Jim Keen – one who blazed the track

Daily News – Perth – 27 October 1934, page 16 Jim Keen, who arrived in Kalgoorlie from out from the East this week with three camels, has prospected in several other countries besides Australia, and has had some narrow shaves in the last 40 years. But he reckons the narrowest he has had was just […]

Bread Upon the Waters –

Western Mail Perth 1 August 1940, page 9 Bread Upon the Waters. In the early days of the Golden Mile, Davy Jones was working on a mine and according to custom he bought a block of land in preparation for the time when he and Mifanwy could marry. A little house was built, and as […]

Into the Great Solitude by Arthur Upfield

For anyone who has been following my blog for a while, they will know that I am a huge fan of the books of Arthur Upfield. He wrote many wonderful fictional books which are based on the Australian Outback. Some stories, like the one that follows, are about his own experiences. His stories are all […]

The Busiest Place in Town –

The following excerpt is from the book by Mrs Arthur H Garnsey called ‘Scarlet Pillows: An Australian Nurse’s Tales of Long Ago’ and is about her memories of being a nurse in Coolgardie in the early days. The tale of the house that Jack built has his counterpart in Coolgardie in the tale of all […]

All a Hero – a tale of the Margaret

The Sun 3 July 1910, page 15 ALL A HERO A TALE OF THE MARGARET JIM AND BILL AND THE BOOTS. by “CROSSCUT” The world is full of heroes whose gallant deeds are fated to pass unrecognised and unheard of. The dizzy heights of fame are not for them, no blatant trumpet blares the bitter […]