The Coolgardie Safe – a family story

Several members of the McCormick family were to emigrate from South Australia to Western Australia in the late 1890’s but the most well know of them, was Arthur Patrick McCormick who was the inventor of the ‘Coolgardie Safe’. The following photographs are connected to this family but are also valuable in their own right, as […]

Youanmi Cemetery :

Latitude : 28 37 S Longitude : 118 50 E Youanmi is an abandoned goldfields townsite located 570 km north east of Perth and 90 km south west of Sandstone. Gold was discovered in the area in 1896, but was of insufficient richness to warrant being developed. The area was rediscovered in 1908, and by […]

Isabel of the Erlistoun – a family story

Isabel of the Erlistoun I have recently been sent the following story by Shirley Mayors. It was written by her mother as dictated by her own mother, Isabel Dwyer, Shirley’s Grandmother. It’s a fascinating story about how hard life was in these early Goldfields days. It was a far cry from being a member of […]

Gwalia School – book review

Written and Published in 1906 by Arlene Collins nee Puddy. Although the school in Leonora close to Gwalia is well known and still going today, many poeple may not know there was also a school at Gwalia. This excellent book tell its story. In the introduction Arlene says: This year, 2006, marks the 100th anniversary […]

Doyles Well – an oasis in the desert

DOYLES WELL – originally called – CUTMORE’S WELL. Located between Leonora and Agnew and near the Turkey and Wilson Creeks. A Wayside in and coaching stop. In 1903 there was a coach service from Leonora on three days a week. There were stockmen working for the stagecoach lines stationed there until at least about 1912. […]