A Nugget of Gratitude-

There have been bids from all over the world, but up to the present, the owner has refused all offers and has now asked the Lord Mayor of Perth (Dr. T. W. Meagher) to dispose of the nugget in aid of the war funds.

The owner of the famous piece of gold is Mrs Clara Lynch, now a resident of Southern Cross, but who has the distinction of being the first girl to have been married at Coolgardie. She went to the famous gold town In 1892 and a year later, at the age of 15, she was appointed manageress of Evan Wisdom’s Exchange Hotel.

She bad known both Bayley and Patrick Hannan at Parker’s Range in 1892. Her next meeting with Hannan was in December 1893 – six months after the discovery which rocked the world. The famous prospector came to the Exchange Hotel in Coolgardie, very ill through drinking bad water. Mrs. Lynch (known as Miss Clara Saunders at that time), whose fame had spread throughout the Goldfields for her willing help to distressed prospectors, gave up her own bedroom to ensure that he would be comfortable.

HANAN’S GRATITUDE

When Hannan recovered, as a token of gratitude, he presented her with a tiny nugget of gold saying “it brought me luck and I hope it will bring you luck too”. Hannan then went on to explain how he found the nugget whilst unsaddling his horse. He saw the gold glittering on the ground as he threw his pack down.  On that spot today stands the tree in Kalgoorlie bearing the notice indicating that gold was first discovered by Hannan there.

“While I have had the nugget I have had numerous offers for it,” said Mrs. Lynch to The Sunday Times. ”People at home and overseas have wanted to get it for the sentimental value and for the privilege of being able to say that they own the first piece of gold ever taken out of Kalgoorlie.” But all offers have been refused.

ANOTHER PRESENT

Mrs. Lynch eventually had the gold mounted on a gold chain which was presented to her by Jack Pickering, who, with Jimmy Jennett and Jim Cabell, were at Lake Darlot.

Both Mrs. Lynch and her sister Mrs. Airey, are great Red Cross workers. Mrs. Airey had her first experience overseas in the Boer War when she went as a nurse to South Africa. In the last war, Mrs. Airey knitted socks and raised £50 for the Red Cross by allowing people to knit a row in a pair of socks for Field Marshal Birdwood.

The two sisters hope to do their bit in this war by donating Patrick Hannan’s historic nugget. They intend to have it removed from the brooch and chain and have it suitably mounted. Mrs. Lynch mentioned that during the “Back to the Goldfields” celebrations the nugget was displayed in an attractive black velvet case.

Diggers Brooch. Photo Credit Dorothy Erickson.

Mrs. Lynch is one of the outstanding pioneers of the West. In addition to being the first girl to be married in Coolgardie, she is a member of the oldest family in the Yilgarn goldfields, and with Mrs. T. Farren and Mrs. Colreavy. was the first woman to arrive in Golden Valley before the discovery of Southern Cross. Her first husband was Mr Arthur Williams. She will also be well remembered by old prospectors as the first hotel keeper at Goongarrie.

Mrs Lynch as she was as a young bride – Miss Clara Saunders wearing the brooch.

The story of the first wedding between Clara Saunders and Arthur William can be read here: https://bit.ly/3rKhlxW