The Kanowna Roll of Honour-

Some months ago, when looking at my records for Kanowna and in particular, the honour board for WW1, which survives today in remarkable condition at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder War Museum. I thought how interesting it would be to see if I could find out … [Continue reading]

The Farren’s of the Falls Hotel – by Jill Peady

The Prologue:  Thomas Farren was born in 1857 in Seascale in the west of England where the Sellafield nuclear power station is today. Mary Elizabeth ‘Polly’ Farren nee Saunders, was born in Birmingham in 1863. They were married in Dunedin, New … [Continue reading]

Sailor Bill’s Elopement

The Sun Kalgoorlie 22 September 1907, page 6 THE ROARING NINETIES A BULLA BULLING ROMANCE SAILOR BILL'S ELOPEMENT (By Spinifex). Many of the boys of the old brigade have disappeared. They were a roving lot, and when the share … [Continue reading]

A Coolgardie Delirium

Truth 'Sydney' 21 July 1935, page 22 Fabulous Gold Find Tossing for £100 a Time! Who found Coolgardie? Every schoolboy knows that Bayley and Ford found Coolgardie. That is history, but a historical fact is as often as not, based on … [Continue reading]

Duketon – ghost town

DUKETON 27° 38' 30'' South , 122° 16' 49'' East Duketon is named after brothers Jack and Charles Duke who with P. Hayes and J McDonald discovered gold here in 1897. A small town developed from around 1900, but only lasted a few years, as by the … [Continue reading]