The people of the Goldfields

The Goldfields of Western Australia was and still is made up of many people, from poets to politicians, from saints and sinners and everything in between. I hope to tell you the stories of some of these people either famous or infamous or just the ordinary folks. Sometime the most ordinary people do the most extraordinry things

The Departed Miner at Old Kanowna

The Coolgardie Pioneer – 18 Dec 1897 Pg 16 The claims were pegged out at midnight, and one or two men commenced work right away “THE DEPARTED MINER” “What’s you game, Bill?? Yer jumped me bally claim out at the Flag last winter, ran away with my wife just after, and now when I throw […]

A Hundred Quid in a Day !!!

Weekend News 26th Jul 1969. In 1969 Frank Weight, aged 75yrs, was one of only three permanent residents of Kanowna. A town that once had 17 pubs. Frank stated he hadn’t been in Kanowna very long, only since the last war. Frank doesn’t have a car and if he can’t get a lift, he makes […]

Annie Jane PROUSE – grave tales

Annie Jane PROUSE, aged 53yrs, was buried  in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on the 17th July 1924 and is in the Methodist Section in grave number 132. Kalgoorlie Miner 17 July 1924, page 4 She shares this burial plot with two other Prouse Family members: Richard Harralda PROUSE, aged 19yrs, buried 10th Jun 1897, Father: James […]

Sinking a New Shaft- North Kalgurli – 1950

North Kalgurli (1912) Ltd Mine –   Shift Crew Sinking a new shaft 11th Dec 1950 – Completed sinking 10th Jun 1952. sent by Dallas Calneggia (Geoffrey Lee is her father) Back Row: J Martin (Winderdriver), L Miller (Winderdriver), K Bishop (Carpenter), G Thompson (Shaft sinker), R Bevis (Shaft Sinker), D Erceg (Shaft Sinker), Middle Row […]

Mary Beatrice Massey – grave tales

Mary Beatrice Massey died aged 15yrs and was  buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on 6th Jul 1899.  Annie Massey, Mary’s mother,died aged 39yrs and was buried with Beatrice on the 17th April 1900.  They are together  in grave 728 in the Roman Catholic section. They were the wife and only child of George Albert Massey.  […]