Richard Casey and the ‘Golden Hole’

Back in 1997, I was in correspondence with Lenore O’Neill who is a relative of the Casey family. She holds a copy of the Miners Right shown below and has recorded what was written on the back. It said:

“This Miners Right was presented to his worship the Mayor of Kalgoorlie, Mr L A Alman, by his Excellency The Governor General of Australia, Baron Lord Casey, during his visit to Kalgoorlie on the 3rd and 4th April 1967. The Miners Right was issued to Lord Casey’s father, Richard Gardiner CASEY, in August 1894 by the Mining Registrar of the Coolgardie Goldfields. Lord Casey’s father was a member of the syndicate that purchased the famous Londonderry Mine known as the ‘Golden Hole’. (He was also the mine managing director) D R Morrison (Town Clerk).
I have made enquiries to see if the document is still in the Council’s collection.

Miners Right of Nieland Gardiner Casey issued Coolgardie 1895.

Richard Gardiner CASEY was born on the 17th Dec 1846 in Hobart Hobart, Tasmania, He died en route to Australia from England on 25th Apr 1919 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Richard Gardiner Casey on a camel. Photograph taken at the Londonderry Mine on Sept 15th 1894. One of the canvas bags full of rich quartz can be seen tied to the front of the saddle. – Photo Londonderry The Golden Hole by Austin Sprake

The-Golden-Hole-Coolgardie-Review-10-August-1895

The Golden Hole ‘A Sketch’ – Coolgardie Review 10 August 1895

The Argus – Melbourne, Vic 29 April 1919, page 4

Widespread regret will be expressed at the news received in Melbourne yesterday of the death in Honolulu of Mr Richard Gardiner Casey. Mr. Casey, who had been on a visit to England with his wife, was on his way back to Australia in the S.S. Makura, and on Thursday a cable message was received in Melbourne that he was so ill that he had had to be taken ashore at Honolulu in a serious condition. Early yesterday morning the sad news was received that he had died. Mr Casey, who was one of the best-known men in Melbourne. “His body was brought back to Australia and he is buried in the St Kilda Cemetery, Port Phillip, Victoria.”

Richard Gardiner CASEY - Photo Ancestry.com

Richard Gardiner CASEY – Photo Ancestry.com

Grave of Richard Gardine Casey, St Kilda Victoria - Photo Find a Grave

Grave of Richard Gardiner Casey, St Kilda Victoria – Photo Find a Grave.

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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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