Athol & Keith Kilby

Athol Carlyle & Keith Kinloch Kilby

Blocks 1, 2, 2A, 3, 7, 13, 28 & 28A Belconnen District


Brothers Athol and Keith Kilby came from a pioneering family in the Ginninderra District and secured the leases to several blocks in the Belconnen District after World War 1. Keith was the elder brother, born on the 31st January 1898 and Athol was born on the 28th May 1899, both of them at their parents property The Falls near Parkwood. They were living at Eneagh Hill in Hall when they enlisted together in June 1918 and embarked as reinforcements for the 12th Light Regiment in October 1918. They reached Egypt a week or so after the Armistice was signed in November 1918 and returned to Australia the following August.


Plaques for Athol and Keith Kilby at the Hall War Memorial

Plaques for Athol & Keith Kilby at the Hall War Memorial.

Belconnen Blocks 2, 2A & 3

Athol Kilby was the first to apply for land, describing himself in January 1923 as a surveyor's chainman who was reared on the land and with a good knowledge of sheep and farming. He listed Belconnen Blocks 2, 2A and 3, a total area of 395 acres (160 hectares), as his first preferences. Although owned by the Commonwealth, Belconnen Block 2A was on the NSW side of the border while Belconnen Block 2 was a triangle of land within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) near Hall Cemetery. Athol Kilby signed a lease for 25 years from the 14th June 1923 at an annual rent of £39/6/6. He later built a house on his land that he called Homeleigh.


Plan of Belconnen Block 2

Plan of Belconnen Block 2. Click on plan to see this block overlayed onto Google Maps c2013.

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Plan of Belconnen Block 3

Plan of Belconnen Block 3. Click on plan to see this block overlayed onto Google Maps c2013.

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Belconnen Block 1

Keith Kilby applied for land a month after Athol listing Belconnen Block 1 of 390 acres (158 hectares) as his first preference. Like Athol, he described himself as a surveyor's chainman who was reared on the land. Presumably they worked together, something which they would do as graziers. Belconnen Block 1, previously Portion 122 in the Parish of Ginninderra, was actually in NSW and leased to Kilby for 25 years from the 14th June 1923. He built a two bedroom house on the land which he called Lochleigh.


Plan of Belconnen Block 1

Plan of Belconnen Block 1. Click on plan to see this block overlayed onto Google Maps c2013.

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Belconnen Block 13

Through hard work, the brothers prospered and they would become two of the foremost wool producers in the district. However, when they began they only held 770 acres (312 hectares) between them and like other rural lessees they were looking for additional land to make a decent living. In 1927, they acquired the 535 acre (217 hectares) Belconnen Block 13 (on the ACT/NSW border near Parkwood) from Harold Bingley.

Both brothers got married around this time, Athol marrying Eunice Smith in June 1927 and Keith marrying Ruth Smart in September 1928.


Plan of Belconnen Block 13

Plan of Belconnen Block 13. Click on plan for larger view.

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Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Block 13 boundary in red

Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Block 13 boundary in red.

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Belconnen Blocks 28 & 28A

Then in 1931, the Kilby brothers acquired Belconnen Blocks 28 and 28A of around 580 acres (235 hectares) north of Ginninderra Creek. This area is now covered by the suburbs of Evatt and McKellar. These blocks were not part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme.


Plan of Belconnen Blocks 28 and 28A

Plan of Belconnen Blocks 28 & 28A.

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Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Blocks 28 & 28A boundaries in red

Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Blocks 28 & 28A boundaries in red.

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Belconnen Block 7

In 1935, they paid £1200 for the 259 acre (105 hectare) Belconnen Block 7. This block was originally leased to another returned serviceman, Eric Bondfield, in 1923.

Plan of Belconnen Block 7

Plan of Belconnen Block 7.

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Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Blocks 1, 2, 2A, 3 & 7 boundaries in red

Google Maps image of area c2013 with Belconnen Blocks 1, 2, 2A, 3 & 7 boundaries in red.

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The Depression of the 1930s hurt all rural lessees around the FCT but the Kilbys were able to meet their rental obligations on time. As a result they were given a temporary rebate of 1.69% per annum on the total amount of rent paid from the 1st January 1930 to the 30th June 1933 which was credited to their account annually. They were prosperous enough in 1935 to make an offer to the Commonwealth for the freehold title of lands they leased which were in New South Wales (Belconnen Blocks 1, 2A and 3) . The offer was rejected, and again in 1937. They eventually prevailed paying £2372/10 for the three blocks in February 1940. The remaining land was leased through to the 30th June 1958. However, in 1956 the brothers were advised that Belconnen Blocks 28 and 28A would be resumed for use by the CSIRO.

Both brothers were closely involved with the Hall District community including as committeemen who organised the first Hall Show in 1925, the forerunner to the Royal Canberra Show. Athol Kilby died on the 2nd September 1962. Keith Kilby retired to suburban Hackett and died on the 28th March 1976 in Canberra.


Sources

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