Paddy Hannans Statue
Paddy Hannans Drinking Fountain – Photo SLWA
Early in 1928 the ‘Kalgoorlie Sun’ newspaper directed the attention of the residents of Kalgoorlie that although a plaque and a tree existed to make the first place where gold was found in Kalgoorlie no permanent memorial to the man who found it, Paddy Hannan, existed.
The article suggested that a memorial should be erected on Hannan Street to show visitors that the residents were neither unmindful nor ungrateful for the benefits they enjoyed. It was also pointed out that as it was the State Centenary in 1929 it would be an appropriate time to erect such a memorial.
The Kalgoorlie Municipal Council offered a prize of 5 pounds 5 shillings for the winning suggestion. Twenty-five ideas were put forward to the council including, animal watering troughs, drinking fountains, signs, and statues of stone, bronze, and marble.
The winner was a boy of 15yrs, he was Keith Craig of Ward Street, Kalgoorlie. He believed the best way to perpetuate the memory of Paddy Hannan was to erect a drinking fountain showing him in typical prospecting garb and carrying a water bag from which the precious water flowed.
Baker and Matthew (Monumental Masons) won the prize to design the statue and it was sculptured by John McCloud.
The fountain was paid for by public subscription and was erected on its present site on the corner of Hannan and Wilson Sts. It was unveiled as part of the State Centenary Celebrations. It might be mentioned that soon after the decision to erect the fountain was taken the old tree planted on the site of the first gold died and was replaced. On the 50th anniversary of the discovery of gold, two plaques on either side of the tree were unveiled making it a permanent record.
A forgotten man in the story of the Paddy Hannan Statue is John Domonic McLeod the sculptor who created the work in 1929, McLeod, a talented artist and writer as well as a sculptor, died virtually penniless in Royal Perth Hospital in 1947 and even then no obituary chronicled his fine work on Paddy’s copper effigy.
Mr Erin McLeod who is John’s nephew and aged 77yrs has a wealth of memorabilia on his uncle from 1929. He says that John McLeod originally wanted a statue of a pack horse to be erected where Paddy now sits.
Over the years, it was vandalised on a number of occasions and so in May 1982, it was decided that the statue required restoration and protection. To ensure its survival, the restored original statue was repositioned in the foyer of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall, and a bronze replica replaced the original in its Hannan Street location. This replica was made by sculptor Peter Gelencser.
Today we have recently witnessed thas vandalisation of the rep[lacemewnt statue by the removal of his head. A 38-year-old man has since been arrested.
The famous statue of Paddy Hannan in Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been decapitated – Photo Kalgoorlie Miner
Moya Sharp
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You may want to do a DNA Analist on the Unmarked graves on Black Flag. I grew up there and INO there are atleast 5 unmarked graves in that Yard. An exumation and Possitive Identitee should be established ov these indevidual’s if it hasn’t been done alreadee.
My familee ties into Dorethea’s St, Hughes,
Basicallee the Rd out to the Steamshovel dam/Bluefunnel mine from theBlackflag to Orabanda rd should be called O’Keefe RD given my father built it.
The RD to the top ov MT Craike(pleasant), where the lookout used to be, should be called Peter Rise.
Not sure if they are still putting a dead sheep into Batmans cave or not. They used too. That is near the old 4inhand damsite.
Been a while since I’ve been in batterree chemical territoree as Auorium.
I do remember looking at the graves in the dirt there, but there were no markers apart from one headstone and a iron fence around it.
Also, If you are looking 4 a name for the gullee on the West side ov MT Craikee, Then that is known as Frogmouth Gullee\Riveen.
One more comment, I did go to School with a Donald Sharp, not sure if your related to him. 1st yr at eastern goldfields he was isolated and plump. I remember going over to him and telling him to join our group.
Finalee, If I had my way, I would cure epilepsee in the local area by cutting down that transmission tower on Mt Pleasant. It was better witha lookout and a clear sky view at 3 in the morning ov Hugheses/O’aHada’s commet in 1986.
Thanks for all the stories, Moira – it is great reading.