My Dear Annie – Missingham letters – 1

David Missingham was born in 1855 in Kiama New South Wales. He was a mining Engineer and Mayor of Charters Towers in 1893. In 1897 he traveled to Western Australia, arriving before his family. He sent many letters back to his wife Annie and their eight children. One of his children, Hal Missingham, was to […]

The Publican and The Pig – Coolgardie 1905

  ‘The Sun’ newspaper April 1905 Coolgardie Paddy Murphy ran a ‘Shypoo’ (sly grog) ranch unbeknownst to the authorities. His establishment was always identified by Paddy’s favorite pet pig. Paddy could not read or write nor could his wife Bridget. Their system of accounting didn’t apply the rules of double entry it answered all practical […]

Whats in a Name – Street Names of Kalgoorlie Boulder

The above publication was published in 1996 and was written by the late Mr E A Dawson. It give the origins of street names through Kalgoorlie Boulder. Here are a couple:- MARSHALL STREET, Piccadilly:- John Marshall was a member of the Kalgoorlie Municipal Council on 1901. He was born in Scotland in 1859 and came […]

When the Marvel Loch Mine Fell In:

Recently Australia was shocked by the news that two men had lost their lives 500ft down a Broken Hill Mine. At the same time the name of Mazza appeared in the obituary notices of the local press. Probably it bore little significance to any but sorrowing friend and relatives – for few could cast their […]

Can you help?? – Towns and Places on the Goldfields of Western Australia

This map shows the area covered by the www.outbackfamilyhistory.com.au web site:- The area surrounded in yellow covers almost two thirds of the state and includes the Shires of, Wiluna, Meekatharra, Laverton, Murchison,  Yalgoo, Mt Magnet, Cue, Sandstone, Leonora, Menzies and Kalgoorlie/Boulder. The following map of the British Isles superimposed onto the map of Western Australia […]