Family and Local History of the Goldfields of Western Australia
I was recently sent these amazing photos by Terry and Dawn Leitch of her families mine, The Black Jack’ GM at Yunndaga (Woolgar). It was leased first by Patrick George Henderson (Terry’s great grandfather) and later by his sons Cyril and Eric Henderson. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this area the following map shows its location, it is approximately 7kms south of Menzies:-
Black Jack Mine – Yundaga
Home Away From Home – The Black Jack Camp
Eric and Cyril Henderson outside their camp.
In April 1933 Eric and Cyril Henderson applied for a Mining Lease of ground to be known as ‘Black Jack’, identical with late GM Lease 5319Z, late PA 1295Z. In May 1933 Eric and Cyril Henderson applied for the lease GML No. 5340Z at Yunndaga. No objections lodged – Recommended, subject to survey. Then in June of 1934 they applied for Subterranean Water Right No. 365Z, Yunndaga. No objections lodged. – Recommended.
Shortly after taking out the lease the brothers went into a partnership with Arthur H. Deering, James A. Forbes, and William Henry Vance and they each held 20 shares, this was a registered as the Black Jack Mine Syndicate. Apparently Vance died and his brother took the syndicate to court.
The Black Jack Mine
Workings on the Black Jack Mine
The Black Jack Syndicate: Eric Henderson far right in the back row.
Cyril and Eric Henderson were both in the First World War. Cyril served in Gallipoli and Egypt and Eric on the Western Front where he received the Military Medal for bravery in the field in 1916 at Ypres. A third brother,Francis ‘George,’ was killed in action at a town known as Fleurbaix (situated halfway between Fromelles and Armentieres).
After the war Cyril took up a grant of land under the Soldier Settlement Scheme down near Bridgetown but this didn’t work out for him . He married in 1928 and went back to gold mining with his brother Eric. Prior to the war Cyril was working as a Pumper at Southern Cross and by 1958 he had returned to this work and he and wife, Margaret, were living at Station Creek where Cyril was the Pumper at the Station Creek Pumping Station. Eric never married and he died in 1951 and Cyril in 1974. The brothers are buried together in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Cemetery – together in death as in life.
Further details supplied by Heather Harvey from the Residency Museum York WA:-
The three Henderson brothers’ also have links to York, Western Australia, with Cyril and Eric having been born there after their father married their mother Eliza Scotcher, a local York woman, and before their father moved to the goldfields in 1896, with his wife and young children initially staying in Meckering after he moved there. Their uncle Henry James Henderson had also married a York woman, Sarah Coles, and their aunt Elizabeth had married into the Ingram family there also, with several of their cousins also serving in WW1. The senior Henderson men were all very much involved in the local brickyards in York from the late 1880s to early 1890s.
The three Henderson brothers’ also have links to York, Western Australia, with Cyril and Eric having been born here after their father married their mother Eliza Scotcher, a local York woman, and before their father moved to the goldfields in 1896, with his wife and young children initially staying in Meckering after he moved there. Their uncle Henry James Henderson had also married a York woman, Sarah Coles, and their aunt Elizabeth had married into the Ingram family here also, with several of their cousins also serving in WW1. The senior Henderson men were all very much involved in the local brickyards here in York from the late 1880s/early 1890s. My research for the upcoming exhibition at the York Town Hall opening on ANZAC Day 2018 included all of them because of them being born in/living in York. This is, however, the first time I have seen photos of them at their mine. Moya, do you think Terry and Dawn would be prepared to share their family photos with the Residency Museum in York?
Hi Heather, what wonderful information on the Henderson boys, may I add it to the post? I am sure that Terry and Dawn will like to share their photos I will email them and get them to get in touch with you direct. If they agree I can send the pics to you or they can, they will be of a higher resolution that on the post,.