Edward ‘Doo Dah’ Sullivan – grave tales

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 were 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.

Grave of Edward ‘Doo Dah’ Sullivan – 2 miles north of Leonora  -Date unknown

Western Mail 21 October 1937

Any old prospectors who may remember Doo dah 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 Doo dah. 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.

Edward Sullivan Grave today – Leonora Cemetery

Ref:- Western Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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