The Coolgardie Safe – a family story

Several members of the McCormick family were to emigrate from South Australia to Western Australia in the late 1890’s but the most well know of them, was Arthur Patrick McCormick who was the inventor of the ‘Coolgardie Safe’. The following photographs are connected to this family but are also valuable in their own right, as […]

Burned in effigy – the McCann Hoax

Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), Monday 1 July 1895, page 5 COOLGARDIE NEWS. : THE ALLEGED FIND AT LAKE COWAN. RETURN OF MR McCANN AS DELEGATE. FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR THE FIND. EXCITED MEETING IN BAYLEY-STREET. CHARGE AGAINST THE PRESS. THE COURIER OFFICE STONED. MR McCANN SMUGGLED AWAY., NOW UNDER POLICE PROTECTION. FURTHER […]

To be Frank – a Coolgardie Family

The Frank Family at their home in Sylvester Street Coolgardie c1919   Back Row:- L-R Charles Bernard Ceillam FRANK (29/10/1901 to 1977), Henry Bernard Joseph FRANK 1898 to 4/6/1943),  Gerald Francis Patrick FRANK (15/2/1907)  -Wilfred Ernest John FRANK (8/6/1903 to Oct 1989), Middle Row: Ivey Alice Mary FRANK (8/6/1903 to 21/1/1992) Married to PURDY, Bernard Joseph […]

The Fathers Family- pioneer profile

These charming photograph are shown with the permission Helen Spencer, the granddaughter of Sydney and Adelaide Fathers. Sydney George Williams FATHERS was born in Sydney NSW on 10 Jul 1873. He was the son of George FATHERS, who was born in 1834 in Somerset England, and Sarah Anne YOUNG. He travelled to Western Australian to work […]

The Gregson’s of Bonnievale – a family story

On the 11th Sep 1928 the ‘Rainbow Argus’ in Rainbow Victoria, reported the death of John Watts Gregson. It said he was a highly respected resident of the town.  He was born in Chepstone Victoria in 1871 and was the eldest son of Mrs Gregson of Ararat Vic and Charles Gregson of Coolgardie WA. He […]