John Stephen Maley
MALEY, John Stephen, JP (1836-1910)
John Maley was born in Albany on 4th April 1836, the son of soldier, Kennedy Maley, and his wife Martha Mary Maley (née Goodchild). John served an apprenticeship with builder, blacksmith and wheelwright Solomon Cook. He was principally involved in constructing flour mills, but was also involved in converting river vessels to steam, as well as working on the construction of the second bridge across the Causeway at Perth. One of his first projects with Solomon Cook was the construction of a horizontal pepper flour mill at St Werburgh’s near Mount Barker, followed by building both a wind powered flour mill and a steam powered flour mill at York. He was later involved with mills at Claisebrook and Point Belches.
In the early 1860's he took up a large landholding at Greenough, constructing a three storey flour mill and a two storey hotel known as the “Golden Sheaf". On 27 August 1862 he married Elizabeth Kniest Waldeck, eldest daughter of Greenough pioneer, Frederic Waldeck. They had nine sons and five daughters.
In 1864 he designed a bridge across the Greenough River with limestone piers and a timber deck which was constructed by Ticket of Leave convicts. The bridge is a significant piece of engineering history (see more about the bridge by clicking here).
John Maley was prominent in the Greenough Community, being Chairman of the Greenough Road Board and President of the Greenough Agricultural Society.
John Maley achieved notoriety by riding ahead of the official party when the rebuilt Causeway and Perth Bridge were opened on November 12, 1867. He had followed the declaration of the Governor that the Perth Bridge and Causeway was open by his own declaration that “I, John Stephen Maley will be the first to cross this Perth Bridge and Causeway”.
Maley died in 1910, survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and twelve of his fourteen children.
References:
Victorian Express, 12.12.1885, p. 3.
Geraldton Express, 9.1.1911, p. 3.
Sunday Times, 20.4.1952, p. 4.
See also Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University.
