Sadie and Arthur – a wander down the vale of tears

A marriage took place at Burgess’ Hotel on Tuesday last, when Miss Sadie Richards agreed to wander down this vale of tears with Mr Arthur Dunlop, manager of the Bank of Australasia at Broad Arrow. Mr “Andy” Brophy gave the bride away, while the duties of best man were carried out by Mr Devlin.

The Dunlop Family – 7 Oct 1907 – L-R: Sadie, Edna, Arthur Jnr, Arthur Snr & Ronald.

Sara Ann ‘Sadie’ RICHARDS was born in 1875 in Condah Victoria, daughter of Thomas RICHARDS and Eliza BARR, she was the oldest of eight children. She married Arthur William Chase DUNLOP on the 26th Oct 1897 in Kalgoorlie WA. Arthur was born in 1871 in Stanmore NSW, the son of William Schofield DUNLOP (Squatter) and Adele Le Grange CHASE.

Broad Arrow Standard 30 October 1897, page 2

Sara and Arthur met when they were in Broad Arrow, 39 kms north of Kalgoorlie, where Arthur was the manager of the Bank of Australasia, he lived in quarters attached to the bank. Sara’s occupation was given as home duties. They were married according to the rites of the Wesleyan church by special license.In their time at Kurrawang Arthur was working as a clerk for the Kurrawang Firewood Co. The last mention of the family at Kurrawang is in 1912, however the son Arthur enlisted in 1917 from this place.

Kurrawang Rail Yards looking west with offices and stores on the right and workshops on the left – Photo SLWA

The couple were to have five children: Arthur Martin Chase born 1898 at Broad Arrow, Adelaide Adele born 1901 at Kurrawang, Ronald Le Grange born 1903 at Kalgoorlie, Edna Sadie born 1904 and Colin Chase born 1910 the latter two both at Kurrawang.

Sister Sara ‘Sadie’ Richards.

After the birth of her last child Sara is believed to have established the very first maternity hospital in Kalgoorlie at 32 Ward Street, Lamington in about 1914.

32 Ward Street, Lamington – First Maternity Hospital in Kalgoorlie – Continued till 1950’s.

Sara Dunlop died on the 19 June 1920 at the young age of 45 years and is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery with only a metal number marker on her grave. Here husband pre deceased her by a few months, he died in Wyndham, WA in Jan 1920. At the time of her death Sara was living at 27A Graeme Street, Kalgoorlie.

Sadie’s Grave – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Find a Grave

Arthur Martin Chase DUNLOP – The oldest child of Sara and Arthur enlisted in the AIF in 1917. He gave his occupation as apprentice engineer and his residence as Kurrawang. He served with the 21st Reinforcement of the 28th Infantry Battalion and was discharged as a private. He returned to Australia in 1919.

Kurrawang-Coolgardie United Football Club 1925 – Seated on the right of the man with the football is Arthur Dunlop Jnr.

The following family story is an extract from a book on the history of the Barr family: “The Barr Family in Australia 1826-2006 by GLW (Geoff) Vickridge” with whom I corresponded with in 2006.