GIBBS  Stephen Searley  UPDATED MAY 2019

 Reseach by Gordon Freegard 2018                          

His parents William John and Harriet Lacey Gibbs arrived from England in 1834 and Stephen Searley Gibbs, was one of four sons. Stephen was born in 1847 in Perth. Was a teamster in the 1860's and at the age of 19 he was convicted of cattle stealing. Charged with stealing a cow, calf and an ox from Mr. Thomas Jones. He was semtenced to 4 years penal servitude. On 12th July, 1869 aged 21 years, he was granted a Ticket-of-Leave, Convict No. 9367.

During the 1870's he was publican of the 47 Mile Inn on Albany Road, now Albany Highway. 

STEPHEN SEARLEY GIBBS       #1

ELIZA GIBBS (Nee White)       #2

Stephen Gibbs married Eliza White, daughter of Jabez White in January 1879 at Kelmscott. She was born in Fremantle on 20^th May 1857. It is believed the couple lived on Hillside Farm, a 93.54 ha property in Martin, Gosnells, around 1880, when Stephen began to take up extensive properties, mainly for dairying. The Hillside Farm residence was built for dairyman, Stephen Gibbs (1847-1928) and his wife Eliza in the 1880's.

On Saturday the 3^rd February 1888, Stephen Gibbs, brought into Perth a very nice little specimen of gold, which had been found in close proximity to his residence. The specimen was rather bigger in size than a large grain of wheat, and consisted of pure gold. The metal presented a water-worn appearance, although Mr. Gibbs declared it was broken out of a piece of stone. Some likely-looking quartz has been found in the neighbourhood of the scene of discovery, and Mr. Gibbs expressed his intention of having a thorough inspection of the quarts deposits made without delay. He intended to open up this reef forthwith, and at the same time to examine another promising-looking reef in the same locality, on his land in the Darling Range.

Nothing was done about the find until 1909, when others tried to establish a gold mine.
In I909 mining speculators Rowlands and Lloyd financed W.J. Ross and Son to prospect for gold in the granite behind the Gibbs homestead. A 300ft tunnel was dug into the hill. They applied for a government grant to extend the tunnel but after investigations by the State Mining Engineer and the assaying of samples the grant was refused because the samples proved negative. These results conflicted with the reports by the prospectors. The mine was later abandoned and in later years part of the tunnels have collapsed making the site unsafe.

Gibbs undertook other commercial projects aside from his dairy farm at Hillside. He established an orchard in the 1890's. On the 13^th February 1890 he applied for a Certificate to operate an Inn or Public House for the sale of liquor at a building to be built near the new Perth’s waterworks, Victoria Reservoir. The application was refused because it lacked detail. On the 23^rd May he re-applied giving details that it would contain three sitting rooms and three bedrooms exclusive of those required by his family. Also it would operate under the name of the Forest Inn. This application was approved.

THE OPENING OF VICTORIA RESERVOIR    #3

Once the workmen involved in building the reservoir moved on, he realised he too had to move. This time to the Canning Jarrah Timber Mill at Canning Mills. Hence another application had to be made in August 1892, and this time including the essential details of; containing three sitting rooms and five bedrooms exclusive of those required by his family. This was approved and the building was moved and enlarged.

THE FOREST INN, CANNING MILLS       #4

At Canning Mills he also owned the slaughter yards which he later sold to George Armstrong in 1895. In 1897 Joseph White took over the operations of Forest Inn and Stephen Gibbs moved to Cannington where he was involved in establishing Cannington’s second hotel, the Hotel Cecil in June 1898. This building was to cost 3,000 pounds (6,000 Dollars) and have 33 rooms. By 1908 ownership of the Hotel Cecil was now listed as his wife, Eliza Gibbs and included grounds covering 10 acres.

THE HOTEL CECIL, CANNINGTON       #5

THE CAROUSEL TAVERN 1990 (Formerly Hotel Cecil)           #6

ELIZA & STEPHEN GIBBS FAMILY       #9

Back L- R;  PEARL, STEPHEN SEARLEY, LOUIS JOHN,  ELIZA
Front L - R; WILLIAM HENRY, SARAH HARRIET, STEPHEN JABEZ, FRANK FORREST SAMUEL

He also had quarrying interests. He was elected to the Gosnells Road Board at its inception in 1907 until 1914 when he left the district to take up residence in 138 Summer Street, East Perth.  

They had four sons, Stephen Jabez, William Henry, Louis John and Frank Forrest Samuel and two daughters, Sarah Harriet (Mrs. George Macmillan) and Pearl (Mrs. Alf Scott).

Stephen Jabez married Lilian Meagher in 1908. Died on 16th October 1961 aged 79 Years old.

William Henry married Hilda Dellar and they lived at the original family property of Hillside.

Louis John married Edna Kate Weir in 1908 and they had 12 children; Olive, Stanley, Vernon, Mervyn, Norman, Robert, Hazel, Pat, Daphne, Babs, Gordon and Marcia. Edna died on 5^th September 1930 in East Perth.

Frank Forrest Samuel married Ellen J. Caple in 1916.

WILLIAM HENRY GIBBS           #10

STEPHEN JABEZ GIBBS,
KELMSCOTT 8th NOVEMBER 1916       #11

ELIZA & STEPHEN GIBBS ' GRAVESTONE      #8

ELIZA & STEPHEN GIBBS       #7

Their eldest daughter Sarah Harriet married George Macmillan, eldest son of Mr. Nathaniel Harvey Macmillan, of Mount’s Bay Road, on the Wednesday 8^th March 1911 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, St. George’s Terrace, Perth. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a figured silk voile over cream lace, trimmed with appliqué and directoire sash. Her veil and wreath of orange blossom were those worn by her mother when a bride. The bridegroom was attended by Harry Gibbs as best man and Jabez Gibbs as groomsman, both brothers of the bride. The bridesmaids – Miss Menzies and Miss Gibbs – were both attired in pale blue with wreath of lily of the valley in their hair. A reception was held afterwards at the residence of the bride’s parents, where a large number of friends gathered together to wish the happy couple the best of good fortune. Dancing was kept up until 12.20 a.m.. The presents were numerous and costly.

Pearl married Alf Scott.

Stephen’s wife, Eliza, died on the 20th July 1928 aged 78 years and he died month later, on the 18th August 1928 at the age of 80. Both are buried at Karrakatta Cemetary.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please click here to email us at info@pickeringbrookheritagegroup.com We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:           Article:         Pickering Brook Heritage Group
                                              Tony & Lesley Gibbs

                           Images:      1, 2, 7, 8             Tony & Lesley Gibbs
                                             3, 4                    Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society
                                             5, 6                    Battye Library
                                             9, 10, 11             Greg Gibbs

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