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

A Field of Paper Daisies:

I recently received this wonderful photo from a fellow historian who lives in Wales, Alwyn Evans. He tells me: In 1900 Wiluna was hit by massive floods after 28 inches of rain, and all work ceased for some time on the Gwalia Consols mine which George Hall and the Westralian Mines and Finance Agency were […]

Michael Crennan – pioneer profile

I have recently been in correspondence with Elaine Hopper and Michael Crennan who have kindly allowed me to share the story about their relative, Michael Crennan. We originally came into contact through the Western Australian Virtual Miners Memorial web site, as Michael was the victim of a mining accident. Michael Crennan (Great Grandson) attended the […]

Black Flag – ghost towns

BLACK FLAG:- R H Henning and party pegged the Black Flag lease which in October 1894 was reported to be ‘doing very well.’ The property was sold the following year to Lord Sudley’s syndicate for $48,000. By this time men were opening up their claims, many with good results. In December, the following year, there […]

An Explosive Situation

Menzies Miner 20 February 1897, page 11 The Kanowna Explosion MATCH DROPPED INTO CASK OF RUM. DEATH OF ONE OF THE INJURED MEN An accident resulting in serious injury to several persons occurred at the White Feather Hotel today, when a match dropped in a cask of spirit caused  a terrific explosion. Mr Cole, proprietor […]

The Shamrock Hotel -Coolgardie hotels

Next in our series of Coolgardie Hotels is Colreavy’s Shamrock Hotel: When the Shamrock Hotel, on the corner of Sylvester and Jobson Streets, Coolgardie was opened in September 1895, the licensee, Mrs Cath Colreavy, announced her best efforts would be used to ‘promote the comfort and convenience of patrons and visitors’. Despite having twenty bedrooms […]