioneer continued for two or three years to take charge of several shepherds and got a few wells sunk. On one occasion he described great mortality amongst the natives from smallpox.

In 1874 with (now) Sir Edward Wittenoom, he said “He leased Mr. Burges’s Yuin station and sheep, and John Perks was our able assistant, his bush experience and general knowledge of the natives being of inestimable value. With Sir Edward Wittenoom, he afterward explored and took up what is now known as Murgoo and part of Boolardy stations, and with myself, later. Nookawarra, Mileura, and Belele stations. He remained with us until 1892, when he went to England on a pension, married, and adopted two nieces. After being there some years, he returned and took the management of Meka station, but as age was beginning to tell he returned to England, and after unsuccessfully trying hotel keeping he retired to Bewdley in Worcestershire. He was a wonderfully well self-educated man, with refined ideas, a great reader, a good sportsman, a fearless pioneer, a fine bushman, and a true friend. He kept in touch with Western Australia to the last, and the State never had a stronger supporter in England. I feel sure these few lines, which very shortly and imperfectly give a sketch of the first pioneer of our Murchison country will be read with interest by many of his old friends.”