I was recently contacted by Graham Darcy who had just made a trip to Kalgoorlie where he wished to look up the location of his old home which was at 35 Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie. When Graham was born, the family lived in in Ardagh Ave Kalgoorlie. Then in 1946 they purchased a house at 35 Brookman Street from Cecil Brown who was in Real Estate. Grahams father was Town Clerk till his death in 1952 at the young age of 44yrs.
Graham kindly sent me a copy of his mother memoirs and has given me permission to reproduce them here along with some wonderful family photographs. Graham’s Grandfather, Frederick Darcy is on the Miners Memorial at the WA Museum in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. His father was only 3yrs old when his father was killed. This is his profile page – Frederick DARCY
Site of 35 Brookman Street Kalgoorlie in 1904 – Photo SLWA. Graham tells me: “Our house was in the land outlined in red. The Royal Chambers were still there all the time I lived at 35 Brookman Street – It was managed by Mrs Edwards who had a son Brian Pilkington, my age, who was a close friend of mine”.
The family story of James Harte
and Edith Mary Darcy nee Fox
I was born on 25th January 1909 at Carmel, Western Australia. My parents were William and Ada Fox. I was the third daughter, my sisters being Florence Bertha and Gladys Maud. I later had another sister Grace Ada. When I was a year old my mother underwent surgery for some form of malignancy and had to have her right arm amputated at the shoulder. At the time my father was a Stationmaster with the W.A.G.R. and was stationed at Pickering Brook, after having spent many years at different stations throughout the then thriving goldfields area. While at Pickering Brook he bought an orchard property at Carmel and after a few years decided to become a full time orchardist, resigning from the W.A.G.R. Had he not done this, I guess our lives would have been very different.
With my sisters, I learnt to pick and pack fruit, milk cows and drive and ride horses. Having to give help to our handicapped mother, we all learnt to cook and help with chores that other children did not have to do. We became good cooks at an early age. Mother was marvelous in coping with her disability. I attended the small local school at Carmel from 1914 to 1922. My father sold the property at Carmel and bought a large house with seven acres of land at Bassendean, so in 1923 I attended Midland High School and in 1924 I went to Fletchers Business College, Perth for an office education and was dux of the college that year.
I worked in various offices in Perth gaining experience and joined the Shell Company as a stenographer. In 1926 my father sold the Bassendean property and bought another orchard at Stoneville, which necessitated me travelling daily to Perth by train. I had to be driven to the Station as it was too far to walk. One Saturday afternoon, Grace, who stayed at home helping Mother and Father, met me and during the drive home the horse took fright and bolted, the sulky wheel hit a tree stump and we were both thrown out. The sulky was smashed up and the horse went down enmeshed in the harness. I had a crushed foot and Grace some bruises. She tried to calm the threshing animal and I ran home, never noticing my mangled foot. Father was able to rescue the horse and Mother, who was a trained nurse, bathed and bandaged my foot. I spent three weeks in bed as I could not walk. I went back to work with the aid of a walking stick. I must have hurt my back at that time as it ached a lot and in later years I had physiotherapy, manipulation under anesthetic and finally sought chiropractic treatment which gave me relief. I have had to continue physiotherapy at different times in the ensuing years.
In 1928 I joined Gladys to board in Perth, Florence was training at the Perth Hospital. In 1930 I met James Harte Darcy, an accountant from Kalgoorlie who was holidaying in Perth and staying with his Mother’s sister, Nell Brady, at whose home Gladys and I were boarding. Jim and I fell in love smartly and continued our courtship by correspondence. In 1932 during the Depression, along with many others, I was made redundant. Jim’s mother, Norah Darcy, invited me to stay at Kalgoorlie and I found employment with a mining agency Company, Graham Price & Co, who controlled Share Registers etc of various mining companies and I was in charge of the Lake View and Star Gold Mining Company (of English origin), Share Register and typist to the Manager.
Norah Agnes Darcy was a widow having lost her husband in 1912 in a mining accident when Jim was only three years old and she was pregnant. Some weeks later Mary Eileen (Mollie) was born. Norah’s sister Mrs Eileen Brady was living in Kalgoorlie with her husband Ted, daughter Mollie & son Tom and she looked after the baby for some years as Norah went back to Menzies to work and support her little family. Jim received his education at the Catholic Boys College at New Norcia run by a group of Spanish monks and later at Christian Bros College, Kalgoorlie. He continued studies at Kalgoorlie Technical School in Commercial Subjects. Gained high proficiency in shorthand typing and bookkeeping. He joined the office of the Kalgoorlie Tramways and continued night studies. He left to take over as accountant for a chain of butchers, meanwhile he gained his accountancy and secretary certificates through correspondence courses with Hemingway & Robertson. Being an expert stenographer he reported the racing inquiries for some years.
Jim & I were married on 17 April 1934 at the Wesley Church, Perth, my sister Gladys being bridesmaid.
James H Darcy and Edith Fox – 17 April 1934
Gladys was a gifted dressmaker and was Principal of McCabe Academy of dressmaking, a world wide organisation. She made our gowns and all my trousseau. After two weeks honeymoon at Cottesloe and Perth we returned to Kalgoorlie to take up residence at 13 Ardagh Avenue in a small new house. In August that year my youngest sister, Grace, who was on her final year of nursing training at Perth Public Hospital died. A virus pneumonia was raging and despite being ill herself carried on her duties (matron’s orders), collapsed on duty and she was not able to be revived. She was engaged to be married – such a waste of a young life. She was aged only 23 years.
James Harte Darcy Oct 1930 aged 22yrs.
On December 14th 1935 our first child, a daughter, Joanne Gay was born. When she was 18 months old we built a larger house on our adjoining block, 14 Ardagh Avenue. On 5th November 1939 our only son, Graham James, was born. Followed by a second daughter, Helen Mary on 26th October 1944. A few months prior to Helen’s birth, l slipped and tore the tendons holding the kneecap of my left knee, the result of a dislocation received playing hockey, aged eleven. The local doctor would not operate because of my pregnancy, so I was confined mostly to bed as I was unable to walk. Jim’s mother came and looked after things generally with the help of a weekly cleaning lady and laundress. After Helen’s birth, I went to Perth and spent three months having treatments and rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles of the leg which had become withered with inactivity. I stayed with my parents at South Perth and the next door neighbour looked after Helen, while I attended daily treatment sessions. Feeling fit I returned home to fine Joanne and Graham down with mumps. Both Jim & I became infected as well as the small baby, Helen. I soon lost my feeling of fitness!
In 1946 we moved from Ardagh Avenue to a large house in Brookman Street – No. 35, where on 29th November 1947 our youngest daughter, Christine Cecilia, was born, my sister Florence attending. She was staying with us and delayed an appointment at Perth Hospital as Night Matron to be with me. She was a fully trained general and obstetric nurse and had been matron of various country hospitals.
James Harte DARCY, his mother, Norah Agnes DARCY and his sister Mary Eileen ‘Mollie’ DARCY.
When we married in 1934, Jim was an accountant with a firm of butchers, but joined the Kalgoorlie Municipal Council as Cost Accountant when the Olympic pool and sewerage system were installed. He then became Town Treasurer on the resignation of Mr Shaw, long time Treasurer and in 1944 he also took on the duties of Acting Town Clerk owing to Mr Kingsbury’s ill health. On his death in 1946, Jim was appointed Town Clerk and held that office until his untimely death on 5 August 1952 at age 44. Jim, as Town Clerk, was very involved in council affairs and worked long hours, attending meetings at night, presiding over the various committees. We attended many civic receptions.
Christmas 1949 – Back row: Joanne Gay 14yrs, Graham James 10yrs, Front: James Harte Darcy, Helen Mary 10yrs, Edith Mary, Christine Cecilia 2yrs.
During those years top entertainers would have to travel interstate by train and would give a performance in Kalgoorlie en route. The Kalgoorlie Town Hall had a good stage, lighting and upstairs very grand seating – all upholstered in red velvet. Two large chandeliers were very impressive. We always had good seats reserved for us, gratis and were fortunate to see and hear prominent singers, dancers & pianists of that era. Joan Sutherland gave a performance on her way to sail over seas to take up the Aria Scholarship she had won. She was very fresh and young, freckly faced with red hair and very friendly and excited about studying in Europe.
We always had very front seats allotted at the circuses. We used to toss up who would take the children – I always was the loser. In the grand parade the elephants and camels just about trod on us and I was more scared than the children to have the ugly camel faces breathing on me. The Council Chambers and offices upstairs were large and well furnished, with a gallery of previous Mayors & Councilors etc. At the civic receptions I sat next to Jim at the king table and met all the notables, overseas and Australian, along with Royalty.
As the Town Clerk’s wife, I had to preside over the Councilors’ wives (all older) arranging parties for children, Christmas dinner for pensioners etc. Rabbits were on the menu then (no chickens) and the local tea rooms cooked them. Dozens & dozens of stuffed baked rabbits to be broken up and put on plates with ham and salad. Fruit salad, custards, cakes of all kinds and the large iced Christmas cakes. The oldies enjoyed themselves singing heartily once the wines and drinks were served.
James Harte Darcy aged 43 yrs – Town Clerk of Kalgoorlie 1952
Kalgoorlie Miner 6 August 1952, page 6
NOTES:
James Harte Darcy was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Kalgoorlie cemetery on the 7th Aug 1952.
Edith Mary Darcy was buried with James in 2004 aged 94yrs, a widow for 52 years.
Norah Agnes Darcy, James Mothers’ maiden name was Harte, this became James middle name. She was also buried at Kalgoorlie in 1968 aged 90yrs, a widow for 56yrs.
Frederick William Darcy, Grahams Grandfather, who died in the mining accident, was also buried at the Kalgoorlie Cemetery in March 1912.
Darcy Grave Kalgoorlie Cemetery
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- The Six Mile is on the Map – - 23/11/2024
- Sadie and Arthur – a wander down the vale of tears - 23/11/2024
- Born of Grief and Despair – - 23/11/2024
Leave a Reply