Almost 1000 men under the age of 26 lies buried in the Coolgardie Cemetery.
The Ghosts of Bayley Street
The Ghosts of Bayley Street
Last night the occult was in power
And as the clocks struck midnight hour
With saddened eyes and soundless feet,
A thousand ghosts walked Bayley Street
Ghosts of men who, joys denying
Paved the way, and death-defying,
Left their dust forever lying
Where the town and bushland meet.
And there were some who would not smile,
For they lived but a little while,
They were but youths who chose to roam,
And seas roll deep twixt them and home.
Youths who let the gold god blind them,
Lads who left their loves behind them,
Strong brave youths –God grant we find them
In the time that is to come.
With pallid face and shining feet,
the dawn strode west down Bayley Street,
and as it came the ghosts took flight, for they are
fashioned for the night. And Bayley Street for them forsaken,
The sleeping street that soon must waken,
from its dream past – was overtaken
By mans awakening and the light.
Author Jack Sorensen
Further Reading:
Book of Poems The Ghosts of Bayley Street by Jack Sorenson available from Hesperian Press
Moya Sharp
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Hi Moya,
My name is Stewart Hill; I live in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Through research here, and with relatives in Australia, we have found that my 2nd great-uncle, Thomas Hill, was a miner in Coolgardie. He died, by his own hand, in 1894, one of the many who had gone to seek his fortune, but wasn’t able to. His son, William Charles Hill, was much more fortunate, and made quite a fortune. William Charles’ brother, Thomas Henry Hill, was also in the west for a time, but I have little information about him. I wonder if you have any history of these men.
Thanks in advance,
Stewart Hill
Hi Stewart, Hello from West Australia. Suicide sadly was a very common cause of death for many men on the Goldfields. I will indeed see if I can find any further info for you. Just had a quick look at the Coolgardie Cemetery and he isn’t buried there. Do you know where he is buried? If not I will find him.
Hi Moya, Thanks so much for your reply. Am I able to email some information to you? I have Tom’s death certificate that we got in 2016 along with newspaper article about his death.. He died in Coolgardie, May 12, 1894. I guess that doesn’t necessarily mean he was buried there, but we have made that assumption.