Frederick and Charles Piesse Frederick Henry Piesse Frederick Henry Piesse, CMG (6 December 1853 – 29 June 1912) was a farmer, businessman and politician who is credited with much of the early development of the region around Katanning, Western Australia. Frederick was born at Northam, Western Australia, on 6 December 1853, the son of policeman and magistrate William Roper Piesse and Elizabeth Ellen née Oxley. Among his brothers were Alfred, Arnold and Charles, all of whom would follow Frederick into politics. Piesse was educated at state schools at Guildford and Northam, and began his working life at the Northam general store. He later went pearl fishing at Shark Bay between 1872 and 1875. He was postmaster and telegraphist at Williams between 1875 and 1880. On 18 October 1877 he married Mary Jane Elizabeth Chipper, with whom he would have four sons and a daughter. In 1880, Piesse partnered with his brother Charles to launch the general produce firm of F. & C. Piesse at Williams. He set up a portable store in 1886, and followed the progress of the Great Southern Railway, finishing up at Katanning. He then bought agricultural land near the railway and, in 1891, built the flour mill in Katanning. He established a wine industry, making wines that won awards in Perth, London and Paris. From 1880 onward, Piesse became increasingly involved in public affairs. He was a member of the Williams Road Board from 1880 to 1889, and its chairman from 1886. In 1889 he became a Justice of the Peace, and from 1889 to 1896 he was on the Katanning Road Board. From January 1894 to June 1896 he was also a member of the Board of Agriculture. At the 1890 election, Piesse was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Williams, becoming a member of the first Parliament of Western Australia under responsible government. From 1 April 1896 to 23 August 1900, he was Commissioner for Railways and Director of Public Works in the Forrest Ministry. He was a Western Australian delegate to the Federal Convention of 1897 and, for a period in 1900, he was Acting Premier of Western Australia. During George Leake’s first premiership from June to November 1901, Piesse was Leader of the Opposition. In the 1904 election, Piesse stood for and won the new seat of Katanning. He would hold the seat until his resignation on 26 October 1909. For his last four years in parliament he was Father of the House. Piesse was made a CMG in 1908. He died at Katanning on 29 June 1912, and was buried in Katanning Cemetery. Frederick Henry Piesse Charles Austin Piesse Charles Austin Piesse (11 November 1855 – 13 July 1914) was an Australian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1894 until his death. He was a minister in the government of Newton Moore. Piesse was born in Northam, Western Australia and after leaving school, Piesse was briefly involved in the pearling trade at Shark Bay with his brother Frederick, later purchasing a farm near Williams. In 1880, he went into business with his brother Frederick and formed the firm of F. &. C. Piesse. In 1887, Piesse was elected as the first chairman of the newly created Arthur Roads Board, serving in the position until 1890. He was elected to parliament at the 1894 Legislative Council elections, as a representative of the South-East Province. After his initial two-year term, Piesse was re-elected to six-year terms in 1896, 1902, 1908, and 1914. From 1906 to 1907, he served as a minister without portfolio in the ministry of Newton Moore.[1] Piesse died in Perth in July 1914. He had married twice, having nine children by his first wife (Martha Chipper) and three by his second (Flora Hickson). One of his daughters-in-law, Winifred Piesse, was also an MP. Charles Austin Piesse
Drawing from F&C Piesse’s official letterhead of 1905 KATANNING ROLLER FLOUR MILL The Katanning Roller Flour Mill was built by brothers Frederick and Charles Piesse. The York firm of Thorne, Bower and Stewart erected the mill in 1891 and it was officially being opened on 1st May 1891. It was equipped with machinery supplied by Otto Schumacher of Melbourne. Head miller Charles Quigley carried out the installation of the machinery. The mill was to become the most dominant in the Great Southern region, having its production capacity doubled by 1909 and extensive alterations and additions in 1912.