Augustus Thorn – pioneer profile

AUGUSTUS LOFTUS ‘GUS’ THORN by Lyn Beard The death of Augustus Loftus ‘Gus’ THORN does not appear to have been registered and the burial did not show up on any of the usual resources for graves. The only record of his death in 1932 seems to be this small article in The Goldfields Observer of […]

William Whitfield Mills – Surveyor-Explorer-Prospector

William W MILLS Surveyor – Explorer – Prospector MILLS William Whitfield – d 15 Aug 1916, 72yrs, at Widgiemooltha, WA, Occ: Pension and former surveyor, Father: Josias MILLS, Mother: Elizabeth Land WHITFIELD, Born: Plymouth, Devon, England in 1844, Cause: Senile decay, Death certified by Charles Mortimore WOOLDRIDGE, Postmaster, Widgemooltha, Reg: 20/1916 Coolgardie, Buried at Widgemooltha […]

The Doyles of Widgemooltha

story by Lyn Beard From the obituary of James Doyle printed in Fremantle Advocate 11 January 1934 In a beautiful location overlooking the salt bed of Lake Lefroy, the remains of at least 17 people lie in the Widgiemooltha Cemetery.  There are only a few headstones, the largest of which commemorates five members of the […]

Gus Thorn – pioneer profile

AUGUSTUS LOFTUS ‘GUS’ THORN by Lyn Beard The death of Augustus Loftus ‘Gus’ THORN does not appear to have been registered and the burial did not show up on any of the usual resources for graves. The only record of his death in 1932 seems to be this small article in The Goldfields Observer of […]

The Rabbits are Coming-

This article appeared just one year before the ‘Rabbit Proof Fence” was started and wouldn’t be finished until 1907. This may be the first sighting of rabbits on the Goldfields. Kalgoorlie Western Argus 23 October 1900 The Rabbits are Coming! WIDGIEMOOLTHA, Oct 15-  Two local prospectors named J. Reed and J. White captured and brought […]