PIKEDALE SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Public pressure in 1916 resulted in the allocation of £100 000 for the Pikedale Soldier Settlement Scheme. 17 400 acres were set aside in Cottonvale, Fleurbaix, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Passchendaele, Bapaume, Messines and Amiens for returned servicemen. The government supplied training at the Settlement Experimental Farm as well as administrative offices, a post office, school, store, bakery, butcher, sawmill, cannery and sauce factory, all in the village of Amiens. The government farm was planted with deciduous fruits, vegetables, potatoes and maize and included bee keeping, pig and poultry raising. Settlers received a government loan of £650 for land, clearing costs, horse and cart, tools, housing and farm establishment costs. The first Bush Nurse was located at Amiens. Churches, a Druid’s Hall, Memorial Hall, library, green grocer, hairdresser, tin smith, plumber, pie shop and haberdashery soon followed.

Approximately 700 soldiers and their families established the Pikedale Soldier Settlement Scheme upon their return from WWI in 1919. By 1922 the numbers of families on the settlement had decreased somewhat.

The Amiens History Association is collecting and sharing the stories of the Soldier Settlers and their families and below you can search our catalogue to see what we have found so far but we know that there are many more stories out there so if you have a connection to a Soldier Settler that you'd like to share with us, please complete the form below.

If you have photos that you'd like to share with us, please forward them to info@amiensqldhistory.com.au.

Research your history

Select a name and the link will take you to a passport with the details we know to date. If a name is followed by * a more detailed dossier is available by contacting the Amiens History Association or visiting the Amiens Legacy Centre. Please note this is a work in progress and if you have any additional information about any of these or other known Pikedale Soldier Settlers, we would love to hear from you.

Each passport contains a map excerpt. The full Parish and County maps can be found at the Amiens Legacy Centre and from these the locations each lot can be found. However, we ask that if you wish to visit these lots, please respect that they are private property and behave accordingly.

PIKEDALE SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Research your history

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