The Fight for the Ida H:

With thanks to Gary Cowans: Truth 16 February 1930, page 6 THE FIGHT FOR IDA H Who discovered the Ida H gold mine, twenty miles from Mount Margaret, in the State of West Australia? Who got the half million sterling extracted from it? Whence was its name derived? Ask those question of old Dick (Richard) […]

Paynesville – ghost town

Paynesville is located  77 km east of Mount Magnet, Western Australia Gold was discovered in this area in early 1898 by Tom Payne and Arthur Waldeck, and by April 1898 the place had been inspected by a surveyor and a plan of subdivision prepared. It was at first referred to as ‘Paynton’, and ‘East Mount […]

Spinifex and Sand:

Spinifex and Sand I will sing you a lay of W.A. Of a wanderer, travelled and tanned By the sun’s fierce ray, through the livelong day In the Spinifex and Sand. At the day’s first dawn, in earliest morn, As a soldier obeys a command, From his blanket he’s torn, still weary and worn, By […]

The Loader family – pioneer profile

The following story is an extract from the family history of Reg Blackmore and is reproduced with his permission. Emma and Nathaniel were his Great Grandparents. Emma Jane Loader’s first trip to the WA goldfields December 1895 Written by Emma in 1937 at age 95 years. Mrs Loader and her daughter, Mrs Harriet Childs Bottrill, […]

Greek Tragedy at Lawlers

Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 – 1916), Tuesday 13 January 1903, page 31 THE LAWLERS MURDER INQUEST AND TRIAL. Inquest into the deaths  of Sophia, and and her child Emanuel Psechetsas. The victims of the terrible tragedy at Lawlers on December 20 was begun on Tuesday last, Detective Walsh having arrived from Kalgoorlie two […]