Caris Brothers : pioneer profile

Many of you will have heard of the Caris Brothers Jewellers that used to be in the Hay Street Mall in Perth, but did you know the business started in the Goldfields? Some years ago I was contacted by Lloyd Caris, he asked if I could help him with his family history as he was […]

Red Flannel Joe- pioneer profile

Western Mail – Perth – 28 February 1935, page 9 He is known as ‘Red Flannel Joe‘ throughout the district. He is old and somewhat pompous and lives in a tin hut in what was once the main street of this little nor-west town of Peak Hill. It’s almost deserted now, and Joe’s structure is […]

The Overlanders – by David McMillan

Cycling was slow to develop in Western Australia but with the opening of the Coolgardie goldfield in 1892, the cycling scene changed abruptly.  The scarcity of water and stock feed and their high cost made the upkeep of horses and camels a burden.  The large mining population and heavy private and government investment needed rapid […]

The Prince and the Diggers Daughter-

Nambucca and Bellinger News (NSW : 1911 – 1945), Friday 6 May 1932, page 5 A TALE OF THE GOLDFIELDS   written by JAMES GRAYSON for the “Nambucca News” 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 […]

The Lake Eva Oil Hoax-

In May of 1923, Robert ROTHKEHL and Ernest Thompson claimed that they had struck oil at Mt Eva near Southern Cross in Prospecting area 1135. A Company was floated and shares sold. Western Mail – Perth 13 December 1923, page 26 THE OIL “BUBBLE” BURSTS. Tho discovery of oil in Lake Eva (near Southern Cross) […]