This “Early Years Project” will look at those people, who in the Early Years: –
were living in South America and who later migrated to Western Australia
were resident in WA and went to South America to work or live
were resident in countries (generally European) who went to South America as part of a land development scheme or other arrangement (Farming etc), and who had returned to their home countries after a number of years, before eventually migrating to WA in this period, ca pre-1930
These people are likely to include members of the following groups
Mining – engineers, geologists, assayers, metallurgists etc
Farming and related industries.
Social – nurses, teachers who may or may not have been working on a “voluntary” basis.
Maritime workers – Ships Captains and other seaman, engaged in the trade between Australia and South America and who later settled in Western Australia
An example of the information sought is the following:-
John Wilson First Mayor of Kalgoorlie 1895-1896 : Solicitor :Explorer and Soldier.
John Wilson – First mayor of Kalgoorlie 1895-1896
No mayor of the Goldfields lived the life like John Wilson. Born on the South Island of New Zealand in Timaru, Wilson first worked in a telegraph office as a messenger boy and worked his way to the operating room. While working he paid his own way through university studying law. When he graduated Wilson went to Queensland then to Western Australia to practice law.
While in Kalgoorlie, Wilson not only massed a considerable fortune but became interested in local politics. Becoming a member of the progress committee in 1894, Wilson ran for Mayor in the first Municipal elections in 1895 winning the seat by 8 votes.
Later on he explored New Guinea and when the Klondike rush broke out Wilson travelled to northern Canada. On the Klondike he earns the name “Steamboat Wilson”, as he was the first person to transport a steamboat across a mountain range from one river to another.
While returning to Australia via London from Canada, John Wilson brought Mayoral Regalia valued at 200 guineas in London for the Municipality of Kalgoorlie. Wilson presented the robes and chain to H. Parsons, the newly elected Mayor on election night.
On declaration of War in 1900, Wilson joined the Light Horse as a trooper during the Boer War. Contracting typhus, Wilson was invalided, but after making a recovery he joined the Army again as a Lieutenant in General Roberts Bodyguard, an elite unit of horsemen.
After the Boer War, Wilson practised law in Johannesburg for a number of years before returning to New Zealand. In 1906 Wilson set sail for South America, in Lima he contracted another bout of Typhoid which killed him shortly after he arrived in Peru.
There are undoubtedly other people and occupations that I have not come across and who I am hoping might contact me out of general curiosity. Of particular interest are those families who may have had children born in South America
If you would like to be part of this project or have information as to people that you feel might be interested in being part of this project, please contact Geoff Blackburn OAM, Phone 92988990, email: geoffrox08@gmail.com or snail mail at Post Office Box 6, Glenforrest, Western Australia 6071.
Moya Sharp
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Thank you Moya,
John Wilson was my Great Uncle. His brother, William Wilson was my Grandfather. My mother, Dora Wilson, was born in Western Australia and came to the east coast with her parents and siblings in the early 1900’s. She and her husband, Albert Hughes, moved to Brisbane in about 1940.
We were interested to find that John Wilson had practiced as a lawyer in Brisbane with Feez Ruthning. This was presumably before he was Mayor.
Best Regards,