The following family story has been kindly shared by Bill Potts. Bill’s Great Grandparents were Frederick ‘Fred’ BEEL and Mary Margaret Dorothea ‘Maggie’ nee PERRY.
Fred was born in 1871 in Bendigo, Victoria, and was the son of James (Jas) BEEL and Ann, nee SHADBOLT. He came to WA with his brother John to follow the gold rush and worked at various places such as Bulong, White Feather (Kanowna), Kurnalpi and others before ending up in Kalgoorlie sometime around 1893. Soon after, he joined as a partner with Messrs Fimister and Cutbush in the J.W. Fimister & Co General Store in Hannan Street. Fred was also a part-owner of the Fimiston Hotel, in the Boulder Block.
Advert – J W Fimister & Co – Photo TROVE
He married Margaret ‘Maggie’ Mary Dorothea, nee PERRY, in the Catholic Cathedral, Perth, on 24th November 1897. Maggie’s father was Joseph Perry, who owned cattle and horses which he kept near a lake on the outskirts of Perth, which was later named after him, Perry Lakes. When they moved to Kalgoorlie, Fred and Maggie lived at 61 Egan Street.
Fimiston Hotel, Boulder Block – Photo SLWA
Fred was also a keen sportsman and cyclist was a member of the Goldfields League of Wheelmen. Maggie Beel also appears to have been an active member of the Kalgoorlie community and was an Executive Officer of the Kalgoorlie Ladies’ Referendum Committee around 1900. Fred died unexpectedly from Pneumonia on the 19th September 1900 aged only 29 years, leaving his wife and two children, Dorothea Anne (2 years) and Amy Marguerite (1 year). Amy was Bill Potts’s grandmother.
Evening Star, 20 September 1900, page 4
OBITUARY – MR FRED BEEL
The death of Mr Fred Beel has come as a shock to a host of friends and acquaintances, who are numbered in every field of the colony. At Bulong, especially, will his loss be mourned, for he was one of its most sanguine supporters from the earliest days. Around Bulong as far as the confines of prospecting, Mr Beel was as popular as he was in Kalgoorlie. Early in 1893, Mr Beel joined the firm of Messrs J. W. Fimister and Co., and he retained his interest in this till his death, building up a business unequalled in its ramifications throughout the prospected area.
Apart from his sterling qualities in the matter of hard-working, energetic, business efforts, Mr Fred Beel was universally liked for himself and his qualities as a man. Of him, it may be truly said that he had never an enemy, and his bright, strong, sanguine temperament has lightened the burdens of many who felt that luck was turning against them. The suddenness of his decease will add to the sorrow of the parting. Mr Beel was only ill for a few days. A cold, developing into pneumonia, helped by the cold snap of the past two days, did Death’s work, and left many sorrowing. He leaves a widow and two children. As a mark of respect, the Stock Exchange closed this afternoon, and several flags were flown at half-mast. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen on the field, comprising over ninety vehicles.
Maggie remarried Walter RUSE in 1903 and spent several years in Kalgoorlie. It’s not sure how long they stayed in Kalgoorlie but Amy Beel was nine years old when she performed in a play called “Little Lord Fauntleroy” by the J.C. Dunn Dramatic Company at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall to much acclaim. Amy was to become a popular performer, it was said:
The J C Dunn Dramatic Co has been exceptionally lucky in securing the services of little Amy Beel, who ranks easily first as the stage prodigy of the goldfields. She is a born actress and is posessed of a wonderful memory.
Kalgoorlie Miner 6 November 1909
Amy Beel – The Mirror, 31 December 1909
Amy Beel, aged 10 years – Winner of the under 13 Resitation in the Kalgoorlie Eisteddfod in 1909 – Photo WA Museum
Amy was not the only talented member of the family. Her sister Dorothy also performed in many social events with dancing, fancy dress and playing the piano. She was later to become the organist at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Perth, where her step fatther Walter Ruse, was the conductor. It was said of her in 1908 when she was 10 years old –
This little girl shows great promise of someday developing into something quite out of the ordinary in the way of a pianist.
Kalgoorlie Miner 14 August 1920, page 6
FUNERAL – THE LATE JOHN ERNEST BEEL
On Wednesday last, the mortal remains of the late Mr. John Ernest ‘Ernie’ Beel were laid to rest in the Church of England portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The late Mr. Beel arrived in Perth from Bendigo, Victoria, in company with his brother Fred, in 1891 and followed his trade as a coach trimmer. Shortly after Coolgardie broke out, he, in company with his mate, Tom Powell, packed their kit and were among the early pioneers of Hannans, dry blowing on Paisley’s Gully for some time with a fair amount of success.
After doing a fair amount of prospecting work in and around Kalgoorlie, he and Tom Powell went to Hawk’s Nest and Eucalyptus, and later, in company with the late Peter Cox and a well-known prospector called ”Pigweed Harry”, went to the Bremmer Ranges on a prospecting tour and were successful in getting gold on the lakes. Some time afterwards, he, in company with Tom Powell and Peter Cox, took over the Shamrock Hotel at Bulong, and later on the Grand Hotel at Kalgoorlie, where he was well-known and highly respected.
After retiring from hotel life, he and Tom Powell again took to prospecting, and during the past ten years, visited various parts of the goldfields in quest of gold. The late Mr. Beel, in his younger days, was a fine athlete and had to his credit numerous Sheffield handicaps and quarter-mile events both in Victoria and Western Australia. Some eight weeks ago, he was taken suddenly ill with pneumonia at Hampton Plains and remained there rather too long before seeking medical attention. When brought to Kalgoorlie, he was in a bad way, and, although at one time he appeared to be out of danger, a relapse set in. He gradually became worse and passed away at his home on Tuesday afternoon last. The late Mr. Beel was 53 years of age. He is mourned by his wife and two children.
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