~ EARLY HISTORY ~ CRANBROOK As early as the late 1850's farming leases were bought in the area after an overland route was established between the Swan River Colony (Perth) and King George Sound (Albany) passing through round Swamp which is now Tenterden. In 1886 works began on the railway line to connect Albany and Perth. Because of the lack of a suitable water catchment area at Round Swamp for a dam to provide water for the steam trains, the centre of the district moved to what is now Cranbrook. The town was named by Hon JA Wright who was born in Cranbrook, England and Round Swamp was renamed Tenterden, a town 6 miles from his birthplace in Kent, England. With the completion of the rail line the town soon flourished and became the central loading point for wool, sheep, sandalwood and grain. FRANKLAND  One of the first families to settle in the Frankland area were the Egerton-Warburtons, who took up "Yeriminup" in 1857. They were followed by the Moirs of "Wingebelup" and "Glen Valley", shepherds for the Hassells of "Mongetup", and the Mullins at "Westfield". A ticket-of-leave man, Anthony Walton, took up "Wonnenup" in 1862 and employed a team of convicts to build a home on the property. Typical of homes of that time it was constructed of bricks that were made on the property, timber felled and hewn with the broadaxe and, originally, a roof constructed of white gum shingles. The house is still occupied by the present owners. John Hassell, a retired sea captain, owned large flocks of sheep which needed constant attention of shepherds. Many of these shepherds drove their flocks into the Frankland area, which has many small creeks surrounded by natural pasture that provided good feed for sheep. Frankland was one of the many districts to benefit from the completion of the Great Southern Railway in 1889. Although the line actually went through Cranbrook, timber workers in the Frankland area were kept busy supplying railway sleepers for the line. Settlement of the district expanded when some men who had worked on the railways later took up land in the area. The book called "Frankland to the Stirlings", which was written by Maxine Laurie in 1994, can be purchased from the Cranbrook Shire office.  Contact the Cranbrook Shire on 08 9826 1008 or email cbkshire@wn.com.au for any information.