One the back of this faded photograph was written:- Alma Harriet Emily Bennett, the first white child born in Kalgoorlie on the 21st April 1895. Daughter of Mr and Mrs F L Bennett, 142 Piccadilly Street, Kalgoorlie.
Alma was to die young, not long after this photo was taken I would think. She died at the Government bore in Coolgardie aged 2 yrs and 7 months from pneumonia and a cerebral embolism and is buried in the Coolgardie Cemetery, Western Australia. her parents were Frank Lawrence Bennett and Edith Alice Bennett nee Eastor. Two more children were born to the couple in Coolgardie who were Edith May Bennett born 1897 and Frank Ernest Bennett born 1904.
Alma’s birth was never registered but her details can be found from her death certificate. Her mothers maiden name was spelt as Easther, Easter and Eastner on various documents.
Do you think she would have been the first white child born in Kalgoorlie? we may never know!!
Moya Sharp
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1891 census could show her mothers name as Easter:
Name:Alice Easter
Age:16 Estima ted Birth Year:abt 1875
Relation:
Daughter (Child)
Father’s name:
William Easter
Mother’s name:
Mary Easter
Gender:
Female
Where born:
Grimston, Norfolk, England
Civil Parish:
Gayton
Ecclesiastical parish:
Gayton
Town:
Gayton
County/Island:
Norfolk
Country:
England
Registration district:
Freebridge Lynn
Piece:
1565
Folio: 91
Page Number:3
Household Members:
William Easter 65
Mary Easter 61
Alice Easter 16
shes my 3rd generation great aunt <3
Jill Wynd [nee Rickard] according to my research and family information handed down she is my great aunt -her mother Edith Alice Bennett [nee Easther] born S.A 1874 -her mother Mary Ann Easther [nee Dansie]
Jill, Are you Bub’s Daughter?