The Krakouer Boys – a family saga

There is a wonderful and interesting link to the Krakouer family with the finding of what is now Coolgardie. Twenty-eight years before either Bailey or Ford had sighted gold at what was later to become Coolgardie, Theodore Isidore Krakouer, a Russian Jew, had been sent out as a convict number 232 from Portsmouth, England. He […]

The East Brother and the Wheel of Fortune –

East Family as related by Nell Charlwood nee East – Nell’s father, Cornelius ‘Neal’ East, came to Lennonville near Mount Magnet from Bolton, Ontario, Canada. He came to work and invest in the mine owned and established by James East, his brother. James East had worked on various mines in South Dakota, New Mexico and […]

The Mt Magnet Murder –

Western Mail 1 November 1951, page 18 WESTRALIANA Murchisonite recalls a grim story The Mt Magnet Murder A murder that was committed at Mt Magnet in 1898 was never solved, despite the very closest inquiries by detectives, and police generally on the Murchison at the time. The tragedy was known as ‘The Magnet Murder’ and […]

The Philippe family – grave tales

Four adult members of the Philippe family are buried in this one grave in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. They are Richard Henry Philippe  bur 12 Oct 1906 age 67 Eliza Mary nee Howells bur 21 Nov 1911 aged 73 (Richard’s wife) Bertrand Charles Philippe bur 19 Jun 1950 age 71 (son of Richard and Eliza) Violet […]

Blood Red Days of the Golden West –

The Truth – Qld -10 January 1926, page 12 LIKE every other gold-rush in history, the outbreak of yellow-gold fever in Western Australia attracted many of the best, and a number of the worst, humans from far and wide. BUT it was not until the terrible hardships of the pioneers were known to have been […]