William Dames Kingsmill and his wife are among the original settlers who stayed on during the decline. William Kingsmill owned two town Lots Nos. 62 and 63, Dempster Street, and 10 acres of garden area at Pink Lake, and a further 21 town blocks in Esperance.
In 1910, he had selected 1,000 acres of conditional purchase Mallee country, two miles north of Swan Lagoon; he was unable to make any improvements and struggled to pay rent. William Kingsmill was of the expectation there would be a railway line, as promised by the Labour Government.
The Kingsmill family cottage, at 130 Dempster Street, was typical of the style in Esperance during this vintage, corrugated/iron/timber, the interior lined and ceiled with pine match-board / iron and the cottage low on the ground.
William Kingsmill played in the Esperance Football team, who were Club Premiers in 1897. He served on the Esperance Roads Board in 1898.
William Dawes Kingsmill died on the 3rd September 1925, aged 75 years.
Help Us Improve this Entry
How Your Donations Can Help
By adding your information during time spent in the Esperance district you help expand this online biographical dictionary library. We welcome anything and everything, especially the following items:
- Stories, recollections, reminiscences, biographies, memoirs, personal history, anecdotes, day book dairy, journals, record of experiences, accounts, letters, notes, logs
- Memorabilia (of people’s childhood or those of their parents)
- Books, articles, newspapers, comic book, periodicals, gazettes, magazines, calendars, programs
- Maps, Brochures
- Oral History, Video/Films
- Photographs (that we can briefly borrow, scan and return).
If you would like to contribute to this library entry, please complete the form provided or email us at: admin@esperancehistory.com.au
