Water was the great leveler. Everyone needed it, young or old, rich or poor. Many a venture has failed through lack of it any many a life has ended. It was often safer to drink whiskey than water that could be contaminated. This is typical of the scenes at many mines in WA’s Eastern Goldfields. […]
The Prince and the Diggers Daughter
22/12/2022 By Leave a Comment
Nambucca and Bellinger News 6 May 1932, page 5 A TALE OF THE GOLDFIELDS written by JAMES GRAYSON When gold is calling, however tortuous the road, civilised men all the world over (and some women, too) will overcome all apparent impossible obstacles, reaching their objective often in the last stage of endurance. How strange it […]
The Box Soak Creek Rush
22/12/2022 By Leave a Comment
Where is Box Creek you may ask? As I did myself back in 2000, (I can’t believe it was so long ago), when I received a letter from a lady in Queensland about a distant relative of hers called Ronald Donald McMillen who was supposed to be buried in the Box Soak Cemetery. I had […]
Kanowna – a diggers life
17/12/2022 By Leave a Comment
Kalgoorlie Miner 21 July 1898, page 2 Among the Kanowna Diggers Why is a digger unlike a leopard ? was a question once asked of me. That riddle was easily answered, for the leopard cannot change his spots, and the digger can, and I think the Kanowna diggers are frequently doing it. Formerly the digger […]
William James Cecil – grave tales
17/12/2022 By 1 Comment
This wonderful photograph was taken at the rear of the ‘Fancy Goods Depot’ at 65 Bayley Street, Coolgardie. In the photograph are Annie Cecil, William James ‘Jim’ Cecil, and their two sons Clyde and Les Cecil. The photograph was taken in 1906 by Jack Bayley who was Annie’s Brother-in-law. The family ran this store for […]
