Finally in 1943 the Colonial Sugar Company through its subsidiary, Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd. took over both the Wittenoom and Yampire Mines. Lang Hancock who watched his station property transform to a town stated (1958), "Izzy Walters was the man who stuck it and produced the market that made Wittenoom of today possible. Walter's partner Len Leonard, put it this way (1958), "But for his (Islwyn Walters) sheer grit and hard work there would be no such thing as Wittenoom.