In the town of Mt Magnet, one of the local public figures, a police constable, became very unpopular due to his making a point of closing the Grand Hotel at night whilst allowing the Royal Mail Hotel to keep trading. This situation came to a head when he arrested a man for swearing in the Grand Hotel and held him without bail.
Hepburn Street, Mount Magnet
The following ditty was to appear in the local paper:-
I’m Blake the bold
and I’ll have you told
I’m here on dooty bint
to stop your quarrels
and mind your morals
by act of Parlimint.
Tennis and ball
I won’t have at all
and cards ye cannot play
and ye’ll not pitch a wicket
or av a game of cricket
on the lowley sabbath day
I’m a dandy cop
when I’m on the hop
The drunks and larrikins flee
or I’ll chain them tight
both day and night
to a Government Mulga tree.
Shortly after this he was transferred to Cue.
Mt Magnet Police Station
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- Blood on the Mulga Plains: The Last Day of John Sutherland - 28/02/2026
- A Brother’s Return in Mourning: Tragedy on the Coolgardie Goldfields - 28/02/2026
- The Contract at Old Warden Shaft - 28/02/2026
Great little story Moya, especially having worked at both Cue and Magnet. I don’t think I’ve seen that old pic of the station. A new one was built in 1979 then replaced again in 2012.
Hi James, Glad you liked the story, I have just coem across quite a bit of Mt Magnet material so will be doing some more posts. Did you see this one wayyyyyy back:- https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/2015/03/23/the-great-unwashed-preserver-of-the-peace/
A good story Moya. As a former police officer I had a laugh, and wondered if the publican of the Royal Mail was a former detective I once knew! But my friend had the Royal Mail in Meekatharra!
Hi Steve, Glad you liked the story, did you see this one about the Coolgardie Policeman? https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/2015/03/23/the-great-unwashed-preserver-of-the-peace/
My mother worked at The Royal Mail Meekatharra before her marrige in 1920,a lot of pubs in Magnet but no Royal mail.
Hi Vic The West Australian Post Office Directory for 1924 shows a Royal Mail Hotel in both Meekatharra and Mt Magnet.