Thesis
Jerramungup, a Story of its Women
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2024
Abstract
Jerramungup is a post-war town, 440 Kilometres southeast of Perth via Highway One in Western Australia1. It is a tiny town dwarfed by massive skies and endless horizons sitting on the edge of the Fitzgerald National Park, renowned internationally for its biodiversity. Jerramungup was originally settled in 1955 by returned servicemen as part of a government sponsored agricultural development scheme, the War Service Settlement Scheme. Historically, unless a woman was considered exceptional, her involvement was often excluded from official histories. This omission was influenced by the perception that women's contributions, typically confined to the domestic sphere by social norms and legal structures, were deemed unremarkable. This thesis documents women’s contributions to the settlement of Jerramungup, highlighting how ‘the everyday’ is foundational to a complete and rich description of the efforts to build this community. The stories of five women who lived in Jerramungup between 1955 and 1975 illustrate themes of belonging, place, and identity. Through archival research and interviews with these women who were in Jerramungup from its early years, the themes of belonging, community, and home are used to tell the story of the town’s settlement. This thesis provides a reading of the way West Australian small towns, such as Jerramungup, were established and argues for a more comprehensive inclusion of women’s experiences in historical records.
Details
- Title
- Jerramungup, a Story of its Women
- Authors/Creators
- Alison M Wright
- Contributors
- Kathryn Trees (Supervisor)Lauren O'Mahony (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Research
- Identifiers
- 991005701568407891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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