Thomas Cantwell Died of Thirst or Foul Play? The following item appeared in the local paper in Camblin, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Ireland on the 24th Dec 1895: Perished between Norseman and Coolgardie Western Australia, supposed from thirst, Tom Cantwell (43 years), one of the best fellows who ever pulled off a shirt. Poor Tom was […]
The Railway Chronicle: Tales from the Desert Echo
The “Desert Echo’ was a handwritten newspaper published by the workers employed on the Trans Australia Rail Line. It wasn’t possible for them to receive updates on contemporary news, so they made their own. This small document is an amazing snapshot of the everyday lives of the men who worked on this lonely and isolated […]
The ‘Eight Hours’ Demonstration 1900 to 1914
Kalgoorlie Western Argus 24 May 1904, page 23 The image above is of the annual ‘Eight-Hour’ Demonstration. Labour’s annual holiday from 1900 to 1914. These processions were very popular both with the various trades who constructed floats to showcase examples of their trades and the local public who came to watch. Thousands of people, both […]
Trafalgar Second Rate Football Club – Premiers 1910
For all the football fans out there in celebration of the Football Grand Final Weekend, 27th Sept 2014. You may notice some names that are still well-known in town today. Studio group portrait of Trafalgar Second Rate Football Club, Premiers 1910. Front Row: W Meyers, S Brown, J Condon (Umpire), H Eddy, J Wallace, Second […]
The Giantess – Coolgardie Miner 1898
The Giantess – This lady travelled the country and made a lot of money, and was much admired. It seems the female form was viewed quite differently 116 yrs ago! From the Coolgardie Miner, Aug 1898 In Bayley Street last night, for the first time in the Goldfields, there was seen ‘Mademoiselle Rewald’ who has […]





