George and Jessie Cooper – pioneer profile

George Astley and Jessie Cooper from Carol Townsend (Great Granddaughter). George Astley COOPER was born in 1865 at Duck Ponds, Victoria. In 1890 to Benjamin Edward and Sophia Elizabeth. He married Jessie HASTHORPE  in Warragul, Victoria. Jessie was born in 1868 in Collingwood Victoria, the daughter of Jessie and Esther nee VARNEY. George and Jessie […]

Murty Broderick – he threw a seven

Coolgardie Miner Saturday 23 June 1894, page 5 He Threw a Seven –  by Smiler Hales He came to Coolgardie among the first army of gold seekers who invaded this State, intent on burgling nature’s treasure chest. He was only one of the gallant band of pioneers, who, leaving home and loved ones far behind them, […]

When Nights Were Nights –

Western Mail 15 June 1939, page 11 When Nights Were Nights and Days Were Days. OVER THE PLATES – Dear Non-com To me, it has always seemed that the saddest of all things sad, is the tragedy of old age, and more particularly is this so when riches more needed in our shadowing eve have […]

The Battle of Wingina Gorge

Daily News 21 October 1955, page 5 Jandamarra aka “Pigeon” led one of the first rebellions of the Australian Aboriginal people armed with firearms in Western Australia. Jandamarra or Sandawarra, known as Pidgeon had been one of the best and most trusted police trackers in the West Kimberley. When Jandamarra’s close friend, an English stockman […]

Old Mulgabbie – over the plates

Western Mail 23 January 1941, page 9 – Dolly Pot Old Mulgabbie About 130 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie, along the Kurnalpi-Pinjin Road. In the year of 1898 or thereabouts following closely on the opening of the Kanowna Deep Leads, I struck the track from Norseman to Coolgardie accompanied by a mate. We had light hearts, […]