Young Hugh Brian ‘Hughie’ O’Donnell was the youngest West Australian to die at Gallipoli. He was born in Boulder in 1898 to John and Lily O’Donnell. He was living with his parents in Kanowna and when he signed up he was still at the Eastern Goldfields High School. The military authorities in Kalgoorlie passed him […]
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 Fine Moustache – ‘It is an Art”
23/11/2014 By 1 Comment
As we are coming to the end of November for 2014 I wish to thank all those brave soles who have ventured, for the first time for some, to grow a mustache to raise funds to help mens health. Not all the mustaches are as fine as our Mr McNair’s but as Hercule Poirot, the […]
Thomas Cantwell – Died of Thirst or Foul Play?
23/11/2014 By 1 Comment
Thomas Cantwell Died of Thirst or Foul Play? The following item appeared in the local paper in Camblin, Roscrea, Co Tipperary Ireland on the 24th Dec 1895- Perished between Norseman and Coolgardie, supposed from thirst, Tom Cantwell, one of the best fellows who ever pulled off a shirt. Poor Tom was one of the finest […]
The Desert Echo – Trans Australian Newspaper
16/11/2014 By 1 Comment
The “Desert Echo’ was a handwritten newspaper published by the workers employed on the Trans Australia Rail Line. It wasnt possible for them to receive updates on contemporary news so they made their own. This small document is an amazing snapshot of the every day lives of the men who worked on this lonely and isolated […]
Victor Watts – grave tales
08/11/2014 By 4 Comments
“A Most Unusual Story” This is a strange story about one of the men who are listed on the Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial Memorial which is located at the WA Museum Kalgoorlie Boulder in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. His name is Victor Watts. Several years ago I had a phone call from a homeowner to say […]
