What is in a Street Name – Keane Street

Keane Street is the western boundary to New Junction, and is named after Edward Vivian Harvey Keane.

Edward Vivian Harvey Keane

He was born in 1844 at Birkenhead, Cheshire in England and was educated at Christ's Hospital and  went on to complete an apprenticeship with railway contractors, William Dargan, Peto & Betts and Lucas Brothers as a civil engineer.

In 1876, Keane moved to Australia and his first destination was Melbourne for a short time before he headed to South Australia where he worked as an engineer and railway contractor. He was involved in the construction of many projects in South Australia including an engine shed at Naracoorte, reservoirs at Terowie and Orroroo, rail line to Holdfast Bay and part of the rail line from Terowie to Pichi Richi. In May 1879, he married Lilla Rebecca Wharton White in Adelaide.

In 1882, Edward and Lilla made the move to Western Australia. Edward established himself in business and made some influential friends including the Forrest brothers, John and Alexander.

Upon his arrival to Western Australia, Keane immediately commenced work on the construction of railway lines including the Guildford to Chidlow’s Well, Chidlow’s Well to Spencer’s Brook, Bayswater to Belmont, Spencer’s Brook to York, Spencer’s Brook to Northam, York to Beverley, Geraldton to Walkaway and Bunbury to Boyanup.

February 1886 saw Keane win the contract for the first 40 miles (64 km) of the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia rail line commencing at Helena Vale (Midland) with rolling stock and other appliances in four years at an estimated cost of £1 million dollars.

The Midland Railway Company of Western Australia failed to raise the finance needed in London and Keane agreed to work at his own expense and accept part payment in land and company shares. Keane later finished the National Bank building in Fremantle and its manager gave Keane an overdraft of £20,000 which soon rose to £85,000.

In 1888, Keane went to London where the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia had called for debentures, despite their small success Keane borrowed £150,000 on their security. The bank recovered the overdraft which had enabled Keane to complete his contract but he was now burdened by his borrowing which he could not repay.

In between the issues surrounding the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia line, Keane completed the Upper Darling Range Railway from Midland Junction to Canning Mills in 1891.

With some further government support but with much strife and difficulty the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia line was completed in 1894. Edward Keane was rewarded for his courage and with 80,000 acres (32,375 hectares) and appointed the first general manager of the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia in 1895.

Keane went onto politics representing Geraldton in the Legislative Council from December 1886 to January 1889 and then Perth until December 1890. He was then elected for Perth to the new Legislative Assembly until December 1891 and was returned for Eastern Province to in May-June 1904. He was known to be blunt and forthright, opposing the concentration of railways in the central districts and supporting free trade and Federation.

Keane was elected unopposed as the Mayor of Perth in 1891 but that lasted only a year after railway problems led to his resignation despite many glowing testimonials.

He had many other interests including as a director of the South British Insurance Company and was a Justice of the Peace. He constructed the Fremantle Town Hall and in 1888 equipped the first party to go to the Yilgarn goldfields and later had a grazing property in the Eastern Districts where he imported well-bred stock.

Edward Keane passed away on July 9, 1904 aged 60 from pneumonia and was survived by his wife, Lilla and children.

Keane’s large family home, Cappoquon House located on the Swan River in Peppermint Grove was later used as a rehabilitation centre for returned servicemen in World War I and with the passing of Lilla, the property was bequested to the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and remains the club’s headquarters today.

Without his determination and courage, we may not have seen the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia continue the construction of the railway line which saw the development of the Helena Vale, Midland Junction and Midland townsite we have today.

Source:  Matthew Pavlinovich, Midland Remembers

Image from Wikipedia