Kalgoorlie Miner 6 October 1951, page 6
A REAL PIONEER OF THE GOLDFIELDS
The late Mr William Archibald Spoors, whose death occurred in Kalgoorlie on September 15, could well be described as a real pioneer of these goldfields. He was born in 1888 at Kaniva, in Victoria but came to Kalgoorlie as a lad. He was the son of William Dixon Spoors and Harriet Stirling nee Craigie. After learning his trade as a tailor from Mr. E. R. Berry, he commenced his own business which he conducted until the time of his death. Always interested in local sport the late Mr Spoors was a keen follower of pony racing both in Kalgoorlie and in the backcountry, and in 1919 was a joint donor, with Mr. H. Burrows, of a cup for a pony race at Morgans. It was won by another Goldfield’s veteran sporting identity in Mr D. Annear.
Spoors Family Grave Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photos Danelle Warnock
Transferring his affections to trotters, Mr Spoors became one of the foundation members of the Golden Mile Trotting Club. The late Mr Spoors was noted for his generosity when appeals were made for trophies by local sporting bodies and he readily gave prizes to the various football, cycling, athletic and amateur boxing clubs which approached him .seeking assistance. In failing health for the past three years, the late Mr Spoors spent considerable periods in the St. John of God Hospital before his demise. He leaves a widow and seven children.
William Archibald Spoors – Spoors family
William was married to Bianca Bertha Dusenberg in Fremantle WA in 1912. The couple had the following children.
Bertha Amelia Maud born Kalgoorlie 1912
William Lancelot ‘Leslie’ born Kalgoorlie 1915
Constance Stirling born Kalgoorlie 1916
Rose born Kalgoorlie 1918 – lived only 8 days
Evelyn May born Kalgoorlie 1920 (Evelyn married into the VIRGIN family)
Raymond John born Kalgoorlie 1925
Gwendolyn Mary born Kalgoorlie 1931 – lived only 4 days
Spoors Family Grave Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock
William is buried in the Kalgoorlie cemetery in the Anglican section. His baby daughter Rose is also buried here but in the Presbyterian section. William’s mother is also here, Harriet Spoors died in 1941 aged 77yrs and is also buried in the Presbyterian section but not with Rose. Archies wife died in Perth and her cremated ashes were brought back to Kalgoorlie and buried in the same grave as Archie.
The Sun 3 October 1926, page 7
The Spoors family lived at 47 Hinemoa Street, Kalgoorlie but unfortunately, the house has been replaced by a modern brick one. Spoors Tailors shop was located at 238 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
Daily News 21 April 1938, page 4
The Spoors family were in the news in 1938 when Mrs Spoors was the principal lottery winner of £2,500 which was a considerable amount in these days when a house and land could be bought for under £500.
Kalgoorlie Miner 22 April 1938, page 4
Winner Interviewed – The lucky winner of the first prize was Mrs Archie Spoors, of Hinemoa Street, wife of Mr Arch Spoors, tailor, of Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. When interviewed by a ‘Kalgoorlie Miner’ reporter yesterday, Mrs Spoors was noncommittal on what she would do with the money. ‘There’s plenty to do with it,’ she said and left it at that. Mrs Spoors was first told about her luck by her son-in-law, who was just leaving for her place when his wife ran out of the house and said: ‘I believe mum’s won Charities.’ ‘It just shows it’s more luck than anything,’ Mrs Spoors said, explaining that usually she bought several tickets in the lottery, but on this occasion, she had bought only one.
Moya Sharp
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