SULLIVAN Edward alias ‘Doo-dah” or “Dido” died 2 Jul 1896 age 36yrs – buried 2 miles north of Leonora.
For some years his old barrow and some of his equipment reposed by his grave, but gradually they disappeared. Sir John Forrest later arranged to have a headstone and fence to be erected.
A pioneer prospector and barrowman, who died on the track and was buried in his old lease near the town. Born c1860 in South Africa. He first found gold near Leonora in 1896.
A part of prospectors led by ‘Dooda’ SULLIVAN and Harry WEDDECK sank a shaft on a big quartz outcrop on the Johannesburg Lease, which they had pegged in March 1896.
Western Mail 21 October 1937
Any old prospectors who may remember Dooda Sullivan, who, with mates pegged the Johannesburg, may be interested to know that he took his last camel ride with me from Leonora to Menzies, where we had to go for provisions. I got my stock and loads ready to leave and, went hunting for Dooda. There were only six possible places to find him and at last I ran him down. Although we had been 24 hours in Menzies he had not got all the dust out of his throat and he wanted me to wait a further 24 hours. As my mates were short of tucker I could not agree, so he said: “Go on, I’ll catch you up.” He got to Leonora a week after my arrival and of course his mates roused on him. He never said a word, walked into his tent, then out into the bush. A shot, and Dooda never saw Africa again (he was a Boer). His grave is, or should be found, where he went out.
Ref:- Western Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate
Moya Sharp
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