Tom Riseley – a man who blazed the track

Sunday Times – 16 January 1910, page 3 THE DEATH OF TOM RISELEY A MAN WHO BLAZED THE TRACK Tom Riseley (Thomas Randle Riseley) one of the men who helped materially to make Westralia what she is today, went on the last “long journey” from the Perth Government Hospital on Thursday night. Twenty-one years before, […]

Harry ‘Tambo’ Taylor – Stockman of the Never Never

On the 19th of May 1924, Harry ‘Tambo ’Taylor applied to receive the old-age pension having reached the age of 65yrs. His application was refused as he couldn’t show proof of his age. Harry was born to an aboriginal mother and an Irish father in Glenalvon Station NSW in 1859. He had his mother’s skin […]

James Shaw – 1st Mayor of Coolgardie

James Shaw was born in 1846 in Belfast Ireland, his father was Hugh Shaw, an engineer and his mother was Margaret, they married in Victoria. In 1864, at age 18yrs, James Shaw sailed to Auckland New Zealand where he started a contracting business which was most successful. He also won a service medal for fighting […]

A Very Pretty Wedding – James Faull & Annie Nutman

The wedding of the daughter of the North Kalgurli mine, Annie Nutman, was celebrated in style. This photograph shows the wedding party at the home of the bride’s parents and it looks like no expense was spared. The church where the wedding took place was St Michael and All Angels, Brownhill. The ceremony must have […]

The Gunn Family – pioneer profile

Julie and Craig Gunn contacted me at the beginning of the year and told me about their planned visit to Bulong to remember their family’s time there. Craig is the Great Grandson of Edward and Catherine Gunn, their son Joseph Henry was his grandfather. They are in town at this moment and have just sent […]