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Call the Midwife –

09/04/2022 By 1 Comment

First Register of Midwives on the
Goldfields of Western Australia

In the early days of Goldfield’s, pregnancy and birth were a dangerous time for both mother and baby. Most often women would rely on the help of other women in the area, if indeed there were any. Others may have had to have the assistance of a husband and some would have to give birth alone. Only in deliveries where there were complications would a doctor be called. Even in towns that had a hospital, most babies were either born at home or in a ‘Lying In’ nursing home where usually a trained nurse whould take in mothers in their own homes for the birth of the baby.

It is said that pre-1900 the hazards of childbirth for both mother and baby were very high. To have the help of a midwife nearby would have been a huge comfort to many. This is born out by the large number of graves of very young babies and mothers in all the various cemeteries on the WA Goldfields.
The following is a link to a new page on the Outback Family History website where I have just added a list of – First Registered Midwives on the Goldfields of Western Australia in 1913. There are a total of 201 spread around a vast area.
Thanks to Tim Moore for passing this on.

Supplement to the Government Gazette of Western Australia,
7 February 1913. Goldfields of WA Only

ALCOCK Elizabeth : Kanowna
ALDERDICE Margaret : Gwalia
ALLEN Caroline Mary : Kalgoorlie
ALLEN Elizabeth Ann : Kalgoorlie
ANDERSON Mary Ann : Boulder
ANDERSON Sarah Jane : Kalgoorlie
BACKMAN Clara Jane : Boulder

See the full list – https://bit.ly/3jnnrCG

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History
My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.
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Comments

  1. Rachel Milsom says
    26/09/2024 at 12:18 pm

    Hello Moya. I am very grateful to come across your blog. My family are trying to piece together the life of my Great Grand-Aunt who is listed in the First Register of Midwives
    in Western Australia – Supplement to the Government Gazette of Western Australia, 7 February 1913.

    Her name is HANNAH NORAH HARPER born in 1850 in Melbourne, Victoria. I know she was born and grew up in Wood End. I know she sold property in Wood End in 1896. She studied nursing in Christchurch, New Zealand doing the Christchurch Hospital Certificate from 1983 – 1896. On her death certificate she is listed as a nurse and that she had been on Norfolk since 1920 and she remained there until she died 16 May 1937. As far as I know she never married.

    I’ve found information that she a ran a private maternity hospital in Armadale at what is listed as the Butcher Residence and Hospital (former) 24 Brookton Highway Kelmscott from 1912-1920.

    If you are able to assist me or point me in the direction of what nursing might have been like then or any information about my great aunt I’d be very grateful. Sadly her burial site on Norfolk Island is unmarked and we are going to give her the proper honour and send off she so rightfully deserves. Kindly, Rachel

    Reply

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