On the 11th Sep 1928 the ‘Rainbow Argus’ in Rainbow Victoria, reported the death of John Watts Gregson. It said he was a highly respected resident of the town. He was born in Chepstone Victoria in 1871 and was the eldest son of Mrs Gregson of Ararat Vic and Charles Gregson of Coolgardie WA. He […]
“Mr Everything”: pioneer profile
30/09/2018 By Leave a Comment
Mr Vaiben Louis Solomon was a very successful businessman in eary Coolgardie. He was also the first Jewish person to become a Premier of an Australian State. Vaiben Louis Solomon (1853-1908), businessman and premier, was born on 13 May 1853 in Adelaide, son of Judah Moss Solomon and his wife Rachel, née Cohen. He was educated at John […]
Philp & Royal – Pioneer Builders
28/09/2018 By 1 Comment
The firm of Phil and Royal, Master Builders and Contractors, were located in Sylvester Street, Coolgardie (see map). They also had a factory in Cassidy Street, Kalgoorlie. In 1897, Phil and Royal were the builders for the Kalgoorlie Primary School and additions to the Kalgoorlie Post Office, which included, a mail room, a new despatch clerk’s room,money […]
J H H Penberthy – A Coolgardie Pioneer
26/09/2018 By 2 Comments
James Henry Harris Penberthy was the eldest son of James Harris Penberthy and Elizabeth nee MITCHELL, Penberthy. He was born on Christmas Day 25th Dec 1853 at Samford Spiney, a mining village near Tavistock in Devon, England. Earlier generations of the Penberthy family had been involved in mining as far back as 1670, first in […]
The Exchange Hotel – Coolgardie Hotels 6
24/09/2018 By Leave a Comment
When Evon Wisdom was granted one of the four Wayside Licences in April 1893, he erected a hessian building on the corner of what later became the junction of Bayley and Ford Streets, which he called the Exchange Hotel. The Exchange was the venue for the first meeting of the newly elected Coolgardie Corporation […]
