A Vet in the House

Another identified Kalgoorlie House. This is the residence of Austen Harry Bradley Veterinary Surgeon, 5 Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie. Sadly the house on this block today ,although old, is not the original building in the photograph. He had an area at the rear of the building where he was able to hold animals for treatment. He was the official vet for the local council and police horses. By 1912 Mr Bradley had moved his practice to Perth near to the West Perth Subway.

A-H-Bradley-Veterinary-Surgeon-5 Brookman-St-Kalgoorlie-1902

In 1907 he was the first to import a special operating table that could be used for large animals. In this photograph Mr Bradley, centre, shows how a police horse could be positioned for an operation.

Horse Crush

Mr Bradley was to be the appointed vet for the WATC (WA Trotting Club) and was very involved in the racing community as an official vet. However he was never know to place a bet on a horse.

A H Bradley in 1947

From:- Call and Bauleys Weekly Jul 1941  –  A Long Time Ago

Just think: 45 long years. That’s how long ago it is since veterinary surgeon Mr. A. H. Bradley first hit Kalgoorlie. Then he humped his bluer to Nannine. The vet. stayed in Kalgoorlie until 1911, when he saw Somnambulist win the Kalgoorlie Cup, then he came to Perth. Naturally, he always promised himself he’d go back to the old town; but he never did — until four years ago. Dr. Arkle happened to be making the trip by car (no petrol rationing then) so the vet. went with him. That was the year ‘Favorite Son’ won. And as Mr. Bradley observed, what a failure that good sort turned out to be? Thirty years since he left the GoIdfields. and he’s not hankering to ‘go back again.

Austen Harry Bradley was to die in West Perth on the  11/9/1960 at the age of 87 yrs and was cremeated and his ashes are in the Garden of Remembrance in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. It is believed that Mr Bradley never married.

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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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