Herbert Ernest Wright – a family story

1872

1945

1872– 1945
Guest Post by:-  Katherine Statton

Herbert Ernest Wright was the ninth child of Thomas Wright and Sarah Hayes Hutchinson.  He was born at Green Ponds in Tasmania on 21 April 1872.  His father was a teacher at the Green Ponds State School.

Green Ponds was first settled in the 1820s.  It is a hilly area where agriculture and grazing occurs on small farms.  It was originally a probation station which housed convicts working on chain gangs to build the road from Hobart to Launceston.

The family moved to Sorell in 1874.  Sorell is 26 km east of Hobart and is one of Tasmania’s oldest towns.  It was a major town enroute to Hobart from Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula.  The region has a cool climate which promotes a diverse range of farm and marine produce.  The agricultural farms produce stone fruit including cherries, nectarines, peaches, apples, pears, nashi; vegetables such as broad beans and sweetcorn; and a variety of berries such as strawberries, loganberries, boysenberries, raspberries and black currants.

Herbert would have had a Christian upbringing as his father was a lay Presbyterian minister who sometimes collided with the law and neighbours by preaching within an agreed distance from the school in which he was the school master.

By 1877, the family had moved from Green Ponds to Sorell, and then to the town of Forcett where forestry and fishing were the main industries.  Forcett is near Sorell, so that move would not have caused a huge upheaval for the family.  Herbert would have been about 5 years old, but this was the third time his family had moved.  His father continued to teach and Herbert’s sister, Mary Elizabeth, continued to be her father’s assistant whilst Sarah, his mother, continued to teach needlework at the school.

1880 brought another move for the family.  Thomas was transferred to Abbotsham, which is in northern Tasmania near Ulverstone.  This move was far greater in distance than any of the other moves.  In 1887, Thomas resigned from the Education Department to take up farming in the Abbotsham area.  By now, Herbert, aged 15 years, would have begun to think about his future.

The Abbotsham area was heavily forested, so logging along with beef and dairy farming were the main industries.  It is not known what type of farm Thomas ran, but one can be assured the rest of the family would have been required to help out with the many and varied tasks.  Herbert left Abbotsham and went to live in Zeehan.  Whilst at Zeehan, Herbert studied at the ‘Zeehan School of Mines’ and gained his diploma in mineral mining.  This is further confirmed through another newspaper report in the “Zeehan and Dundas Herald” published on Thursday 16 August 1906, page 2 under the heading ‘Mining’

“…..Information has been received from West Australia that Mr. Herbert E. Wright, who has been manager of one of the State batteries during the last two and a half years, was recently appointed in the important position of general manager of the Maninga Marley gold mine, Mount Magnet district, West Australia.  Mr. Wright was for some years a student of the Zeehan School of Mines, at which institution he gained his diploma in metal mining.  ….

The Zeehan School of Mines and Metallurgy was established in 1892 and ran courses in geology, assaying and surveying.  By the beginning of 1896, it offered regular courses including metallurgy, assaying and chemistry.  In 1902, construction of the current building, now the ‘West Coast Pioneers Museum’, had begun.  The Zeehan School of Mines ceased full time teaching in 1921 and finally closed its doors in 1958.

Zeehan is located on the west coast of Tasmania, 293 km north-west of Hobart.  This region has one of the oldest histories of any part of Tasmania.  In 1882, rich silver-lead deposits were discovered sparking the largest mining boom on Tasmania’s west coast which led to the founding of the legendary Zeehan “Silver City”.  It is a classic mining town and in 1908, Zeehan was Tasmania’s third largest town.  By 1914, the silver and lead reserves were depleted and mining of the precious metals ceased.  Tin and nickel were also discovered in the area.  Lead mining continued on up to 1963.

It is not known when Herbert met his future wife, Amelia Ann Statton, but Herbert’s fifth eldest brother Charles Alfred Wright married Amelia’s sister, Matilda Frances Statton, on 30 December 1896 in Zeehan.  Herbert signed Charles and Matilda’s marriage certificate as “witness”.  Herbert’s youngest sister, Caroline Alberta married Douglas Lindsay Craw on 17 January 1897 in Zeehan. Perhaps Herbert and Amelia met whilst Herbert studied at the Zeehan School of

Frances and Charles Wright

Caroline and Douglas Craw with baby Pierri

Mines, or during the preparations of his brother’s or sister’s weddings?
Charles, who had followed in his father’s footsteps and become a teacher, was based in the Launceston area.  Charles graduated from the University of Tasmania in1893.  He taught at the Zeehan School where Frances and Caroline were also teachers.  Charles later was the headmaster of the Zeehan School.  Douglas Lindsay Craw and his brothers conducted a drapery business in Zeehan.  As chaperones were the order of the day, perhaps each party met the other through this practise.  Often brothers chaperoned their sisters on outings and social occasions.

Because Herbert was his own person, he did not follow in the footsteps of his father!  Herbert began working in the mining industry.  He may have spent some time at Zeehan working in the mines before he began his studies.  His future father-in-law, Edward Thomas Statton, was an engineer and because he was living in Zeehan, it may be assumed he was a mining engineer.  Edward may have persuaded Herbert to enter the mining industry.  On completion of Herbert’s studies, he moved to Western Australia where gold had recently been discovered.  He was the only member of his immediate family to leave Tasmania.

Gold was first discovered in Western Australia in 1890 and the news spread like wildfire.  Miners struggled into Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie on foot, or mounted on camels or mules if they were more fortunate.  The lonely clusters of tents and rough bough sheds that dotted the dusty landscapes of the Kalgoorlie Goldfields and Murchison regions, rapidly transformed into booming gold rush towns.  Grand hotels lined the main streets, butchers, bakers, schools and churches appeared with the increased population.

On 17 September 1892 Arthur Bayley deposited 554 ounces of gold with the Mining Warden at Southern Cross. Within hours, the frenzied rush to Coolgardie had begun and with it, the greatest movement of people in Australia’s history.  The gold had been found at an area called Fly Flat.  Harsh conditions in the arid country side did not deter prospectors.  Water was scarce and had to be brought in by horse teams hauling huge condensing tanks.  Often food was brought in at the same time.

Camels Hauling Freight in Coolgardie

Coolgardie was once the third largest town in Western Australia with a population of over 16,000, 2 stock exchanges, 3 breweries, 7 newspapers and 26 hotels.  Life on the diggings was hard for both men and women.  It was mostly men who went to look for gold.  In the early years of the gold rush, there were very few women at the goldfields.  Most women stayed at home with their children usually with very little money to live on whilst their husbands travelled to live and work at the diggings.  A few women were diggers and some were shopkeepers at the diggings.  Later, women took their children and joined their husbands when conditions improved, but there were always more men than women at the goldfields.

A Coolgardie Miners Camp

When the women did join their men, their work consisted mostly of washing, ironing and cooking.  They made bread, butter, jams, soap and clothes for the family.  Living conditions were cramped and there were very few comforts at the diggings.  Because alluvial mining muddied the once clear creek water, clean drinkable water was hard to find.  Often fresh water was carted into the diggings and sold by the bucketful.  Fresh vegetables and fruit were scarce and expensive.

There was little in way of medical assistance in cases of illness or to assist women in childbirth.  When a woman gave birth to a baby, she was usually assisted by other women.  Many women died while giving birth.  Sanitation was poor or non-existent.  Epidemics of illnesses such as diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, typhoid and scarlet fever swept through the goldfields and many men, women and children died.  Water became more precious and expensive than gold itself.

Coolgardie was finally linked to the railway system in 1896 and with this link, brought better living conditions.  The charming grand heritage buildings and wide main streets followed.

Did Herbert move away from his family in Tasmania to chance his fortunes in the gold rush?  One can only speculate!  It is not yet known when Herbert left Tasmania and moved to Western Australia, but in 1899 before his marriage Herbert is recorded living at Lennonville in Western Australia and working as a winding engine driver.

Amelia Ann Statton

When Herbert was aged 27 years, he married Amelia Ann Statton who was aged just 19.  Amelia had left her family in Zeehan and arrived in Fremantle.  They were married under special license in the Wesley Manse in Fremantle, Western Australia on 10 October 1899.

It was into this more prosperous, but still very harsh life-style that Herbert brought his new bride Amelia to live.  They set up their home in Lennonville, a station on the Mullewa Cue Railway line.  Lennonville had been gazetted in 1896 after gold was discovered two years previously at the location by prospectors Lennon and Palmer.  At the peak of its existence, 1897 – 1906, the town had a population of 3,000 and five hotels, outperforming nearby Mount Magnet.  Lennonville is located 10.44 km north of Mount Magnet, 60.89 km south of Cue, 120.71 km east of Yalgoo and 143.5 km west of Sandstone.

Herbert is recorded in the 1900-1902 Western Australian Post Office Directories (inclusive) as living in Lennonville and working as a winding engine driver.

Lennonville Battery

The Northern Railway was built by the Western Australian Government Railways during the ten years of 1890-1900 and provided passenger and freight services from Perth into Lennonville and Mount Magnet in the Murchison Goldfields.  There was a branch line from Cue to the mining town of Big Bell.  After the completion of the line to Cue, work then commenced on the line to Nannine.  In 1909 the line was extended from Nannine to Meekatharra and for a while to Wiluna.

Amelia and Herbert’s first child was born three years after their marriage.  Conditions probably had not greatly improved, as Amelia returned to Zeehan in Tasmania with Herbert for her first confinement where she would have support from her family.  Myra Beryl Wright was born in March 1902 at Zeehan.  Celebrations were short lived as Herbert was called urgently to Ulverstone as his mother, Sarah Hayes Wright, was critically ill in Abbotsham.  Sarah Hayes Wright passed away on 4 July 1902 in Abbotsham.  She was buried in the Sprent Methodist Cemetery.

Edward Thomas Statton, Myra Beryl Wright and Amelia Ann (nee Statton) Wright

Rich gold was discovered in the Black Range area in 1902 which was known as ‘Howie’s Patch.  The name was later dropped in favour of the name Black Range.  Black Range was declared a township in December 1903.  Black Range is located in the western most portion of East Murchison just off the Carbine Ora Banda Road, about 520 km east-northeast of Perth.  The nearest city is Kalgoorlie approximately 55 km away.  The nearest ocean is the Southern Ocean about 380 km south of Black Range.

In 1903, Amelia was expecting her second child.  She returned once more to Zeehan, Tasmania and to the support, love and care of her parents.  Valerie Bertha Wright was born in Zeehan.

In 1905, the Western Australian Post Office Directories recorded Herbert living at Black Range where he was employed as the state battery manager.  Black Range, or Nunngarra, is located in the western most portion of the East Murchison Goldfield.  The East Murchison Goldfield was proclaimed on 28 June 1895 with the boundaries altered on 28 March 1902 and further amendments on 1 March 1907 to divide the goldfields into three districts:  Lawler’s, Wiluna and Black Range.  Black Range township was declared in December 1903 (the Aboriginal name Nungarra was also used).

There was a newspaper article dated 7 January 1905 singing the praises of Herbert after he took over the management of the Black Range State Battery.    In 1905, Amelia found she was expecting another child and once more returned to Zeehan for her confinement.  She gave birth to their first son, Kenneth Edward Thomas Wright on 23 November 1905 in Zeehan.  Tragedy struck the family and Kenneth died on 22 January 1906.  His tiny body is buried in the Zeehan Old General Cemetery in an unmarked grave.  Kenneth lived for just six weeks.

The family returned to Western Australia after the heartbreak as the 1906 Australian Electoral Rolls confirms both Herbert and Amelia were living in Black Range and further confirms Herbert is a battery manager.   Herbert Ernest Wright continued to be held in high esteem by both mining leaseholders and prospectors as another newspaper report further supports the respect held by the mining industry.  It was reported in the “Western Mail” dated Saturday 26 May 1906 on page 44 under the heading ‘A Trip North To The Black Range’ in part reads:

“……The battery is very ably run by Metallurgist Herbert E. Wright, and it is not always that you find a man in charge of a State battery whose practical ability and integrity have also won for him the confidence of the local prospector and tributers.  …”

By 1907, Herbert had moved to Maninga Marley which is about 30 km from the present town of Sandstone.  He was employed in the gold mine as battery manager and is listed in the 1907 Western Australian Postal Directories at this address.    Maninga Marley is 27.8 km south east of Sandstone; 112.66 km west of Leinster; 161.19 km east of Mount Magnet and 225.85 km north-west of Menzies.  Gold was discovered there in late 1903 by E. Arundal and M. Dwyer who pegged the Maninga Marley Reward Goldmine.  The other main mine in the area was the Havilah which was purchased by Hans Irvine for his company in about June 1906.  Five stamps at the battery of the Maninga Marley mine were available for public use in 1906.  By 1910 many of the workers at the Havilah lease had been laid off, although it continued to operate until 1927.

Public records report there were two boarding houses, a baker, blacksmith, brothel, two butchers, an engineer and four storekeepers as well as sporting a football ground and a rifle range.

Herbert was obviously held in high esteem by authorities and so was trusted to carry several samples of rich gold-bearing quartz from Black Range to Perth.   The samples came from the ‘Eclipse’ mine, situated between Sandstone and Maninga Marley and about 11 miles from Nunngarra.

1908 brought another move for the growing family – this time to Nungarra.  Amelia was once again pregnant and so travelled back to Zeehan for her confinement.  Jean Amelie Wright was born in 1908 in Zeehan.  The family returned to Nungarra to live.  Two years later, in 1910, the family moved yet again – this time to Nannine.

The 1910 Australian Electoral Rolls confirm that Herbert and Amelia had moved to the mining town of Nannine. Nannine is located in the Murchison Goldfields region 735 km north east of Perth and 30 km south south-west of Meekatharra.  Gold had been discovered in this area in 1890 and by 1891, the site was feverish with gold rush activity.  In 1892, the area was surveyed and a townsite declared.  The townsite was gazetted in April 1893.  By 1894, the town was large enough to be given its own electoral district.  In 1896, construction began on a Northern Railway between Nannine and Cue, Western Australia and was completed in 1903.

Photo believed to have been taken at Nannine

Life at Nannine would also have been very harsh as the photographs bear testament.  Fresh water, fruit and vegetables would have been scarce.  Sanitation was still very primitive.  The Wright family do not appear in any of the Nannine photographs, but they have been submitted to support the harsh conditions.  They have been sourced through other means allowing us to greater understand the conditions our ancestors would have had to endure whilst living at Black Range and Nannine.

Nannine 2008

Prior to 1910, Amelia’s sister, Eliza Julia Statton had come across from Zeehan, Tasmania to Northam, Western Australia and was teaching at Wongamine.  Eliza boarded on a local farming property owned by John Thomas Smith and his wife Emma Amelia.  John and Emma had five children, Herbert, Aubrey, Sabina, Alfred and Amy.  Eliza did not teach any of the Smith family, but Aubrey John Smith and Eliza Julia Statton struck up a friendship and became engaged.  They married on 5 January 1910 in Northam.  They lived on the family farm and named their holding as “Zeehanvale” after Zeehan in Tasmania.

Eliza Julia (nee Statton) Smith

This was also the year that Amelia and Herbert’s fourth daughter, Leila Audrey Wright was born.  Leila was born on 22 September 1910 in Bagot Road, Subiaco, Western Australia.

Because sanitation was poor and fresh clean drinking water scarce, typhoid fever and scarlet fever abounded. The Wright family were not to be exempt from these diseases which ravished the early pioneering families.  Amelia was struck down and was gravely ill.  It is not known whether it was typhoid or scarlet fever, but he doctor advised Herbert, in order to save Amelia’s life, he would need to move her to a cooler climate in which conditions were not quite so harsh.  Without hesitation, Herbert followed the doctor’s advice.

On leaving the mining industry, Herbert was presented with a beautiful silver butter dish which has remained in the family ever-since.  After Amelia died, the butter dish was passed down to their youngest daughter Norma Maysie Wright who cherished it.

Silver Butter Dish presented to Herbert Ernest Wright

It is believed that Herbert and his family moved from the hot, dry, dusty, harsh, arid town of Nannine to the cooler climate of Perth in about 1910 or 1911.  The W.A. Post Office Directories records confirm that he is living at 154 Bagot Road in 1911 and at 200 Bagot Road, Subiaco in 1914.

Several family members have said that Herbert was involved in managing or owning the Narrogin Inn, located in the district of Armadale which is situated 28 km from Perth.  The writer has not been able to confirm this with written evidence, but there is no need to doubt those family members’ recollections as other reminiscences have been accurately established.

Convict labour had built a good road from Perth to Armadale.  Land in the Armadale area consisted of rolling hills and scenic valleys.  It is here that Herbert is thought to have managed or bought the property that had been established in 1856 as a wayside inn known as the “Narrogin Inn”.  The original Inn was built of wattle and daub.  The Inn was an important staging post for travellers heading south to either Bunbury or Albany as the journey took some 5-6 days with at least one overnight bush camp required.

The Old Narrogin Inn

Present Narrogin Inn

The original Inn was replaced by the current Tudor style one built in 1936.  It is located on the corner of the Albany and South West Highways.  Despite the transition, the current Inn is well regarded as a significant landmark.  The Narrogin Inn is still trading today and holds one of the oldest liquor trading licences in Western Australia.

It is not known how long the Wrights were involved in the Narrogin Inn, but Herbert was told it was not a right and proper occupation or place in which to bring up his daughters.

Herbert and Amelia’s fifth daughter, Norma Maysie Wright, was born on 26 February 1913 at Subiaco, Perth.  It is not known if Norma ever lived at the 200 Bagot Road, Subiaco address or at the Narrogin Inn.  However, her story will be told in the next chapter.

By the end of 1913 or early 1914, the Wright family had packed up once more and moved further south to Wonnerup in the south west of Western Australia.  The climate was cooler and milder, but conditions were still quite harsh. Wonnerup is 219 km south of Perth and 10 km east of Busselton.  A farming property was purchased in the rural area of “Yoongarillup”.

When Norma was a year old, a new baby was to arrive into the family.  Herbert and Amelia’s long awaited second son, Aubrey Ernest Wright, was born on 20 October 1914 in Busselton.  The Western Australia Post Office Directories list Herbert as living at 200 Bagot Road, Subiaco, but he is farming in Wonnerup.  Perhaps he rented the property out whilst living in Wonnerup  Herbert and Amelia’s eighth child and youngest son, Vernon Herbert Wright was born on 16 May, 1916 in Northam.  It appears that Amelia may have gone to stay with Julia, her sister during this, her last confinement, as the two women were very close.  Eliza Julia Smith had given birth to her only child, John Thomas Smith, on 22 May 1915 in Northam.  Julia and husband Aubrey lived at Wongamine in the wheat-belt district of Northam.

The Wonnerup farm was on Sussex Location 1293 which consisted of 441 acres 3 roods 32 perches in Crown Grant Vol 1078 Fol. 723 which was partly cleared and fenced.  Herbert also had land at Williams Locations 10598 and 10587, comprising of 1599 acres in Grazing Lease No. 18684/58 which was partly cleared and fenced.  There was a dwelling house made of hessian and iron at this location.  Herbert was a successful farmer as there were a number of reports appearing in “The West Australian” newspaper about the selling of stock from the Wonnerup holding.  The first appears on 11 January 1918 reporting the sale of one Shropshire ram.  Another report is on 31 May 1918 about the sale of 35 ewes.

In 1919, Myra Beryl Wright, Herbert and Amelia’s eldest daughter, married George Percival Albert Sherlock in Busselton.  Percy as he was known to the family was a motor mechanic and owned a garage.  Myra and Percy lived in Busselton; firstly in Albert Street and then Thomas Street until about 1949.  During this period, they lived for a brief time in Nannup, but returned to Busselton.

Herbert was not only a successful farmer, but he was very passionate about farming in the Wonnerup area.  A report in the ‘Sunday Times’ on 31 July 1921 on p17 had a picture of the 11 foot high maize crop grown by Herbert.

There are several photographs taken showing various members of his family standing in the growing maize crops.

Left to right: Valerie, Leila, Jean, Norma, Aubrey and Vernon.

Herbert was always concerned with local issues and the group settlement areas.  He wrote a letter to ‘The West Australian’ which was published on 3 August 1925

After contracting typhoid fever or scarlet fever when living in the goldfields, Amelia’s heath deteriorated.  She was no longer a robust person.  She had been left with a weak heart and suffered greatly from psoriasis.  She was “in and out of” hospital in Busselton.  Heartbreak struck this valiant family when Amelia Ann Wright died on 12 September 1934.  She was aged 54 years.  Amelia had been staying with her eldest daughter Myra during her final illness.  Myra and George Percival Sherlock lived in Thomas Street, Busselton.  Amelia’s death certificate cites the cause of death as “heart failure”.  Amelia is buried in the Anglican Section A, Lot 38 in the Busselton Cemetery at Yalyalup via Busselton

It appears that shortly after Amelia’s death in Busselton, Herbert had moved and was living in Norseman and working once more in a mine as a winding engine driver.

Vernon, Aubrey, Norma, Leila, Jean, Valerie and Myra Taken at Amelia’s funeral September 1934

Probate was issued to Herbert Ernest Wright on 10 October 1935.  The delay in issuing Probate was caused by Herbert being unable to leave his employment in Norseman to attend the Court to sign the necessary affidavits until his annual leave.  Disaster struck the Wright family again when the Wonnerup home was burned to the ground.  The family lost everything.  The date this occurred is not known, but it may have occurred about 1937 as the 1938 Western Australia Post Office Directories lists Herbert as a farmer living at Busselton, not Wonnerup as previously recorded.

In January 1938, Herbert tried his hand in politics.  The death of Mr. E. V. Brockman, necessitated a by-election in the Sussex electorate to fill the vacancy in the State Legislative Assembly.  The electorate of Sussex comprised the extreme south-western corner of the State with Busselton as the head centre.

Candidates from the Labor Party, National Party and Country Party had nominated for the election on 12 February 1938.  The National Party applicants were Robert Falkingham, William George Pickering, Robert Pearson Reading, William Henry Francis Willmott, and Herbert Wright.  Compulsory voting provisions of the Electoral Act applied for the first time in the Sussex by-election to determine a representative of the electorate.

The “Sunday Times” newspaper published the list of candidates for Sussex and their ‘resumés’.  This is in part…..

“…WRIGHT,  Herbert.  Resident of the district for 20 years and has close knowledge of conditions from Wonnerup (where he has property) to Norseman, where he has been engaged in mining operations…”

At the time of his political ambition, Herbert was living in Norseman and was just one of the three unsuccessful candidates.  William Henry Francis Willmott was the successful candidate who went on to represent the electorate.  There is no evidence to support any further attempts by Herbert to enter politics.  However, two of John Forsythe Wright’s sons, Herbert’s third brother, later decided to enter Tasmanian politics – John Forsythe Wright (Jnr) being elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Nationalist member for Darwin in 1940 and his elder brother, Senator Reginald Wright was a Liberal Party Senator for Tasmania.  Reginald was knighted on 3 June 1978 for services to the Tasmanian Parliament.
Herbert eventually left the farm and moved to Perth where the 1943 Electoral Rolls cite him living at 86 Nicholson Road, Subiaco.  He was aged 71 and was working as a “Municipal Employee”.  On 21 November 1944, Herbert withdrew £390 from the Union Bank as payment for the purchase of the house at 88 Nicholson Road, Subiaco for Myra Beryl Sherlock.
Herbert became ill with a contagious ailment and his health deteriorated rapidly.  Although Herbert was residing at the house with Myra and her family of six children, he was not able to live inside the house.  Because of the contagious illness, he lived in a tent in the back garden away from the young family.  Herbert was suffering from chronic fibroid phthisis which is also known as tuberculosis – a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body causing it to waste away, but it is mainly an infection of the lungs.

On 27 February 1945, Herbert Ernest Wright was finally released from his suffering.  He was aged 72 years.  The cause of death was cited as “Chronic Fibroid Phthisis and Myocardial failure” after a Coronial enquiry.  Herbert’s occupation was recorded on the death certificate a “mining engineer”.

Herbert Ernest Wright was buried in the Busselton Cemetery, Yalyalup via Busselton next to his beloved Amelia in the Anglican Section A, Lot 39

The grave of Amelia Ann Wright and Herbert Ernest Wright Busselton Cemetery

Will of Herbert Ernest Wright

Herbert wrote his will on the 26 May 1943 and appointed Aubrey John Smith, of “Zeehanvale”, Wongamine, to be the executor.  Aubrey was Amelia’s brother-in-law.  Probate was granted to Aubrey Smith on 14 April 1945.

In the Probate Jurisdiction, Herbert’s addresses are listed as “Formerly of Kukerin in the State of Western Australia and of Wonnerup in the said State, Farmer, but late of 88 Nicholson Road Subiaco in the said State, Retired Winding Engine Driver”.  From this information, it would appear that Herbert had spent some time working and living in Kukerin, but there is no other evidence, to date to say when Herbert moved to Kukerin and exactly what he was doing there.

This story was published with the kind permission of the author, Katherine Statton, the Grandaughter of Herbert Ernest Wright.

She can be contacted @ :-    t.statton@hotmail.com

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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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