The Lillis Family – pioneer profile

The Lillis family were pioneers of early Coolgardie up to the 1940’s.

The Goat and Vospers Dog:

When Frederick C. B. Vosper was editing the “Coolgardie Miner” for the founder, Billy Clare, in the middle 1890’s, the long-haired litterateur owned a bull dog that was the terror of all within reach of its teeth. Day after day complaints poured in to the office in reference to children and other pets who had […]

Billy and I – by Dryblower

Coolgardie Pioneer  8 July 1896, page 15 ‘A Reverie’ A faithful mate of days gone by A friend of many a far off track, And yet you here neglected lie, Battered, old, and black. How oft before I brought you West, I’ve heard you sing and bubble: How oft you’ve shared each tramp and rest […]

David SEVERS – grave tales

This is a very early grave in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. It is of a young man who died in the Kalgoorlie Hospital on the 21st July 1896. Unfortunately this is in the few months that I do not have the admission records, so I cant tell what he died from. The newspaper reports that eight […]

The Wilkie Bros – Courageous Speculators!

The following story was sent by Susan Stevenson nee (Wilkie). Wilkie Brothers History 1895 to 1910 Early in 1895 John, Adam and David Wilkie left for Western Australia after John had sold one Waitotara property in New Zealand and a boot shop to help finance the Coolgardie contract. John at the time owned 380 acres […]