BLACK FLAG
R H Henning and party pegged the Black Flag lease which in October 1894 was reported to be ‘doing very well.’ The property was sold the following year to Lord Sudley’s syndicate for £48,000. By this time men were opening up their claims, many with good results. In December of the following year, there was an exciting discovery at Black Flag. Rich specimens and a nugget “The Joker (AKA The Little Joker)”, weighing 303 ounces was found on the Devon Consols Gold mine. This belonged to the All Nations Prop, an Adelaide-based company.
Black Flag Location – Photo Bonzle Digital Atlas
When displayed in Coolgardie ‘The Little Joker’ nugget created great interest and excitement and diggers rushed to Black Flag and pegged alluvial claims. About this time, during 1896, the Government decided to form a separate goldfield with Broad Arrow as its centre and appointed Percy Fielding as its Warden. Black Flag became part of this new goldfield.
The Devon Consols, Black Flag 1902 – Photo SLWA
The year 1896 was a boon time for the Eastern Goldfields. The new railway to Kalgoorlie brought mining experts and buyers to examine the mines and claims were opening everywhere. Women and children came too now that the future of the goldfields seemed assured. Men sent for their families and a newspaper in 1896 stated; “The increased number of the fair sex here indicated the approach of civilisation in our midst and the lords of creation, whose chief enjoyments have been beer, skittles and boxing will have to moderate such entertainments.” Warden Finnerty apparently had his own ideas on moderation too, as he announced that any man who came before him for using obscene language would be fined at least £5.
Black Flag store and post office – Photo SLWA
Black Flag owned its own racecourse as early as 1896 and at the jockeys club July meeting carried out under WATC rules, the riders were ordered to wear their own colours.
Devon Consols Employees 1903, Black Flag – Photo SLWA
In July 1897, land at Black Flag was gazetted for a town site but there were complaints later that the town was situated inconveniently, too far away from the mines. Inconvenient or not, business premises and homes were built on the site and the town thrived until the two ‘big’ mines closed down around 1906-7. Most of the shows in the district were also worked out by then so that in time this town, like so many others, died.
Extract from “Ghost Towns of the North Country” by Norma King
Gold from Devon Consols Black Flag 1903 Photo SLWA
The Little Joker Nugget
The West Australian 17 Jan 1896 – A large number of people visited the Commercial Bank of Australia, St. George’s Terrace, Perth yesterday, to inspect the handsome nugget discovered in the Devon Consols mine near the Black Flag. The specimens are the finest seen in Perth for a long time. It is about a month ago since the discovery of the slugs was made, the finders being Messrs Harris and Williams, who are representing an Adelaide syndicate.
While following a rich leader, they unearthed the Little Joker nugget, weighing 303oz., about six feet from the surface, and a number of other nuggets or slugs of smaller dimensions. One of these was 73oz. in weight, but it has since been broken up into two nuggets, weighing respectively 39. z. 12dwt. and 33oz. 13dwt. There is another very handsome nugget, weighing 51oz. 15dwt. 12gr., and three or four smaller ones, weighing under 12oz. The gold is of a bright yellow colour, with chocolate-coloured cement adhering to the interstices. All the slugs are of a flat shape. The specimens will remain at the Commercial Bank for a few days and will be then sent on to Adelaide for exhibition. Concerning the original finders, Williams is the son of one of the original finders of the tin deposits at Greenbushes. The Little Joker nugget alone is valued at over £1,000.
Devon Consols 1909 – Photo SLWA
Our correspondent, in sending us particulars of the find, stated that the Little Joker was about the largest nugget found in the colony, He is, however, not quite correct. Two larger nuggets were found some years ago, in the North West. One, of 587oz., was picked up by a Swede under the old Broken Hill Reef, in the Pilbara, about three years ago, while the Little Hero, 333oz., was discovered 4 years ago, on the eastern shore on the Pilbara, by Jack Bride, J. Doyle and party. As to the discovery of the 587oz. nugget, it was kept very quiet for a long time, but we have authentic information as to it really having been unearthed.
Inquirer and Commercial News 15 May 1896, page 3
Ref: From “Ghost Towns of the North Country” by Norma King
Black Flag Cemetery – Reserve 3527
There are six recorded burials.
Grave of Oresti NOBILI – Photo Find a Grave
NOBILI Oresti – Died 12 Apr 1897, 25yrs, Cause: Typhoid, In Western Australia for 12 months, Born in Geelong VIC, Father: Oresti Nobili, Reg Coolgardie 85/1897 (Erected by his sister). Buried Black Flag Cemetery. (This is the only grave with a headstone).
NORTHEY David – Died 13 Feb 1900, 4 days, Father: David Northey (Cordial Manufacturer), Mother: Annie Christina Chambers, Reg Broad Arrow 6/1900, Buried Black Flag Cemetery.
NUNN George Edmund Louis Giangiacomo – Died 13 Mar 1898, 11 weeks, Cause: Enteritis, Father: Robert Edmund Nunn (jeweller), Mother: Clementine M E A B Giangiacomo, Reg Broad Arrow 5/1898, Buried Black Flag Cemetery.
SHERLOCK Patrick – Died 7 Dec 1896, 54yrs, Cause: Suicide, Killed by an explosion, worked on the Talisman GM at Black Flag. Lived in New Zealand for 20yrs and in WA for 1 yr, Born in Tipperary, Ireland, Father: John Sherlock, (Farmer), Mother: Maria nee O’Rourke, married Mary Ann Lloyd at the age of 47yrs in West Port, New Zealand. They had one child, Patrick, 1yr 10mths, Reg East Coolgardie 1/1897, Buried Black Flag Cemetery.
Coolgardie Pioneer 12 December 1896, page 14
TAGUCHI Fivhio/Futhio/Tivhio – Died 5 Jul 1897, 38yrs, Occ: Carpenter, Cause: Broncho pneumonia, Born: Japan, In WA for 2 years, Reg Broad Arrow 1/1897, Buried Black Flag Cemetery.
WOOLCOCK William – Died 3 Jun 1896, 62yrs, Occ: Miner, Cause: Capillary Bronchitis, in South Australia for 30 yrs, in WA for 6 months, Married to Jane Lawrence, Child: William Henry, Reg East Coolgardie 89/1897, Buried Black Flag Cemetery.
NOTE 1:– There is a signboard at the Black Flag Cemetery which states there is also a person buried there by the name of E Tucker, 27 Feb 1896. In the Kalgoorlie Miner, there is a news item on that date that states, E Tucker died on route to Coolgardie, this information was supplied by the ‘Black Flag’ correspondent. However further research has shown that this is Edward TUCKER, aged 53yrs, a carpenter, who died of peritonitis on the Black Flag Road on the 21 Feb 1896, is buried in the Coolgardie Cemetery.
Sign at the Black Flag Cemetery
NOTE 2:– Also on the signboard is the name of Eric WATSON 26 Jun 1896. There is an article in the Kalgoorlie Miner of this date saying there was an accident at the Black Flap Propriety GM and that a man called Eric WESTON was killed. He was taken to the Coolgardie Hospital where he died, he is buried also in the Coolgardie Cemetery. The following item is from:- The Coolgardie Miner 24th June 1896. (Eric Weston’s name is engraved on the Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial at the WA Museum in Kalgoorlie).
TheCoolgardie Miner 24th June 1896
NOTE 3: The sign also states that the only headstone is of Oresti NOBILE but the correct spelling is NOBILI:- See Below
Memorial to Oresti NOBILI
The following letter sent from Black Flag in 1896, was sent in by Margaret Morgan. It was written by William Yelland to his family back in Devon England. It is shared with her permission.
William Sampson Yelland is buried at Old Boulder Cemetery having died aged 43 on 30th March 1904.
William Yelland, the writer of this letter, (of which I have the original and this is a complete copy) was born in 1861 in Devon, the eldest of 4 children. His father Henry was the brother of my great-grandfather and a farm labourer. By 1881 the UK Census shows that the family had moved north to Cumberland where the father was described as a farm servant. Only two of their children (aged 15 and 11) remained at home Perhaps William had already left for Australia.
Fag End, Black Flag Aug 30 1896
Via Coorgarlie (sic)
Dear Alf
Just a line to say where I am – you will see I am back in the old place – I received a letter and papers from Mother. I done no good out the Six Mile – I only got 7 ounces there expences (sic) that all there is, a bit of gold getting at the Devil Finish, now I am going out there to morrow to see – Charley is in gold first(?) Mate – I was out yesterday over where we got that Gold I see they have chucked up that lease – I have been trying to get the leader but I can’t find it – I then went over the hill to Ma Ginty’s place – I picked up a 4 weight piece – I worked all day never got a colour so I given it up – the Credo is floated 95000 thousand shares 6 shillings a share – Dalziell has sold it to a man named feather (?) for 5 thousand pounds and 8 thousand shares paid up – he has not done very well – I think there is something wrong in the Main Shaft when they cut her – I have not bought any shares in her and am not going to.
It is very hard country. I will let her rip(?) I will send some papers with this letter including the Credo Prospectus and you will see for yourself. In the Bottom of the Shaft but I believe she has spit (split?) again – good job we sold her by all accounts – if I don’t get any Gold here before long I am going into Coolgardie and then I am going to Mount Margaret district but I will write if I start there.
I have a letter from Tom this week – he does not know what they are going to do. When I was in Perth the Confidence (con men?) tried to get me but it would not wash so look out for them, they come all ways
Old dad(?) Smart is here getting gold. I have nothing in the way of news – hoping that you are all well as I am
Believe me, Yours Faithfully
at present W Yelland
PS: I have sent the Credo Prospectus paper – after you have read it send it down to Tom as I wrote in the letter that you would – and let them see it – they will be pleased there is a whole colour of it. END
Moya Sharp
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Thanks ever so much Moya , on all your history searching of Goldfields history,!! I read everyone of your Posts very interesting 👍👍😇regards Bob