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 in on – Saturday night three live rabbits from a place about seventeen miles south-east of Binyaring, and distant about 40 miles from here. They discovered several warrens at the place mentioned when looking for strayed horses. They dug out one of the burrows, capturing three rabbits, whilst 4 made good their escape. Your correspondent visited these men’s camp yesterday, and was shown the rodents which are nearly half grown and appear in a healthy condition. There is no water within 17 miles of where the capture took place, but feed is fairly good. The country they describe as sandy, and in places there are huge boulders: A large number of the burrows are under these boulders. Messrs White and Reed are offering the rodents to the Perth Zoological Gardens as a present.

The Sun 19 Jun 1901

The Sun 19 Jun 1901

The Sun 11 Nov 1900:-
From Norseman: ” It is announced that Mr Miles, the rabbit inspector, is coming to reside temporarily at Norseman for the purpose of carrying on a vigorous campaign against the rabbits, and preventing their spread.”.
To hinder the spread of the pestilence dread,
Goes rabbit inspector Miles,
With poison and gun the plague to arrest,
Which threatens to ravage, the farms of the West,
Whose owners are cursing the ravenous pest
In fluent and vigorous style
.
Now Miles may be clever, and has duly endeavored –
The threatened invasion to best-
But the bunnies who long on the groper to feast,
And who’s traversed in safety the miles from the East,
Will conquer the ” Miles from the West.”
The Mirror Perth 1909

The Mirror Perth 1909

The following two tabs change content below.
My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.