A Land Fit for Heroes?

the place was inspected seven times, all were of the same opinion…  that the holding would not pay for itself.

Percy Wilfred Loomes took up the holding in the Parramatta Land District, Parish of Nelson, County of Cumberland obtaining it by transfer from J. A. W. Nelson who had forfeited it before October 1922.[1] The Block consisted of a little over 43 acres and was located at Dural, nine miles from Pennant Hills Railway Station.[2]

At the time of the transfer the property was judged to be in very poor condition.  Loomes was living on the property as care-taker and attempting to make repairs to fences and improvements to the orchard.  Loomes wanted to use the property for poultry. It was suggested that he be given a Certificate of Preferential Right if these repairs were completed.[3] Loomes applied for his advance on 14 November 1922.[4] He had previously stated that he had no assets but in 1920 did have £50.[5] On 30 January 1923, Loomes wrote to the Director of SS stating that after two months, his loan had not been approved, ‘in spite of the fact that no less than three inspectors from the RSS Branch have inspected the property’.[6]

Again on 14 February, he complained about the delay, ‘the grant for purchase of poultry was promised me’.[7] The lack of rain was also becoming a problem. ‘The recent dry weather which still prevails will be responsible for putting the trees back at least another season’.[8] And again in March, ‘If this advance is granted, I will not expect the Department to assist me further in the way of feed or anything like that’.[9]

Loomes’s case was judged by the RSS Board to be, ‘uninviting….a proposition such as this really requires a man with some capital to properly develop it.  Loomes has no capital and no experience in this class of farming’.[10] Loomes was not granted the full amount of the loan and received only £90 which was to be used for improvements.[11] He was also given £30 to be used for manure.[12]

In May, the full Advance was still not forthcoming.  Loomes believed consideration was not being given to the poor state of his holding when he took it up.  By this time he stated ‘that the place was inspected seven times, all were of the same opinion    that the holding would not pay for itself for two or three years’.[13] At the end of May another £30 was granted bringing his total up to £150.[14]

Despite making some progress Loomes transferred to Thomas Roden toward the middle of 1924.  His reason being  – ‘owing to his wife’s ill health’.[15]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7387 No. 9013] F.N. Boddington Closer Settleemnt Branch Report, 25 October 1922.

[2] NSWGG 24 November 1922.

[3] Ibid.

[4] SRNSW: NRS 8058, [12/7387 No. 9013] Op.cit., Application for Loan 14 November 1922.

[5] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum, nd.

[6] Ibid, P.W. Loomes to Director of RSS, 30 January 1923.

[7] Ibid, 14 February 1923.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid, 7 March 1923.

[10] Ibid, RSS Office Memorandum 27 March 1923.

[11] RSS Report 13 April 1923.

[12] Ibid, CS Loans Section April 1923.

[13] Ibid, Loomes to Minister for lands 21 May 1923.

[14] Ibid, Under Secretary for Lands to P.W. Loomes 31 May 1923.

[15] Ibid, John England Inspector 21 February 1924.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7387 No. 9013] Percy Wilfred Loomes.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Percy Wilfred Loomes) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8204852&I=1&SE=1