The following letter is the first one sent to Annie by David from Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields. His account of day to day life is interesting. He comments of the number of fires and the all pervading dust. David does seem to have a somewhat condescending tone to his wife who’s opinions I would love […]
Archives for July 2015
First Female Police Officer – Helen Dugdale
15/07/2015 By Leave a Comment
There are many ‘Firsts’ that have occurred in the Goldfields and one of them is that the first female police officer, Helen Blanche Dugdale, was appointed from Kalgoorlie. The Police Historical Society have recognised the contribution of Helen Dugdale and in 2006 the Goldfields Family History Society had a plaque placed on her grave in […]
A Story from the Old Camp – The Murder of Mercy Gregory
13/07/2015 By Leave a Comment
The Sunday Times 5th November 1911 Recently in the Old Coolgardie Cemetery a kindly hand repainted the lettering on a rough wooden tomb slab erected to the memory of Arthur Court the son of the late Dr Court, the once well-known philanthropist of Melbourne. The young fellow had been drinking heavily for months in mid […]
Lawlers – A Goldfields Town
12/07/2015 By 10 Comments
The West Australian East Murchison goldfields of the 1890s was a dry and inhospitable place. Far from any kind of civilization, unbelievably hot in the summer and dry as dust all year round. The trackless wilderness around what was to become Lawlers and Agnew first felt the tread of hob nailed boots in the year […]
The Death of Stephen Grace –
11/07/2015 By 4 Comments
Western Mail Perth -19 October 1907, page 16 AN EAST MURCHISON TRAGEDY THE DEATH OF STEPHEN GRACE – MURDERED BY NATIVES A telegram was received this afternoon from Constable Walker, who proceeded from Wiluna to bury the body of Stephen Grace, one of Kirkpatrick Bros party of prospectors who was speared through the chest by […]
