A Home in Southern Cross

I was recently sent this wonderful photograph by Jody Harrison, this is what she tells about it:

My husband’s Gr Grandfather was Joseph Hall. The picture below was their house at Southern Cross.

The children of Joseph and Eliza Jane HALL nee LATHLEAN were:

Elsie Lathlean HALL (born 29^th May 1890 in Moonta, South Australia)

Harold Ashley Hall (born 13^th January 1895 in Moonta, died 14.8.1916 in France)

Joe and Eliza moved with their new family to Southern Cross which is the chief centre in the Shire of Yilgarn.  “Yilgarn” is aboriginal for white stone or quartz and “Mirrabooka” is aboriginal for Southern Cross.  Gold was discovered in Southern Cross by Tom Risely and Mick Toomey on
January 14^th 1888.  They named the locality Southern Cross after the stars which had been their guide as they travelled by night.  Hugh Fraser pegged Gold Mining Lease No. 13 on November 17^th 1888.

The Salt Lake and streets which pass through Southern Cross are named after stars or constellations and were wide enough to accommodate a camel wagon turning around.  The narrow gauge railway reached Southern Cross in 1894 and the Goldfield’s water supply came in 1902.

Business Directory – Southern Cross Miner 18 November 1899

The first primitive shops were built in 1889 close to the Fraser’s mining area.  From 1897 to 1907 Joe had a greengrocer and furniture shop and Eliza had a sweets shop and ran a library. Joe’s first shop from 1897 until 1899 was situated in a row of four shops with a residence at the rear.  This building was erected on Lot 11 in the early 1890’s.  Good for sale were apparently hung from bush rafters, piled on wooden trestles or spread around on the earth floor. From 1900 until 1907 he ran a greengrocer business on Lot 13 and then 12.  Eliza started her “confectioner and light refreshments” shop in 1903 in the same lot.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

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.

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