New locality proposed to honour Samuel Yebble Isaacs

Residents are invited to have their say on a proposal to give a portion of land between Gracetown and Burnside the namesake of local Aboriginal hero, Samuel (Yebble) Isaacs.

The proposal has been put forward by Undalup Association with support from Dr Robert Isaacs AM OAM JP PhD (Hon) and would see the approximately 2,700ha portion of land renamed Yebble – the name given to Mr Isaacs by his Aboriginal mother.

“Submissions on this proposal are open until 12 February 2021 and will be tabled for a Council decision around March,” Shire of Augusta Margaret River CEO Stephanie Addison-Brown said.

“If successful, a recommendation for approval will be made to the Minister for Lands, who is responsible for excising the portion of land from the existing localities of Gracetown and Burnside."

The proposal aims to honour Mr Isaacs, who famously helped rescue 54 passengers from a shipwreck on 1 December 1876.

After seeing the stranded vessel in Calgardup Bay, he rushed 20kms on horseback to Wallcliffe House, recruited 16-year-old Grace Bussell, and spent the next four hours bringing passengers to shore.

For their efforts, Ms Bussell received a Silver Medal and gold watch from the Royal Humane Society, another gold watch from the British Board of Trade, and the towns Gracetown and Lake Grace went on to be named after her.

In contrast, Mr Isaacs received a Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society and a parcel of land near the Margaret River.

“The proposed locality of Yebble is not far from the land Mr Isaacs was gifted in 1887,” Ms Addison-Brown said.

“It’s on the north side of Margaret River and also includes the Ellensbrook Homestead and Meekadarribee Falls, which are both of historical and cultural significance to the local Noongar people.”

The plans are available online at www.yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au/yebble or at the Shire Administration buildings and libraries, or can be posted or emailed on request.

Feedback can be provided via YourSay at http://www.yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au/yebble, by emailing [email protected] or in writing to the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, PO Box 61 Margaret River WA 6285. 

The closing date for submissions is 4pm on Friday 12 February 2021.

For further information, please contact Shire technical officer Doug Sims on 9780 5287 or [email protected]

Samuel (Yebble) Isaacs, photo courtesy of Greg Bussell. More images here.