340:
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375:, an Australian writer who had previously worked on the construction of No. 1 Fence, began writing a fictional story which involved a way of disposing of a body in the desert. Before the book was published, stockman Snowy Rowles, an acquaintance of the writer's, carried out at least two murders and disposed of the bodies using the method described in the book. The trial which followed in 1932 was one of the most sensational in the history of Western Australia. A book was published about the incident called
33:
206:
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By 1902, rabbits had already been found west of the fence line that had been initially constructed. The Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence was built in 1905 in order to stem their advance. It held back the rabbits for many years, to such an extent that the
Government Scheme for supplying rabbit netting, by
237:
In addition to
Crawford, there were four sub-inspectors, each responsible for about 500 miles (800 km) of fence, and 25 boundary riders who regularly patrolled 100-mile (160 km) sections of fence. Due to frontier violence in the north of the state, a 300-mile (480 km) section of No. 1
213:
Alexander
Crawford took over the maintenance of the fence from Anketell as each section was finished and remained in charge until he retired in 1922. The area inside the fence to the west became known as "Crawford's Paddock". The fence was maintained at first by boundary riders riding bicycles and
71:
There are three fences in
Western Australia: the original No. 1 Fence crosses the state from north to south, No. 2 Fence is smaller and further west, and No. 3 Fence is smaller still and runs east–west. The fences took six years to build. When completed, the rabbit-proof fence (including all three
274:
extending long term loans, never applied to farmers west of that fence. The farmers between the two fences suffered from the ravages of the rabbits for many years, before they bred into plague form to spread out over the agricultural districts to the west of the No. 2 fence.
196:
of
Western Australia, under the supervision of Richard John Anketell. With a workforce of 120 men, 350 camels, 210 horses and 41 donkeys, Anketell was responsible for the construction of the greater part of No. 1 Fence and the survey of its last 70 miles (110 km).
142:, strung 4 in (102 mm), 1 ft 8 in (0.5 m), and 3 ft (0.9 m) above ground, with a barbed wire added later at 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m) and a plain wire at 3 ft 7 in (1.1 m), to make the fence a barrier for
104:
By 1887, losses from rabbit damage compelled the New South Wales
Government to offer a £25,000 reward (equivalent to $ 3,900,000 in 2022) for "any method of success not previously known in the Colony for the effectual extermination of rabbits". A
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Original caption: "Mr
Stevenson, M.L.A., suggested that the Government should erect a wire fence along our New South Wales border in order to check the coming invasion of rabbits. The artist depicts the probable use the bunnies would make of the
100:
The rabbits proved to be extremely prolific and spread rapidly across the southern parts of the country. Australia had ideal conditions for an explosion in the rabbit population, including the fact that they had virtually no local predators.
189:, depending on what could be found close to where the fence was to be built. Iron posts were used where there was no wood. Most materials had to be hauled hundreds of kilometres from rail heads and ports by bullock, mule and camel teams.
421:(2002) is based on the book. In 2016, Englishwoman Lindsey Cole walked the fence from Moore River Settlement, 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) through to Jigalong. She was met by Doris's daughter at the end of the walk in September 2016.
241:
Crawford was responsible for eliminating rabbits which had breached the fence. In the first year following the fences' completion, rabbit colonies were found and killed at several locations inside the fence, including sites near
233:
with supplies for the riders. Camels were ideal for this as they could go for a long time without water, and it has been suggested that the fence could not have been built or maintained without the use of camels.
218:. However, fence inspection was difficult from atop the tall animal. In 1910, a car was bought for fence inspection, but it was subject to punctured tyres. It was found the best way to inspect the fence was using
690:
97:
released 24 wild rabbits from
England for hunting purposes, believing "The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting."
916:
901:
459:
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Overall, as a long-term barrier to rabbits the fences were a failure; even while construction was underway, rabbits were hopping into regions the fences were intended to protect.
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72:
fences) stretched 2,023 miles (3,256 km). The cost to build each kilometre of fence at the time was about $ 250 (equivalent to $ 42,000 in 2022).
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The fence posts are placed 12 ft (3.7 m) apart and have a minimum diameter of 4 in (100 mm). There were initially three wires of
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where they were being held and walked back to their family at
Jigalong by following the rabbit-proof fence. The dramatic film
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From 1901, the fence was constructed by private contractors, but in 1904, the project became the responsibility of the
75:
When it was completed in 1907, the 1,139-mile (1,833 km) No. 1 Fence was the longest unbroken fence in the world.
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The fence was constructed with a variety of materials, according to the local climate and availability of
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as well. Wire netting, extending 6 in (150 mm) below ground, was attached to the wire.
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This article is about the fence in
Western Australia. For the Queensland rabbit-proof fence, see
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Boundary rider's team at the 100-mile (160 km) No. 1 Fence in Western Australia in 1926
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Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence: The Strange Case of Arthur Upfield and Snowy Rowles
404:
377:
Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence: The Strange Case of Arthur Upfield and Snowy Rowles
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is a rabbit fence that extends along part of the Queensland-New South Wales border.
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778:"History of the state vermin barrier fences, formerly known as rabbit proof fences"
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1884 cartoon in response to a proposal to erect a rabbit-proof fence between
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was one of the best types of wood used in the fence. Other timbers used were
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229:, especially in the north, while in the east, camels were used to pull
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At Australia’s Bunny Fence, Variable Cloudiness Prompts Climate Study
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in the 1950s, the importance of the rabbit-proof fence diminished.
205:
695:
The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, Centenary 1901–2001
588:. NSW: National Library of Australia. 28 November 1889. p. 7
519:
The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, Centenary 1901–2001
464:
The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, Centenary 1901–2001
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166:
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395:(1996), describes the use of the fence in the 1930s by three
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143:
121:
Map of the original rabbit-proof fences in Western Australia.
169:(locally known as white ants) and had to be replaced. Split
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in 1788, but they became a problem after October 1859, when
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147:
902:
The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, 1901–2001
803:"Information on the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board"
64:, and other agricultural pests from the east, out of
841:
Harradine, Natasha; McLennan, Leah (17 March 2017).
815:
805:. Warwick, Qld.: Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board.
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843:"Rabbit-Proof Fence film inspires outback journey"
840:
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109:was held in 1901 to investigate the situation.
608:"The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia"
685:
683:
548:
546:
544:
329:Wheatbelt railway lines of Western Australia
89:Rabbits were introduced to Australia by the
556:. Calamunnda Camels Pty Ltd. Archived from
943:Buildings and structures completed in 1907
285:No. 1 Fence intersected railway lines at:
60:constructed between 1901 and 1907 to keep
898:, Australian Museums and Galleries Online
869:
680:
634:"Advertising. – Extermination of rabbits"
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509:
507:
403:. The girls, taken from their parents in
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327:No. 2 Fence intersected with most of the
16:Pest-exclusion fence in Western Australia
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399:girls to guide their route back home to
361:Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board fence
338:
238:Fence was patrolled by riders in pairs.
204:
116:
42:State Barrier Fence of Western Australia
31:
21:Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board fence
157:. At first, fence posts were made from
930:
642:. Sydney. 7 September 1887. p. 11
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504:
366:
379:. The incident is now referred to as
913:, Library of West Australian History
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13:
750:Main, George (21 September 2015).
729:State Library of Western Australia
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889:
666:The People & Environment Blog
968:1907 establishments in Australia
281:Intersection with railway system
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809:
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222:buggies, pulled by two camels.
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872:The Longest Fence in the World
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600:
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554:"The No. 2 Rabbit Proof Fence"
494:"State Barrier Fence overview"
486:
452:
257:Following the introduction of
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36:The rabbit-proof fence in 2005
1:
963:Wheatbelt (Western Australia)
906:National Library of Australia
863:
816:Walker, Terry Walker (1993).
699:National Library of Australia
580:"The Mayor's Opening Address"
523:National Library of Australia
468:National Library of Australia
413:Moore River Native Settlement
392:Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence
958:Mid West (Western Australia)
756:National Museum of Australia
318:Meekatharra – Wiluna railway
7:
424:
10:
989:
752:"Rabbit-proofing the West"
662:"Rabbit-proofing the West"
82:
78:
18:
691:"Report on Rabbit Branch"
639:The Sydney Morning Herald
585:The Sydney Morning Herald
387:Doris Pilkington Garimara
25:Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)
23:. For the 2002 film, see
870:Broomhall, F.H. (1991).
725:"The Rabbit-Proof Fence"
446:
312:Sandstone Branch Railway
225:The camels were used as
214:later by riders astride
44:, formerly known as the
314:: just west of Anketell
194:Public Works Department
911:The Rabbit Proof Fence
776:Crawford, J S (1969).
356:
335:Elsewhere in Australia
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37:
782:DPIRD Digital Library
397:Indigenous Australian
381:the Murchison Murders
342:
208:
165:, but they attracted
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83:Further information:
35:
441:Rabbits in Australia
431:Agricultural fencing
85:Rabbits in Australia
58:pest-exclusion fence
973:Separation barriers
874:. Hesperian Press.
820:. Hesperian Press.
668:. 21 September 2015
411:, escaped from the
367:Cultural references
922:The New York Times
418:Rabbit-Proof Fence
409:Stolen Generations
357:
211:
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66:Western Australian
50:State Vermin Fence
46:Rabbit-Proof Fence
38:
827:978-0-85905-189-7
405:Western Australia
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68:pastoral areas.
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703:the original
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612:the original
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558:the original
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527:the original
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113:Construction
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436:Dingo Fence
305:railway at
299:Wyalkatchem
294:Burracoppin
261:to control
259:myxomatosis
252:Northampton
201:Maintenance
183:native pine
91:First Fleet
932:Categories
864:References
852:2 November
672:14 January
592:22 January
349:Queensland
159:salmon gum
52:, and the
515:"History"
389:'s book,
371:In 1907,
220:buckboard
171:white gum
54:Emu Fence
847:ABC News
425:See also
401:Jigalong
187:tea-tree
167:termites
953:Pilbara
709:28 July
646:21 July
564:28 July
533:28 July
478:28 July
355:fence."
307:Campion
263:rabbits
248:Mullewa
144:dingoes
134:⁄
79:History
62:rabbits
56:, is a
948:Fences
878:
824:
618:30 May
250:, and
244:Coorow
216:camels
185:, and
179:wodjil
163:gimlet
48:, the
787:3 May
761:3 May
735:3 May
447:Notes
322:Paroo
320:: at
292:near
231:drays
175:mulga
148:foxes
140:gauge
876:ISBN
854:2017
822:ISBN
789:2023
763:2023
737:2023
711:2013
674:2019
648:2012
620:2008
594:2012
566:2013
535:2013
480:2013
359:The
347:and
161:and
155:wood
146:and
40:The
934::
919:,
904:,
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682:^
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